According to the Times, the New York State government is coming closer to deciding whether to allow gas companies to extract natural gas via hydrofracking in various parts of the state. "Hydrofracking"-- an eery sounding name in it of itself-- is a potentially dangerous and environmentally-threatening way of sequestering gas from shale buried deep below the ground. Gas companies are heavily lobbying the government for permission to swarm little upstate villages and drill into these sources where apparently the gas lies untapped. The benefit? We get natural gas! (Some) people get jobs! The downsides? A majority of the New York water supply is poisoned with carcinogens, heavy metals and radioactive materials and the green hills of the countryside are broken up and destroyed.
In efforts to dissuade New York residents worried about hydrofracking risks, the most recent article in the paper cites a representative of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, Jim Smith (cool name, dude), who claims "'Listen, it's not as bad as you're hearing.' There are risks involved, but any fuel source has a risk attached to it." Bingo Mr. Smith! You got it! There are big risks involved with "fuel source" extraction. Let's take a look at the past couple of years, shall we? To name just two huge "fuel source" disasters caused by pure carelessness, let's not forget the Gulf Coast oil spill and Fukushima. So is hydrofracking worth all the trouble? I wouldn't think so; especially since history tells us we can't trust energy companies to do their job responsibly and safely.
My grandparents spend most of the year in the little village of Sharon Springs, about 3.5 hours away from New York City. My grandfather has been fighting with the rest of the town in the anti-hydrofracking movement since the moment the subject was brought up for debate. Last summer he told me that already, the next town over had given themselves over to hydrofracking. Once a hot spot-- literally, the town was known for bringing some (apparently) very sore, but very famous people up to its hot springs back in the day-- Sharon Springs hit a serious lull; but in recent years, the village has completely turned around and revamped its tourist industry. Not too far from the Glimmerglass Opera House, hundreds of people from all over the country come up north to spend relaxing weekend getaways in Sharon Springs, staying at local favorites like The American Hotel, sipping coffee from The Black Cat café, and buying goat's milk soaps and cheese made at The Fabulous Beekman Boys' farm. Hydrofracking not only poses a threat to the water supply, but in ripping up the ground and ruining the area's natural beauty, it risks destroying the positive economic growth this village has seen.
Environmental groups simply don't have nearly the amount of funds at their disposal as these gas companies and unfortunately haven't been able to pour the same large quantity of money into creating lobbying groups of their own. It's now up to Governor Cuomo to determine soon whether hydrofracking should be allowed. This is a classic case where the government has to decide between money and the welfare of millions of people.
I just hope that he hasn't been too influenced by the "fuel" fever that has infected other public officials in our government and that he makes the right decision for his citizens.
Please read the latest from The New York Times and more on hydrofracking.
Click here to "like" Sharon Springs' "anti-hydrofracking" Facebook page.
Update 12/1: Look at the comment I've posted below to read some more.
An addendum:
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa sent me some feedback and some information on the whole hydrofracking issue up in Sharon Springs. Not only are the environmental groups monetarily powerless, but additionally, he told me via email that "smooth corporate lawyers [have] talked farmers into signing drilling leases, often for a pittance, without, of course, mentioning traps in the legal language. For example, land under lease often cannot be sold. Some banks demand immediate payoff of mortgages. Land under lease cannot be used to raise money from banks [and now] many farmers are trying to get out of their leases."
The other problem is that local governments argue that they alone have the power to decide on hydrofracking, whereas the state government argues the complete opposite. My grandpa informs me that towns surrounding Sharon Springs do everything in their power to prevent these big companies from coming in. For instance, Cherry Valley, Sharon Springs' neighbor, passed a law that "prohibits large-scale industrial development and heavy truck traffic (required to transport the millions of gallons of water injected to bust up the shale and release the gas)" in efforts to put obstacles in place that block the frackers' entrance. Finally, it is apparent given both Cuomo's acknowledgement of the dangers of fracking and his willingness to permit the drilling in some more remote parts of the state that he merely wants to protect the areas that guarantee him the most votes. He is thinking of making an entirely political move at the expense of the health of the rest of the people.
Any questions, you can ask me, and I can relay them to my Grandpa.