Dear Shale Protestor,

Let’s assume that when the music stops Governor Cuomo is holding the hot potato.  The Governor is going to make the decision about whether shale development can go forward in New York state.  Notwithstanding the pyrotechnic protest on display here, the decision to go forward or stay stuck is going to come down to the decision of a single person, the Governor. 

Governor Cuomo has long said that if it does come down to his decision, science, not politics, will guide him.  So which will it be if he tells the state’s top scientists to go back to the drawing board after four-and-a-half years of study?

Does he not know that the United States has drilled over a million oil and gas wells, the majority of which are fractured?  Does he not know that the United States has also extracted more oil and gas over a longer period of time than any other country in the world?  If we don’t have enough data to make a scientific decision, we never will.  Period.  Full stop.

Industry has long said look at neighboring states where shale is being developed to gage the real costs and true benefits of fracturing.

Pennsylvania and Ohio, for example, have lots of jobs and thriving economies.  The water is not polluted.  The air is not fouled.  These states have large, working manufacturing sectors, and industrial activity is associated with prosperity.  Governors Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania and John Kasich of Ohio, both Republicans, were fast followers into shale development.  

Even in states like Illinois and California, governors tout the benefits and press legislators to pass newly written regulations.  They want shale development and the economic boon it provides  Admittedly, Governors Pat Quinn of Illinois and Jerry Brown of California, both Democrats, have motivation. The financial condition of their states ranks near in comparison with all fifty states nationwide.  

In contrast, here in New York the industrial base moved out 50-years ago, contributing to New York City’s almost bankruptcy in 1975.  Rebuilding a post-industrial economy took two decades and upstate New York never returned.  New Yorkers are skeptical of industrial jobs — natural resource extraction jobs in particular — criticizing them for boom and bust.

There is another unique consideration here, too.  Governor Cuomo has the majority of the national environmental movement sitting on his shoulder.  Most environmentalist organizations headquarter here.

Clearly, Governor Cuomo has a lot on his mind.  Yet, if permits are to be delayed once again, I would say ask some pointed questions and get some detailed answers, such as:

·         Is there such a thing as a carbon free economy? Where is it? Can it scale to New York size?

·         What is the fastest way to reduce carbon emissions? Where is the proof?

·         Exactly how will water be polluted?  Can it be fixed? Who pays for the damage?

·         Exactly how will air be fouled? