Tagged: hydrofracking

On Earth Day lobby day at the capitol, whether or not to allow hydrofracking in New York continues to be the dominant issue.

The Senate and Assembly Environmental Committee Chairs both take a dim view of the controversial gas drilling process, but they differ over what’s the next step.

Assembly Environmental Chair Bob Sweeney believes in a clearly legislated moratorium. In fact, the Assembly has already passed one.

“I think it is pretty clear that this is a bad deal not only environmentally,” said Sweeney. “But it’s a bad deal economically too.”

One of the most contentious areas of debate over the expansion of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas concerns a spike in seismic activity in unlikely areas that have begun fracking nearby. Some alarmed scientists say containment wells are putting undue pressure on faults deep underground. But industry interests disagree – that is, when they say anything at all.

Towns that want to control land use through zoning against the drilling industry are being pitted against landowners who say state law trumps local authority. 

Arguments are scheduled today in a state appeals court in two cases over who should control oil and gas development.

Celebrities belonging to the group Artists Against Fracking are using star power to gain attention, but they may be running afoul of it.

The group created last year stages events with stars opposed to drilling for natural gas in upstate New York hydraulic fracturing.

It says forcing water and chemicals into underground rock to extract gas threatens drinking water and the environment.

But a search of the state lobbying board's online records show the group and nearly 200 entertainers who are gaining attention and support aren't registered lobbyists.