CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

DiNapoli to Chesapeake shareholders: Withhold director votes

2012-05-29T13:11:00.000-04:00

In a letter released Tuesday, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli urged Chesapeake Energy shareholders to withhold their votes for directors V. Burns Hargis and Richard K. Davidson at the company’s annual meeting on June 8.

“A fundamental restructuring of the Company’s Board of Directors is essential if the Board is to regain the trust of stakeholders and regulators,” DiNapoli wrote.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is a significant shareholder of Chesapeake. DiNapoli is trustee of the fund.

The board of the natural gas company has been under fire over the past few months for its ties to CEO Aubrey McClendon and for its oversight of executive compensation.

To see the full text of DiNapoli's letter, click here.

Congressional candidate Danks Burke speaks on hydraulic fracturing

2012-05-24T07:18:00.000-04:00

Hydraulic fracturing will set back, not save, the Southern Tier economy if the government allows the controversial gas drilling technique to proceed, congressional candidate Leslie Danks Burke said Tuesday.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a heated topic among those who live and work above the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation, a portion of which lies below Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties.

Supporters say a drilling boom will spur economic activity, while opponents say the potential risk to the environment, health and quality of life outweighs economic benefits.

Danks Burke touched on the subject during a brief interview with The Leader.

(Click to read the entire article)

Electric Power Generation under NYS Article X

2012-05-22T09:02:00.000-04:00

The New York State Public Service Commission draft (link for comments) from the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment for the proposed regulations to the Power NY Act 2011, known as Article X is deficient in its mandate. Since a SEQR review for electric generation projects that fall under the new regulations is no longer a requirement, New York State is effectively writing new regulations that abdicate the oversight role of the Department of Environmental Conservation. The motive to fast track permitting approval at the expense of environmental protection demonstrates a bias in favor of developer projects. Therefore, in order to establish an equitable balance in interests, it is prudent to include a comprehensive citizen participation process within the administrative structure of the DPS.

The purpose of incorporating a Citizen Advisory Panel within the PSC is to have access, in a timely manner to the entire database of relevant information on each project. A review of applications and stakeholder input from representatives of citizen organizations is in keeping with the Article X mandate. Recommendations by the panel have the value of experience and expertise that deserves consideration by the Article X Siting Board.

The Citizen Power Alliance is a coalition of concerned citizen organizations that have years of involvement within the electric permitting process. From the perspective of local community interest, the spirit of Home Rule will remain in practice with the support of the multi-agency Siting Board. Individual municipalities, hard pressed to engage as an intervener or challenge the new Article X application process, will benefit from a central resource function of the Citizen Advisory Panel.

(Click to read the entire article)

Electricity bills set to rise to pay for wind farm subsidies

2012-05-21T06:46:00.001-04:00

Household electricity bills will rise by as much as a quarter to pay for wind farms and other forms of renewable energy, according to a new report.

The study challenges the Government’s claims that energy bills will actually fall in the next eight years because of energy efficiency savings.

The Coalition is relying on the savings to offset the price increases caused by renewable energy subsidies. Those extra costs are added on to household bills in the form of consumer subsidies.

This week the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will publish its draft energy bill, setting out how it plans to reform the electricity market and reduce the cost to households.

DECC has insisted that energy bills will begin to fall from next year and will be reduced by seven per cent - or £94 - by 2020 because of new energy efficiency policies.

These include the Green Deal, which will provide loans to fund loft and wall insulation; the roll-out of 'smart’ meters to help control and monitor energy consumption; and the improvement in the energy efficiency of kettles and other appliances.

But a study of the Government’s own figures by the Renewable Energy Forum (REF), a specialist renewable energy consultancy, has accused DECC of deliberately misleading the public.

REF claims its analysis of the Government’s own figures shows that two-thirds of households, about 17 million in all, will be worse off - even if energy efficiency targets are met in full.

In a 54-page report published tomorrow [Monday], REF will conclude: “DECC has made unrealistic assumptions about the use of energy efficiency measures to offset the costs to households, but even on those optimistic assumptions 65 per cent of households will still be net losers.

“In fact there is every reason to suppose that the efficiency measures will not live up to these expectations and that costs have been understated.”

REF estimates that the UK’s climate change policies - which promote wind farms and other forms of renewable energy - will be responsible for 'major increases’ in the retail price of electricity and gas.

It estimates that electricity prices on domestic bills will rise by 27 per cent by 2020 and by 34 per cent on bills for medium-sized companies. Gas prices will rise by seven per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

The row over the cost of renewable energy - especially wind farms - has caused tensions in the Coalition with DECC run by first Chris Huhne and then Ed Davey, both of them Liberal Democrats.

