Posted on 12/22/2014 8:47:58 AM PST by thackney
The comedian Chico Marx famously asked, “Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?”
That’s the question I feel like Governor Andrew Cuomo is posing to New Yorkers with his decision to ban hydraulic fracturing in the Empire State’s portion of the Marcellus Shale.
The governor and his allies – most notably the acting state health commissioner, whose report served as justification for Mr. Cuomo’s decision – say the move will protect New York’s air, land, and water.
For years now, New Yorkers have been besieged by apocalyptic claims made by anti-oil and gas activists – many of them high-profile celebrities who don’t need the jobs or economic activity supported by responsible oil and gas development.
The fact is the state’s environment and the safety of local citizens would not be imperiled by energy production.
Don’t just take it from me.
Ample evidence – that anyone can see with “your own eyes” – can easily be found in the states where oil and gas production, and local economies, are booming, including New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas … and in neighboring Pennsylvania. Like New York, large swaths of Pennsylvania sit atop the natural-gas-rich Marcellus Shale.
Over the last six years, New York and Pennsylvania have offered citizens and policymakers a study in two different paths to take.
In 2008, after the New York legislature passed a measure to approve shale energy development, then-Gov. David Paterson’s administration put on the brakes by holding up drilling permits. The de facto ban in New York has remained in place since then, and yesterday’s move will extend it further.
Pennsylvania took a different route. Its policymakers embraced shale energy development. Over the last six years the state has turned into an energy powerhouse, and is now the nation’s third leading supplier of natural gas. Since the United States is the world’s leading gas producer, Pennsylvania’s contribution is obviously quite significant.
The Keystone State’s economy has thrived as a result, bringing jobs and industry back to a state that had fallen on tough times.
A 2013 report by the Manhattan Institute looked closely at Pennsylvania’s economic performance from 2007 to 2011, finding that counties with hydraulic fracturing saw substantial economic growth. Counties with more than 200 wells drilled saw per-capita incomes rise 19 percent, and job growth averaged 7 percent annually.
The study further estimated that the 28 counties in New York above the Marcellus Shale could see incomes rise by 15 percent or more if shale energy development were allowed.
Nevertheless, New York has chosen to forego this economic stimulus – and for what, exactly?
During the six years since New York’s effective ban on fracking was instituted, there have been very few reports south of the border of health or environmental issues tied to the soaring natural gas production invigorating Pennsylvania’s economy. The air and water are clean, and Pennsylvanians are healthy.
At this point, it’s worth recalling that a number of top officials of the governor’s political party have said they believe hydraulic fracturing is safe and beneficial for economic and environmental reasons.
What Pennsylvania and other states have shown is that a system of well-thought-out regulation and active oversight can serve to effectively manage the risks associated with shale energy development.
Why the governor of the nation’s fifth-largest consumer of natural gas has chosen to ignore the historical and scientific evidence in favor of theoretical concerns and repeatedly disproven claims by activists is beyond me.
Chico Marx was a comedian, so his line was meant to be funny. What Governor Cuomo did is no joke.
The oil wells of NYS have been producing steadily, if not spectacularly, for over 125 years.
Yes, but that might get people out of dependency on Dhimmicraps.
Governor-elect Tom Wolf will put a stop to this progress in PA.
I think that states like New York, which prohibit fracking based upon (completely fabricated) risks to the environment and public health, while at the same time benefiting from the lower gas and gasoline prices generated by fracking in states which have shouldered those risks, are free riders. A federal tax of, say, $1.00 per gallon and an equivalent tax on natural gas should be imposed on jurisdictions prohibiting fracking, with the resulting revenue allocated exclusively to those jurisdictions permitting the practice. It’s only fair.
New York State’s liberal government has decided that its future lies with developing more and bigger federally supported plantations for moochers, illegals and other democrat victim groups.
They don’t want to encourage the growth of the population sector that is self supporting.
People who don’t rely on government handouts become dangerously independent and hard to control.
Let's put it this way. How much money do you think it takes to hire armies of lobbyists to push for oppressive regulations in the energy industry? How much money does it take to hire armies of lawyers to perpetually tie up every natural resource development in Court? Those lobbyists and lawyers aren't doing this for free; they expect to be paid. Very well paid.
Now ask this: Do you think that operation can be funded by grandma who sent in $20 bucks because she saw a photo of a sad looking polar bear in her issue of Time magazine?
No. No new taxes.
No federal government attempt to punish states for their decisions.
The market place, along with the jobs that go with them will do that sufficiently.
Now here in NH they are trying to stop The Pipeline.
I am referring to the Kinder Morgan 36” natural gas pipeline proposed to run through southern NH. The gas will come from NY & PA. We need it to make electricity up here in NH, MA, ME, CT. They have signs that are printed up that say NO NH PIPELINE.
Just take an “EED” and place it next to the first “N” on their signs.
The Dems always look to killing the golden goose.
“If the proposed pipeline were to be routed in New Hampshire, the proposed pipeline would follow the ROW of an existing power line in New Hampshire, which would minimize the impacts to the environment and landowners. The proposed power line route would be approximately 70 miles of 36-inch mainline routed through Southern New Hampshire with approximately 64 miles being co-located with an existing 345 kV power line corridor”
So, this gas pipeline route through NH would following an existing electric power line Right of Way for all but 6 miles. Yet, the nuts still do not want it. Good grief Charlie Brown.
Cuomo is a communist and doesn’t want economic growth.
67 years and 1.5 million fracks with zero, zip, nada problems in water contamination. Why does the Left deny science>>
I've heard the same actually. PA has no clue what its done to itself putting that guy in office.
Can’t have quasi-rural “upstate” counties shedding their reliance on state welfare, now, could they? Thanks thackney.
Wolf will have Democrat Party Civil War on his hands if he tries. I have been to fracking industry events, and seen all the local Democrat politicians, their eyes bulging out, having a multiple orgasm over all the new revenue streams.
It's not a joke...it's payback
http://elections.nytimes.com/2014/results/governor
We’ll see soon enough.
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