March 15, 2012

Manchin Statement on Cracker Announcement

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement today about Shell’s announcement that it could build a cracker plant 10 miles across the West Virginia border in Pennsylvania:

“While we’re disappointed that Shell chose to narrow its focus to a Pennsylvania location, we need to work together as a region to develop the Marcellus shale and attract more than one cracker facility,” Senator Manchin said. “We know that no matter where any cracker facility is built, it’s going to take plenty of West Virginia workers and West Virginia resources to operate the plant. The bottom line is, whether the cracker plant is built in Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Ohio, the plant is going to create good-paying manufacturing jobs and revitalize our chemical industry, keeping America strong and competitive.

“In addition, I am still very hopeful that there will be more than one cracker plant built, and that the next facility will come to West Virginia. I will continue to tell the world that we are open for business and fighting for every job. We have the best workforce in the country, and I am pleased that many hardworking West Virginians will have the opportunity to work at this facility if and when Shell makes the decision to build it.” 

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