Earlier this year, 101 backbench Tory MPs wrote to David Cameron demanding that the £400 million a year subsidies paid to the onshore wind turbine industry be “dramatically cut”. In all, REF estimates that £1.5 billion a year is paid out in subsidies for all forms of renewable energy - including on and offshore wind - and that figure will rise to £8 billion a year by 2020.

A DECC spokesman said obtaining a “diverse energy portfolio is crucial for our energy security and to shield our homes and businesses from the sort of price shocks that we’ve seen filter through into our energy bills as a result of rocketing global gas prices”.

The spokesman added: “We are going to revolutionise the energy efficiency of millions of homes and businesses across the nation through the Green Deal which will launch later this year.”

NY groups cheer Vermont hydrofracking ban

2012-05-17T15:04:00.001-04:00

The state of Vermont became the first to officially ban the use of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil, a move that appears to be somewhat symbolic but has New York groups pushing for a ban hoping for a boost.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the ban on Wedensday. It prohibits hydrofracking, though the gas-rich Marcellus and Utica shale formations are not believed to reach the state. It does, however, also prohibit the importing of hydrofracking waste for treatment.

Hydrofracking critics from New York hope the Vermont ban advances their cause. High-volume hydrofracking is on hold in New York as the state DEC works on an environmental review of the technique.

“When I went to VT to testify before the Senate committee it was refreshing to see legislators listening and asking important questions about the science,about the geology, the wastewater, and possible health impacts and showing real concern for their agriculture,” Wes Gillingham, Program Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper, said in a statement. “We urge Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature to listen to the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who have called for a ban in order to protect New York’s communities from fracking’s unacceptable dangers.”

American Petroleum Institute Director of State Government Relations Rolf Hanson responded to the initial decision by the Vermont legislature to pass the ban: “The decision by the Vermont legislature to pass a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing follows an irresponsible path that ignores three major needs: jobs, government revenue and energy security.”

Advocates from Vermont who helped push for the ban were in Albany on Tuesday, partaking in a rally for New Yorkers Against Fracking, a coalition of hydrofracking critics.

New York regulations would prevent Pennsylvania hydrofracking problems, report says

2012-05-16T14:16:00.000-04:00

New York’s proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing would have sufficiently curbed many of the environmental impacts experienced in Pennsylvania, according to a study by the University at Buffalo.

The report received immediate criticism from environmental and anti-hydrofracking groups, with one accusing its authors of “drawing rosy conclusions based on limited information.”

The study focused on 2,988 violations filed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection from January 2008 through August 2011, covering close to 4,000 gas wells. Of those, 25 violations were considered “major,” which include events like blowouts at gas wells, land spills and water contamination.

New York’s proposed permitting guidelines for high-volume hydrofracking would have helped avoid or mitigate the major violations, according to the report.

(Click to read the entire article)

Anti Frackers are laying down on the job

2012-05-15T17:06:00.001-04:00

Anti-fracking activists are laying down on the job — literally. This litter of bodies in front the governor’s chambers are part of the large protest that was slated for later today, but which we hear may be moved inside the Capitol due to rain. It’s part of an afternoon/evening long event topped off with a concert and celebrity activists at the Egg.

Hovering above the inert clean suit wearing protestors was a woman wailing about the harm and potential health problems that they say fracking could lead to, while another woman was singing that “It’s not nice to block the walkway.”

Reminiscent of the gay marriage rallies and protests that took place almost a year ago, State Police were there making sure there was a clear walkway through the area.

‘PC’ Power Is Not Sustainable (and President Obama’s “all-inclusive” energy policy is anything but!)

2012-05-08T16:51:00.000-04:00

President Obama’s mantra du jour for his 2012 campaign speeches is “all-inclusive” energy. But any business touting this version of “all-inclusive” would be prosecuted for false advertising.

When the President says “all-inclusive,” he means politically correct (PC) “green” energy (wind, solar and bio-fuels), and nothing that actually provides reliable, affordable power – especially not hydrocarbons. Another PC buzzword – “sustainable” – is right out of the United Nation’s Agenda 21 Protocol and the President’s goal of “fundamentally transforming” America.

Increasing pain at the pump and the plug underscores the reality that Mr. Obama’s energy policies are anything but “all-inclusive,” and PC power is anything but sustainable – though they certainly are transforming our country. In fact, if the Keystone XL pipeline’s oil were used to generate electricity, it would provide more energy than all existing U.S. wind and solar installations combined.
Be they massive or small-scale, actual or theoretical, and decades away – wind, solar, corn ethanol, switch-grass and algae projects are being paid for with countless billions of taxpayer and ratepayer dollars. The arrangements are sweet for promoters and “investors” on the receiving end–and for politicians looking for campaign contributions from these recipients. It’s crony capitalism (aka political capitalism) at its best.

(Click to read the entire article)

Obama proposes fracking companies disclose chemicals

2012-05-04T15:05:00.002-04:00

As oil and gas drilling explodes nationwide, the Obama administration today proposed rules requiring the disclosure of chemicals used to extract these deposits on public and Indian lands. Environmentalists say the rules don't go far enough but an industry group says they may stifle job growth with "bureaucratic red tape."

The proposed rules require companies to disclose the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, but do so after (not before) they finish operations. About 90% of wells drilled on federal and Indian lands use this drilling process, which blasts chemical-laced water and sand deep below ground to release oil and natural gas trapped in rock formations.

Fracking has dramatically boosted the development of previously uneconomic natural gas and oil deposits, but critics say it can pollute the water and air. In his State of the Union address in January and subsequent speeches, President Obama has promised to promote domestic energy production while protecting the environment.

"As the President has made clear, this administration's energy strategy is an all-out effort to boost American production of every available source of energy," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in announcing the draft rules on fracking. "As we continue to offer millions of acres of America's public lands for oil and gas development, it is critical that the public have full confidence that the right safety and environmental protections are in place."

Fracking has dramatically boosted the development of previously uneconomic natural gas and oil deposits, but critics say it can pollute the water and air. In his State of the Union address in January and subsequent speeches, President Obama has promised to promote domestic energy production while protecting the environment. "As the President has made clear, this administration's energy strategy is an all-out effort to boost American production of every available source of energy," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in announcing the draft rules on fracking. "As we continue to offer millions of acres of America's public lands for oil and gas development, it is critical that the public have full confidence that the right safety and environmental protections are in place."

(Click to read the entire article)

In fracking fight, protests may be having an impact

2012-05-03T06:40:00.001-04:00

It was a familiar sight early Wednesday afternoon outside the Senate chamber.

In front of the bright lights of television cameras and a handful of microphones and recorders, a coalition of groups and lawmakers opposed to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas stood next to six boxes packed with petitions supporting a statewide ban on the technique. The petitions had more than 200,000 signatures, according to the groups.

At the same time, members of a gas industry trade group were fanned across the Capitol and Legislative Office Building, selling the job-creation and energy-independence benefits associated with gas drilling to lawmakers and members of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's staff.

But in a battle that has stretched on for nearly four years at the Capitol, have the public protests and behind-the-scenes wrangling had any impact on the debate? Both sides said Wednesday that they have, but differed in how so.

"This process has slowed down to a crawl, though it's still moving ahead," said Sen. Tony Avella, D-Queens, who sponsors a bill to permanently ban hydrofracking. "I absolutely think we're winning this battle. I think (Cuomo's) getting the message."

(Click to read the entire article)

Cuomo Recommends New Chairman For Power Authority

2012-05-01T15:48:00.000-04:00

John Koelmel, president of First Niagara Financial Group Inc., was nominated today by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to serve on the New York Power Authority board and to serve as its chairman.

Koelmel, whose nomination will require Senate approval, would succeed the current chairman Michael Townsend, a prominent Rochester-area attorney who was first appointed to the board by then-Gov. George Pataki in 2004.

“With decades of experience in key leadership and management positions with major private sector organizations, John Koelmel has the expertise needed to be a strong and effective voice on the NYPA Board of Trustees,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Koelmel has been president of First Niagara since 2006 and has led its rapid expansion in New York and neighboring states. Koelmel spent 26 years at KPMG LLP, serving as managing partner of the Buffalo office.

The White Plains-based Power Authority is largest state power organization in the nation, with 17 generating facilities and more than 1,400 miles of transmission lines.

“For New York State to come back stronger than ever and to rebuild a vibrant and sustainable economy, we need affordable, clean power,” Koelmel, 59, of East Amherst, Erie County said in a statement.

Koelmel’s nomination is the latest appointment by Cuomo to the Power Authority since he took office in January 2011. In October, Cuomo nominated Gil Quiniones, the authority’s chief operating officer since 2008, to take over as president and CEO. Quiniones replaced Richard Kessel, who led NYPA from October 2008 until he resigned in July 2011 amid a state investigation into the authority’s donations to politically connected non-profit groups.

