[vc_row animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]The following is a Letter to the Editor penned by Nicholas Haden, VP Marking & Governmental Affairs for Reserved Environmental Services LLC. Edited versions of this letter appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the Philadelphia Inquirer. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]—– [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]You don’t have to be a genius to see that big energy companies are laying off left and right. Pennsylvania won’t enjoy the billions of investment dollars it’s historically received from companies developing shale gas in our Commonwealth. These are facts, and it hurts. However, let’s focus on the hundreds of PA businesses employing thousands in the shale gas supply chain. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”8572″ img_size=”” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our company employs 70 Pennsylvanians and 85% of our workforce is “blue collar”. Our employees and their families reside in towns like Belle Vernon, Brownsville, Connellsville, Coraopolis, Ellwood City, Grindstone, Monessen, Monongahela, New Castle, New Kensington, Pittsburgh, and Uniontown. These places aren’t in Texas. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve postponed 2016 capital projects and can’t hire an additional 20 employees. And we are not alone. When the big boys halt capital investment, little guys must follow suit. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Additional taxes on the shale industry couldn’t come at a worse time. This Commonwealth competes for energy investment dollars plain and simple. How can PA small businesses grow when these additional taxes will further stifle investment?   I’ve always admired elected officials who say “I’m for the working man”. Now’s the time for these elected officials to “man up” and “join the fight”. Be accountable and provide a responsible and competitive fiscal framework which doesn’t require PA workers to fight with two hands tied behind our backs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”8571″ img_size=”” onclick=”link_image”][/vc_column][/vc_row]