Newly Released NY Energy Plan Mum on Fracking

New York’s newly released energy plan calls for increased use of renewable energy and clean technology and anticipates reduced utility bills and a more flexible distribution grid, but takes no position on the highly charged issue of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the fertile Marcellus Shale.

While the proposal of the State Energy Planning Board calls for expanding the use of natural gas, instead of oil, for heating and power generation to reduce emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide, it also notes that state officials are reviewing health and environmental concerns regarding fracking.

The shale formation extends from southern New York to West Virginia and has made abundant, low-cost natural gas available to New York through pipelines from gas fields in Pennsylvania. But New York has had a moratorium on fracking since the state launched an environmental review in 2008. Fracking involves injecting a gas well with a mixture of water and chemicals at high pressure to crack surrounding rock and release trapped gas.

The board’s long-term plan, which was supposed to be completed in September 2012, was released Tuesday for a 60-day public comment period. Six public hearings will be held around the state, and a final version is expected to be adopted in the spring.

Environmental groups have called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to ban fracking, citing potential hazardous spills and disruption to community life. Hundreds of anti-fracking protesters rallied outside Cuomo’s State-of-the-State address Wednesday, but the governor made no mention of gas drilling in his speech.

Over the past year, Cuomo has said repeatedly that he’s waiting for his health commissioner to complete a review, with no deadline for a decision.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the January 10th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.