A new report from Common Cause/NY says that between 2007 and July 2013, pro-fracking interests outspent anti-fracking interests nine to one. The report, released yesterday, says that pro-fracking companies and groups contributed $15.4 million to political committees and spent $48.9 million on lobbying, while fracking opponents spent $1.9 million on political contributions and $5.4 million […]
Marcellus Shale
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Unshackle agenda
Unshackle Upstate has released a five-point plan for job growth and lower taxes in the parts of the state that aren’t New York City. It focuses primarily on eliminating or changing certain taxes and surcharges. But Unshackle officials also highlight the potential benefits of fracking the Marcellus Shale. | Fracking could create 12,000 to 15,000 […]
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Shale gas drilling moratorium proposed in Assembly
Tomorrow could have been fracking decision day in New York, had the state Department of Environmental Conservation not missed a necessary deadline. Instead, the state’s review of fracking continues. Today, however, a group of Assembly members introduced new legislation that, if passed, would implement a moratorium on drilling in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations. […]
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AP: Fracking not likely to start in 2013
An Associated Press report says that New York is unlikely to see the start of fracking in 2013, even if the state does green-light the process. The article gives two simple explanations. For one, industry officials expect that if the state OK’s high-volume hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in deep shale formations, getting a permit […]
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Utica’s gassy, but not like Marcellus
Recently, the US Geological Survey released its first estimate of “undiscovered, technically recoverable” natural gas in the Utica Shale: 38 trillion cubic feet. That’s a lot of gas, but for the sake of perspective, the estimate isn’t even half of the USGS estimate for the Marcellus Shale: 84 trillion cubic feet. The federal agency also […]
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Another delay in fracking review
A technicality will probably delay New York’s decision on fracking until next year. Recently, state Department of Environmental Commissioner Joseph Martens announced that the state would study the potential health impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing. The effort will be led by Dr. Nirav Shah, commissioner of the state Department of Health. But the study means […]
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AP: Strong regulations not enough to prevent drilling problems
Earlier this week, Earthworks released a report criticizing the inspection practices of New York and other states where drilling is occurring. But the folks at Earthworks are not the only ones examining New York’s record of regulatory enforcement of gas and oil drilling. An Associated Press article published yesterday also calls the state’s enforcement efforts […]
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Times: Cuomo plan would allow Marcellus Shale fracking in some counties
A New York Times article says state officials are discussing plans to allow natural gas extraction via high-volume hydraulic fracturing in some counties. But it would only be allowed in communities that support the technique’s use. The Times says the proposal would limit high-volume fracking to sections of the Marcellus Shale deeper than 2,000 feet; […]
