ALBANY, N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo came as close as he ever has to approving fracking last month, laying out a limited drilling plan for as many as 40 gas wells before changing course to await the findings of a new study after discussions with environmentalist and former brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to several people familiar with his thinking.
The turning point, which could delay a decision for up to a year or longer, came in a series of phone calls with Kennedy. The two discussed a new health study on the hydraulic fracturing drilling method that could be thorough enough to trump all others in a debate that has split New York for five years. ‘‘I think the issue suddenly got simple for him,’’ said Kennedy, who went on to paraphrase Cuomo in their discussions: ‘‘ ‘If it’s causing health problems, I really don’t want it in New York state. And if it’s not causing health problems, we should figure out a way we can do it.’ ’’
Comments
I'm generally opposed to premarital fracking. It might be OK if the couple doing the fracking are in a committed relationship. There is entirely too much casual fracking going on and it leads to all kinds of problems.
Hilarious! SNL could use your talents.
Cuomo and NYS will probably restrict or ban hydraulic fracturing technology under pressure from environmental groups. That's too bad. Domestic natural gas causes less air pollution, emits less CO2 and causes no mining deaths. If we exported natural gas to China, we could reduce our trade deficit and help the Chinese clean up their filthy urban air.