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SEO: ExxonMobil rep discusses benefits of natural gasLecture transforms into heated debateRhonda Pope faces resilience from staunch environmentalistsBy Nora Strumpf
Exxon representative Rhonda Pope intended to inform a captive audience about
the benefits of natural gas as part of her “About Natural Gas and Hydraulic Fracturing”
lecture on Oct. 11, but spectators were not convinced.
Pope introduced her role at Exxon as the Mid-Continent Crude Optimizer. She
noted that natural gas heats more than half of the homes in the United States, and that it
accounts for 25% of our energy. She provided projections for the next thirty years of gas
use, and confidently stated that the supply of natural gas will exceed coal. The first
skeptic touted the audience’s intentions.
“Does Exxon Mobil consider the effects on
the environment when it develops these models?”
asked Shane James, a member of Fossil Free UMd,
who handed out anti-fracking flyers before the
lecture’s start.
“Absolutely,” Pope replied. “One of Exxon
Mobile’s core values is to be environmentally
responsible with our energy supply.” Her response
was the catalyst for the crucifixion that followed.
Another student criticized that Exxon
invests too much capital in gas when cleaner alternatives are available.
(more)
Rhonda Pope presents an infographic titled “The global energy mix continues to evolve.” Photo by Nora Strumpf
“The demand is in gas,” Pope said, as she seemed to calculate her response to
dilute the tension in the room. “These other alternative energies [such as solar] have
potential, but they’re not necessarily in a position where supply can meet demand for the
next thirty years.”
Temperature rises
The questions got more intense.
“Is Exxon assuming a carbon tax?”
“How much consideration to biodiversity has Exxon considered?”
“How much deliberation was done with indigenous people of the Chesapeake?”
Pope gave vague answers to each, providing ambiguous statements rather than
qualitative facts.
Noticing how much time had slipped away, Pope continued discussing the
abundance of natural gas, job opportunities and versatility. She later explained hydraulic
fracturing (fracking), the process of drilling into the earth to extract natural gas. The
Student Government Association sustainability director, Ori Gutin, provided Pope the
statistic that “in 2010, 6.2 percent of new gas wells leaked,” but she was unable to
provide a retort.
(more)
“I know that this is a passionate subject,” Pope concluded. “I can absolutely relate
to your concerns and want to be as helpful and give as much information as I can.”