A year ago, Cuomo nominated John Dyson, a Millbrook, Dutchess County, resident, to serve on the NYPA board, which Dyson had served on from 1979 to 1985.

VIDEO: Students Protest Hydrofracking At Capitol

2012-04-30T14:33:00.001-04:00

Some of the younger members of the anti-hydrofracking community voiced their concerns at a rally in the Capitol on Monday, Gannett’s Aaron Scholder reports.

Members of a summit of 150 youth leaders in the state, known as Power Shift New York, marched through the building to chant at Gov. Andrew Cuomo to ban the controversial practice.

The group delivered a letter signed by 17 other anti-fracking organizations as well as a petition against the practice that was signed by more than 1,600 people.

“We’re here to let Gov. Cuomo know loud and clear that if he wants to be a leader for the youth vote and for environmental communities in New York, that he needs to take a stand to ban fracking and lead us toward a cleaner, greener future and economy,” said Laura Smith, a student at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.

The group also held a mock wedding and annulment to signify the need to separate what they said were back-room deals between gas corporations and politicians.

View the video

Damaged Turbine Suspends Wind Energy Production

2012-04-26T08:03:00.002-04:00

An Ohio wind farm is temporarily shut down following severe damage to one of the turbines.

The wind farm, Timber Road II, sits in Ohio just beyond the Indiana state line between Edgerton, Indiana, and Payne, Ohio.

The owners, EDP Renewables, say while the investigation into what damaged the blades is ongoing, at this point it doesn't appear that strong winds were a factor.

A spokesperson for EDP tells Indiana's NewsCenter that all 55 of the wind farm's turbines were immediately shut down following the incident. Some were turned back on Wednesday as part of the investigation, but officials say it's unclear how long that investigation will take.

(Click to read the entire article)

State energy project raises NYRI fears

2012-04-23T11:21:00.000-04:00

Though it’s been a few years, the memories of the battle against the NYRI power line still are fresh.

And as representatives from utility companies, the energy industry and the banks that fund them convene to discuss the future of the state’s power grid, local officials and residents who fought NYRI say they are hopeful their plans won’t hurt local communities.

“We will continue to keep an eye on it,” said state Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome. “While NYRI types can exist again, I don’t see a revival of NYRI, and the governor’s people are aware of the concerns of communities.”

Marcy is a hub on the state’s energy network, with lines from the north and west bringing power into its switching station. The need for more capacity to bring that power to New York City’s hungry markets has long been discussed — and that’s what attracted NYRI and its private investors.

Still, it’s anyone’s guess what proposals will come out of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Energy Highway project.

About 300 representatives from energy utilities, private-sector energy companies, financial institutions and environmental organizations attended a forum Thursday to learn how to participate in Cuomo’s plan.

(Click to read the entire article)

Wind industry blows campaign cash at GOP

2012-04-17T18:56:00.000-04:00

Wind industry campaign donations are blowing toward Republicans, including presidential front-runner Mitt Romney.

Romney’s campaign got a $2,500 donation from Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, during the first quarter of this year — a period in which more than 60 percent of the trade group’s campaign contributions went to GOP candidates and parties, according to new Federal Election Commission filings.

Bode has given to Republican White House hopefuls before. She gave $4,600 to John McCain’s campaign in 2008, when she was CEO of the American Clean Skies Foundation, a natural gas advocacy group.

This time around, Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) was the biggest winner in AWEA donations, landing $7,500 from the group’s WindPAC.

(Click to read the entire article)

Hinchey Calls On EPA To Finalize Air Standards For Drilling

2012-04-16T16:40:00.000-04:00

A pair of Congressmen—including Rep. Maurice Hinchey—have penned a letter to President Barack Obama, urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize new rules governing air pollution from the oil and natural gas industry.

About 20 members of Congress have signed on to the letter, which originated from Hinchey, an Ulster County Democrat, and Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado. The letter calls for the new emissions standards to be finalized “as soon as possible.”

The new standards would have an impact on gas-drilling operations in Pennsylvania, where companies have used high-volume hydraulic fracturing to tap into the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation. The technique is not allowed in New York until the state completes its environmental review of the technique, which isn’t expected until later this year.

“New Yorkers from the Southern Tier to the Hudson Valley have listened to the horror stories of families who have seen their air polluted by gas drillers and they don’t like it one bit,” said Hinchey. “We need the President to act immediately to sign off on the proposed air quality standards so that these drillers cannot pollute our air without consequence. We cannot let the rush to drill blind us from the need to ensure the safety of our environment and public health.”

The full text of the letter, courtesy of Hinchey’s office, can be read after the jump.

(Click to read the entire article)

Town of Dansville Public Board Meeting Hears From Public on Hydrofracking

2012-04-13T15:09:00.001-04:00

A number of the public expressed their views on hydrofracking, wanting the Town Board to adopt a “ban or moratorium” on the method. Hydrofracking remains a heavily debated issue which NY State Legislators will eventually have to decide on. Dansville’s Town Supervisor, Michael D. Willis, said “we want to remain neutral” and that “there isn’t anything to prevent right now”.

“You’re in a no-win situation because there are two sides to the story”, said one resident, “you have to remain neutral because either way, someone is going to be unhappy”. Another citizen cited materials used by hydrofracking: “we don’t know what chemicals they are using, we don’t know what chemicals they are bringing into the community, and what they are going to affect”.

Whichever view one may hold about hydrofracking in New York, hydrofracking will continue to be a hot-button issue for quite some time to come.

Hydrofracking roundup: Falling prices, whistleblowers and local bans

2012-04-12T15:40:00.000-04:00

The state Department of Environmental Conservation’s review of hydrofracking labors on, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen plenty of news this week in regards to the much-debated gas-extraction process:

- Natural gas began trading at a decade-low price yesterday, dropping below $2 per thousand cubic feet for the first time since 2002.

The precipitous drop in price has been largely caused by a major increase in domestic shale-gas drilling in Pennsylvania and other states where high-volume hydraulic fracturing has been allowed. We took a look in February at what effect that may have on New York if it gives the green light to the technique. (So far, it hasn’t, but a decision on whether to proceed is expected to come later this year.)

The short story? The low natural-gas prices are expected to slow development in New York, at least initially.

– On Monday, representatives from Frack Action and the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition held a press conference in Albany, calling on DEC employees to “blow the whistle” on anything untoward about the agency’s review of hydrofracking, or about the dangers of the technique itself. You can watch a video of CEC’s Barbara Warren discussing their effort below. – Yesterday, pro-fracking groups held a pair of events. In Binghamton, the Joint Landowners Coalition held a job fair aimed at gigs within the natural-gas industry. About 2,300 people showed up, according to the Press & Sun-Bulletin’s Steve Reilly. The event was held to highlight jobs that could be available—or already are available—if New York allows hydrofracking. (Photo by the PSB’s Rebecca Catlett.)

(Click to read the entire article)

Judge to hear suit to halt Pa. gas-drilling law

2012-04-10T16:09:00.000-04:00

A state judge will hear a request for an immediate injunction against Pennsylvania’s new Marcellus Shale law filed by a group including seven municipalities that says it unconstitutionally takes away local powers to control land use.

The Commonwealth Court hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in Harrisburg. The approximately 120-page lawsuit was filed March 29.

Opponents of the sweeping, six-week-old law say it prevents municipalities from protecting homes or businesses, and possibly even schools or parks, from drilling activity that could damage a community’s quality of life and property values. Land-use provisions are scheduled to take effect in a few days.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s office says the administration is confident that courts will uphold the law, and members of the natural gas industry say overturning it would hurt them.

Hydrofracking Roundup: Still Work To Do On DEC Review

2012-04-05T16:34:00.000-04:00

We haven’t heard much lately about the state’s progress when it comes to its review of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, but a handful of newsy tidbits have been making the rounds in recent days.

Here’s a few:

—Howard Glaser, director of state operations for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was asked in a radio interview today about the Department of Environmental Conservation’s progress when it comes to making a decision on whether to allow high-volume hydrofracking. The agency has been reviewing the technique for much of the past four years, and its final report is expected later this year.

The short story? There’s still some work to do in reviewing the 60,000+ comments the DEC received on its draft review.

(Click to read the entire article)

Gas Company, Dairy Farmer File Appeal Notices In Home-Rule Cases

2012-03-30T12:42:00.000-04:00

A Denver-based gas industry has filed notice that it plans to appeal a state judge’s ruling that New York’s municipalities can ban gas drilling and hydrofracking within their borders.

Tom West, an Albany-based attorney representing Anschutz Exploration Corp., told Gannett CNY’s Rachel Stern that the company has officially decided to move forward with an appeal in the case that could set a statewide precedent when it comes to towns and cities banning the natural-gas extraction process.

