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Today's Poll: Should there be a moratorium on fracking natural gas wells in NYS?

By Howard B. Owens
Doug Yeomans

Hydraulic fracturing for natgas has been an ongoing, highly successful operation in NY state for decades. Many homes right here in our area reap the benefits of free heat because one of those wells is on their property. Other states are already capitalizing on this boom industry with good jobs for many decades to come. We need the jobs, the fuel and the economic benefits of fracking.

Every industry has drawbacks, but I believe that this is one industry that can be done safely and efficiently. Once again, we're being victimized by the overzealous action of Andrew Cuomo.

Mar 8, 2013, 7:54am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Cuomo backtracked. The reason he backtracked is the huge showing of public opinion against fracking. Communities across our state are legislating bans on fracking. Evidence of the environmental catastrophes in states like neighboring Pennsylvania are driving sentiments against fracking. Fracking and tar sand extraction are neither clean nor are they cost effective. Anyone who is deluded enough to think either of these extraction processes will bolster U. S. energy independence or even lower energy costs domestically needs to come out from under the blanket of corporate propaganda. The fuels derived from these dirty extractions will be exported to regions willing to pay for more expensive fuels. The XL pipeline is not aimed at Louisiana for distribution in the U. S.; that oil will be exported. Already domestic gas production is leaving the U. S. We'll still import cheap fuel, be left with tainted groundwater and toxic chemical dumps so North American gas and oil companies can profit. The reason U. S. domestic suppliers opted for foreign reserves is cost; the U. S. market has yet to tolerate the higher cost of fuel yields from exotic domestic production processes. Even the oil produced in Alaska is largely exported to nations like Japan. Stop eating the GMO corn and open your eyes.

Mar 8, 2013, 8:30am Permalink
Eric [Rick] von kramer

I have seen the economic impact of natural gas fracking in Pa. It bring in millions to the area economies, the trickle down effect benfits almost everyone. Perhaps this is one reason NYS is 48th in business friendly atmosphere.

Mar 8, 2013, 8:44am Permalink
C. M. Barons

I've heard that Meth is profitable. Maybe we should manufacture Methamphetamine in NYS. It will bring millions to our state economy.

Mar 8, 2013, 8:55am Permalink
Debbie Pugliese

I cannot comment on whether it is bad for the environment seeing the gas drilling companies are exempt from having to tell anyone what they pump into the ground (EPA Toxic Release Inventory) It could be ketchup for all anyone knows, it could be something far worse. I say no releasing of land without releasing of ALL information. Gotta be a reason they lobbied Washington to be exempt from that law.

Mar 8, 2013, 8:57am Permalink
Debbie Pugliese

Just found something else that is worrisome.

Front Range farmers bidding for water to grow crops through the coming hot summer and possible drought face new competition from oil and gas drillers.
At Colorado's premier auction for unallocated water this spring, companies that provide water for hydraulic fracturing at well sites were top bidders on supplies once claimed exclusively by farmers.The prospect of tussling with energy industry giants over water leaves some farmers and environmentalists uneasy.

"What impact to our environment and our agricultural heritage are Coloradans willing to stomach for drilling and fracking?" said Gary Wockner, director of the Save the Poudre Coalition — devoted to protecting the Cache la Poudre River.

"Farm watergrows crops, but it also often supports wildlife, wetlands and streamflows back to our rivers. Most drilling and fracking water is lost from the hydrological cycle forever," Wockner said. "Any transfer of water from rivers and farms to drilling and fracking will negatively impact Colorado's environment and wildlife."

The Northern Water Conservancy District runs the auction, offering excess water diverted from the Colorado River Basin — 25,000 acre-feet so far this year — and conveyed through a 13-mile tunnel under the Continental Divide.

A growing portion of that water now will be pumped thousands of feet underground at well sites to coax out oil and gas.

http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_20299962/colorado-farms-planni…

Mar 8, 2013, 9:03am Permalink
Jeff Allen

CM, you made 3 pretty big claims concerning fracking
"huge showing of public opinion against fracking"
"Communities across our state are legislating bans on fracking"
" Evidence of the environmental catastrophes in states like neighboring Pennsylvania"
I did a web search on all 3 topics and only found spotty clarification and all were from anti-fracking websites.
I am neither pro or anti fracking at this point but I don't give credence to either side when they use boisterous claims that aren't logically backed up. I have not been convinced of the chemical/environmental risks however I did talk to a Libertarian candidate at the Naples Grape Festival who was a PhD engineer and his main concern was the fact that fracking is literally "fracturing" the mantle. Given that we sit on some pretty significant fault lines, the risk may not be chemical but geological as more cracks are made in an already distressed base underneath us. That made logical sense to me and perhaps where we should be focusing more of our research and attention.

Mar 8, 2013, 9:17am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

C. M. Barons, you're comparing meth to hydrofracking for natural gas, something that would benefit everyone for decades? Really?

Mar 8, 2013, 10:08am Permalink
John Roach

Lets see, we can not have more wind farms.
We can not have fracking.
We can not bring more oil from Canada.

The solution is just to pay higher prices for energy and give the Arabs more of our money.

Mar 8, 2013, 10:29am Permalink
Dave Olsen

That is a good article, Doug thanks. Maybe with ol' Hugo gone, Venezuela will return to selling us more oil. I quit buying Citgo because of him. But now, hopefully they will have free elections. We'll see I guess.

Mar 8, 2013, 11:37am Permalink
Bob Harker

Howard that's an interesting map, but I have to question what constitutes a "movement for a ban or moratorium". Are they legitimate political movements or CM's cousins spouting unfounded concerns? Insert smiley face here.

Mar 8, 2013, 6:41pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

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