A proposed Marcellus Shale gas compressor station has divided New Sewickley township residents over the past few months. Penn Energy Resources, a major oil and gas company, plans to partner with another major oil and gas company, Cardinal Midstream, to create a compressor station off of Teets Road in New Sewickley.

If implemented as planned, the compressor station will process oil and gas from a proposed 80 different wells in the nearby area. However, the area on and around Teets Road is currently classified as an agricultural district which requires a conditional use permit in order for the company to be allowed to run an industrial plant such as the proposed oil and gas compressor station in a non-industrial zoned area.

The proposed compressor station is designed to run constantly once it’s up and running. Penn Energy and Cardinal Midstream have promised that there would be a maximum of six trucks per day in an attempt to have as minimal of a traffic impact as possible. Teets road along with several intersections along neighboring Zeigler Road and State Route 68 are also going to be updated and improved to accommodate the additional traffic at no cost to New Sewickley Township. In order to blend into the New Sewickley rural scenery, the compressor station will be designed to have the appearance of a large green barn similar to other barns in the area.

However, not all residents are happy with the compressor station being added in New Sewickley Township. Donald Kretschmann of New Sewickley Township owns an organic farm that borders the property where the compressor station is being proposed.

“I’m afraid my organic customers will be concerned something will happen, there’s so much uncertainty amongst facilities like this, gas and oil companies haven’t pushed for a lot of research on the environmental effects a compressor station could cause,” Kretschmann said. “Suspicion of the compressor station is going to translate into suspicion of my produce.” Kretschmann feels the conditional use purpose the township has granted is unconstitutional and will affect his right to uses his property for agricultural purposes.

Currently, over 71% of the township land has already leased their oil and gas rights to Penn Energy. These residents feel that the oil and gas compressor station will be a good addition to New Sewickley Township and create long lasting jobs and a much needed economic boost to struggling farmers throughout the township.

Despite the conflicting opinions of many residents, the majority of the township residents want to continue long lasting friendships with people who may have differing opinions regarding the installation of an oil and gas compressor station.

“The whole community needs to be educated and participate in the democracy of our local government,” Kretschmann said. He continued on to further encourage students to take a part in this debate because “they will be the ones living in the community for years to come.”