The Reaction to New York’s Fracking Ban

Hydraulic fracturing is now a no-no in New York state.

And that has 64-year-old Marchie Diffendorf, a lifelong resident of the rural town of Kirkwood, N.Y., most unhappy.

“It’s angered and upset me,” Diffendorf said. “I think it was purely political.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced last week that the Empire State has banned “fracking” in which natural gas and oil is extracted from deep underground by drilling through tight rock formations.

Cuomo’s announcement came after the state released a public health review claiming potential water contamination and air pollution outweighed any economic gains for the state.

That prompted celebration from environmental groups but condemnation from critics who say Cuomo’s decision was based more on expediency than hard evidence.

“This is about politics and poorly supported fears,” said Michael Lynch, the president of Strategic Energy and Economic Research Inc., an international consulting firm based in Massachusetts.

But Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune called Cuomo’s decision a “huge win for the environment and public health.”

For Diffendorf, Cuomo’s decision is another blow to the economic fortunes of upstate New York.

“He knows it’s safe, but he chose to go the other way,” Diffendorf said in a telephone interview.

The energy-rich Marcellus Shale formation extends into upstate New York, an area that has been hit hard for years by tough economic times. Neighboring Pennsylvania has seen a boost in its fortunes through drilling in its rural areas.

“I’m looking out my window now, and Pennsylvania is just three miles from my house,” said Diffendorf, “They’re got (fracking) and they’re doing well. We’re in Kirkwood, New York, in Broome County. I’ve never seen so many houses here for sale. For farmers, it’s tough just to get by.”

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