Anschutz sued the Tompkins County town of Dryden last year after the town strengthened its zoning laws to make clear that gas drilling was not allowed within its limits. The company cited a clause in the state’s Environmental Protection law that says the state has regulatory authority over oil and gas drilling, but a state Supreme Court justice ruled last month that towns can still ban the practice outright.

(Click to read the entire article)

Tioga drilling deal termed "incredible opportunity;" bypasses fracking

2012-03-29T13:33:00.000-04:00

Southern Tier Energy Partners, a newly formed organization representing about 2,000 property owners known collectively as the Tioga County Landowners Group, has signed a preliminary agreement with two companies that want to develop Marcellus and Utica shales in New York by using an alternative to the controversial hydraulic fracturing drilling method.

The landowners' group controls about 135,000 acres in Tioga County and is working with eCorp International and GASFRAC Energy Services Inc. eCorp is known in this area as the developer of the Stagecoach Storage Facility in Tioga County, a natural gas storage operation that is now owned by Inergy Midstream of Missouri.

GASFRAC, based in Calgary with branch offices in Texas, uses a process that injects gelled liquid petroleum gas, with three additives, into an underground rock formation to release trapped natural gas. During the fracking operation the gelled liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, liquefies and returns to the surface as propane gas. The propane is recovered, chilled back into a gel and reused.

GASFRAC's drilling method would not be subject to the provisions of the state's Supplemental Generic Environmental ImpactStatement, which will only guide permitting for the type of hydrofracking being used by companies in Pennsylvania, DEC says.

(Click to read the entire article)

N.Y. budget won't fund fracking health study

2012-03-27T08:08:00.000-04:00

A pair of measures championed by environmental and conservation groups will be left out of a final state budget agreement, lawmakers said Monday.

Funding for a health-specific study of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and language that would have moved the state's share of unclaimed bottle deposits to the Environmental Protection Fund were cut in final budget negotiations.

Both proposals are "not in the budget," said Assembly Environmental Chairman Robert Sweeney, D-Suffolk County. "Eventually, it was taken off the table."

Assembly Democrats had included $100,000 in their one-house budget proposal for a State University of New York research center to analyze the potential public health effects of hydrofracking, a much-debated technique of natural gas drilling.

(Click to read the entire article)

Anti-Hydrofracking Groups Join Forces To Push For Ban

2012-03-26T17:26:00.000-04:00

A coalition of 50 groups against hydraulic fracturing for natural gas have joined forces to push for a statewide ban on the controversial technique.

New Yorkers Against Fracking was launched in an Albany news conference on Monday, backed financially by a portion of a $100,000 Heinz Award given to Ithaca College scholar-in-residence Sandra Steingraber. It consists of groups from a number of different backgrounds, including Frack Action, the New York State Breast Cancer Network and Cooperstown’s Brewery Ommegang.

The coalition is looking to ban the gas extraction process altogether. High-volume hydrofracking is on hold in New York as the state Department of Environmental Conservation reviews its proposed rules and guidelines for the technique; that review is expected to wrap up this year.

“The Cuomo administration has failed to consider many of the negative impacts of fracking, on our economy, our public health, and the environment.” said Eric Weltman, New York organizer for Washington-based Food and Water Watch. “But most fundamentally, fracking is inherently dangerous and beyond our capacity to safely regulate.”

Meanwhile, a poll released by Rasmussen on Monday found that 57 percent of Americans are in favor of hydrofracking, while 22 percent said they oppose the process. That’s in contrast to a number of polls specific to New York, which have found state residents are effectively split on it.

UPDATED: A spokesman for Clean Growth Now, a coalition of business and labor groups in favor of hydrofracking, sent along this statement: “Our continuing hope and expectation is that
the state will find a way to balance the interests of those who oppose
natural gas development with those who strongly support it.”

Here’s Weltman discussing the new anti-fracking coalition:

Gas lines tied to fracking lack oversight, audit shows

2012-03-23T06:44:00.002-04:00

The federal government knows nothing about thousands of miles of pipelines that tap natural gas flows released through the drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing, and needs to step up oversight to ensure they are running safely, government auditors say.

Private companies have put in hundreds of gathering pipelines in recent years to collect gas and oil supplies freed through the high-pressure drilling technique.

Nationwide, about 240,000 miles of gathering pipelines ferry the fuels to processing facilities and larger pipelines in top energy-producing states. Many of these pipelines course through densely populated areas.

The Government Accountability Office said in its report issued Thursday that most of those miles are not regulated by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which means they are not regularly inspected for leaks or corrosion.

(Click to read the entire article)