ASSEMBLY DEMS SAY FRACK OFF

If the New York Assembly proves victorious there will be no fracking in New York until at least May 2015 as a two-year moratorium has been passed by the body pending further studies of the safety of the drilling technique.

Horizontal hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking, is an efficient means of extracting natural gas from shale deposits often otherwise unaccessible, but critics say the process causes environmental damage and can even possibly trigger future earthquakes. However, several states are currently enjoying economic booms due to fracking and the technology offers hope to reduce reliance on foreign sources of energy.

The Cuomo administration has yet to take a clear stance on fracking and the bill has yet to find a sponsor in the NY Senate. Senator David Carlucci has indicated his willingness to be the sponsor.

  carlucci, cuomo, economy, fracking, new york assembly