hydrofracking

Court decision no deterrent for gas companies

Kate O'Connell — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:08:25 +0000

New York’s second highest court upheld the right for two municipalities to ban gas drilling last week. But, that decision won’t deter gas and oil producer Lenape Resources from appealing a similar ban in the upstate community of Avon.

Elmira faces ups and downs of gas business

Matt Richmond — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:47:00 +0000

The City of Elmira is just seven miles from the Pennsylvania border. And for four years, the natural gas boom in Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier crossed over the border and boosted Elmira’s economy. But that boom has slowed down.

Home rule fracking decision challenged in Avon

Kate O'Connell — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:03:46 +0000

Gas and Oil producer Lenape Resources has filed a note of appeal as part of an attempt to overturn a court decision made in March that allowed the town of Avon to maintain its moratorium on fracking. This is the third case of this kind in upstate New York.

Controversy causes fracking consultant to resign from industry lobby group

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:52:32 +0000

Opponents of hydrofracking are charging there’s a potential conflict of interest with a consultant to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s environmental agency. They are asking that the years-long review of fracking in New York state be restarted. The controversy caused the consultant in question to sever all ties with a gas industry lobby group.

Fracking overshadows other issues on Earth Day

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:16:00 +0000

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

Farmers and foodies call for fracking ban

Ashley Hassett — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:50:42 +0000

A coalition of farmers and foodies are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to ban hydraulic fracturing in New York state right away. Groups across the state are expected to meet throughout the week to alert the public to the risks they believe fracking poses to the state’s agricultural viability.

New York state still awaiting fracking decision

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:40:00 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s health commissioner is expected to release a health report on hydraulic fracturing soon, at least according to a timetable announced in late February. But the Cuomo administration has already missed several deadlines on fracking.

Vermont, New York weigh in on proposed natural gas pipeline

Sarah Harris — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:21:05 +0000

People packed into the high school auditorium in Hinesburg, Vt. last week, to voice their opinions on a proposed natural gas pipeline before the Vermont Public Service Board.

Arguments over fracking bans focus on one sentence

Matt Richmond — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:47:50 +0000

Oral arguments were completed Thursday in the case that will decide whether New York towns have the right to ban gas drilling. The case comes down to how the panel of four judges will interpret a single sentence.

Fracking rule delays rile New Yorkers

David Chanatry — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:43:31 +0000

In New York, expected rules on hydro-fracking for natural gas are overdue, and leaders in Albany seem poised to slow the rule-making process further. The delays are not going over well with some people who hope to cash in on the gas boom.

Protesters arrested at gas storage site in Finger Lakes

Kate O'Connell — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:13:13 +0000

A number of protestors were arrested for blockading the entrance to a natural gas storage facility in the Finger Lakes region early Monday.

Assembly passes ban on fracking for two more years; Senate unlikely to do same

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:22:00 +0000

The New York State Assembly has approved, by a 95 to 40 vote, a two-year moratorium on hydrofracking in New York. While it’s unlikely to be passed in the Senate, the action reflects state lawmakers' growing worries about potential health impacts from the natural gas drilling process.

Anti-hydrofracking activists try to get students involved in movement

Ellen Abbott — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:10:43 +0000

As the controversy over hydrofracking drags on in New York state, opponents of the drilling method are trying to get more college students involved in the debate. NYPIRG project coordinator Nicole Saint James is recruiting students at Syracuse University to help put more pressure on Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cuomo faces difficult choice on fracking

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:14:21 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces a tough choice as he continues to ponder the decision on whether to allow hydro fracking in New York, and it seems there’s no easy way to win for the governor.

State Assembly proposes to ban fracking for another year

Karen Dewitt — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:58:04 +0000

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is one of the sponsors of a bill to ban fracking in New York state at least until May of next year.

Broome County opens Office of Energy Development

Matt Richmond — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:55:00 +0000

The Broome County Legislature recently approved a new Office of Energy Development, but the purpose of the office is not clear.

Fracking delay could take weeks or much longer

Matt Richmond — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:49:15 +0000

On Tuesday, New York state officials announced another delay of their final decision on hydrofracking. The Department of Environmental Conservation will wait for a report on the health protections in its environmental review of fracking. Then the environmental review can be completed. The delay could be less than a month or it could be much longer. But one thing is clear - the delayed health review is now the key factor in deciding whether or not fracking will go ahead in New York.

New York delays fracking decision again

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:14:14 +0000

A February deadline on New York’s process to allow hydrofracking will be missed, with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Health Commissioner now saying he needs more time to complete an on-going health study.

Dueling filmmakers dispute over fracking in Albany

Karen Dewitt — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:15:27 +0000

As they await Gov. Andrew Cuomo's decision on whether fracking will go forward in New York, dueling pro- and anti-fracking filmmakers held screenings and promotions for their films in Albany. At one point in their visit, the two sides confronted each other in the halls of the Capitol.

DEC may miss deadline for fracking regulations

Marie Cusick — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:11:00 +0000

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens suggested Monday that the state may miss a February 27 deadline to complete its proposed fracking regulations. And that could stall a decision on gas drilling for months.

Cuomo's budget cuts DEC funding by $53 million

Matt Richmond — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:03:59 +0000

In Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2013-2014 budget, the Department of Environmental Conservation is looking at a budget cut of 5.5 percent. What will this mean for the department if hydrofracking comes to New York?

Poll finds New Yorkers back new gun laws, but split on fracking

Karen Dewitt and Catherine Loper — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:15:26 +0000

A new poll finds voters overwhelming support for many of the items that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing, including parts of the newly enacted gun control law.

Assembly hearing on fracking paints a dark picture

Matt Richmond — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:53:58 +0000

Public commenting on the state’s revised hydrofracking regulations closed on Friday. Final regulations are due to be released at the end of February. The Democratic-controlled state assembly held a public hearing on Thursday that included some heated exchanges.

Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon deliver letter to Cuomo on last day for fracking comments

Karen Dewitt — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:24:17 +0000

Anti-fracking activists, including Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon, attempted to present the state’s environmental agency with over 200,000 comments, on the last day of a public comment period on the gas drilling process. They and other anti-fracking activists also tried to deliver a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Gun control highlighted in lengthy State of the State

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:01:43 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in his third State of the State message Wednesday asked lawmakers to help him “stop the madness,” and pass tough new anti gun legislation. Cuomo also focused on changes to better prepare for future "superstorms" and to approve a new women’s equality act.

State of the State brings initiatives for women's equality, building casinos & more

Ellen Abbott — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:08:58 +0000

Upstate New York's struggling economy will get a boost if plans proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State speech in Albany Wednesday move ahead.

Local officials challenge latest fracking deadline

Matt Richmond — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:51:30 +0000

A group called Elected Officials to Protect New York is pressing Gov. Andrew Cuomo to extend a 30-day public comment period that ends Friday. The comment period is for revised hydrofracking regulations released by the Department of Environmental Conservation in November.

Report from state Health Department says fracking could be done safely

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:48:04 +0000

A document from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration assessing the health impacts of hydrofracking, written less than a year ago, says the gas drilling process is likely safe if proper precautions are taken by the governor’s environmental agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Cuomo talks campaign finance, the Senate, fracking with New York State Public Radio

Karen Dewitt — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:09:33 +0000

Governor Andrew Cuomo says he will soon introduce legislation to regulate electioneering activities by some not-for-profits that have become increasingly influential players in funding political campaigns.

Will there be fracking by February?

Karen Dewitt — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 10:58:35 +0000

The Cuomo Administration could be headed toward approval of hydrofracking in New York by the end of February, when a 90-day extension on a rule making process ends.