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5/16/2012
New York regulations would prevent Pennsylvania hydrofracking problems, report says
| 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) |
5/15/2012
Anti Frackers are laying down on the job
| 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. |
5/08/2012
‘PC’ Power Is Not Sustainable (and President Obama’s “all-inclusive” energy policy is anything but!)
| 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) |
5/04/2012
Obama proposes fracking companies disclose chemicals
| 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) |
5/03/2012
In fracking fight, protests may be having an impact
| 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) |
5/01/2012
Cuomo Recommends New Chairman For Power Authority
| 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. |
4/30/2012
VIDEO: Students Protest Hydrofracking At Capitol
| 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 |
4/26/2012
Damaged Turbine Suspends Wind Energy Production
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) |
4/23/2012
State energy project raises NYRI fears
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. |
4/17/2012
Wind industry blows campaign cash at GOP
| 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) |
4/16/2012
Hinchey Calls On EPA To Finalize Air Standards For Drilling
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.
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. |
4/13/2012
Town of Dansville Public Board Meeting Hears From Public on Hydrofracking
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. |
4/12/2012
Hydrofracking roundup: Falling prices, whistleblowers and local bans
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:
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) |
4/10/2012
Judge to hear suit to halt Pa. gas-drilling law
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. |
4/05/2012
Hydrofracking Roundup: Still Work To Do On DEC Review
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.
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) |
3/30/2012
Gas Company, Dairy Farmer File Appeal Notices In Home-Rule Cases
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.
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) |
3/29/2012
Tioga drilling deal termed "incredible opportunity;" bypasses fracking
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. |
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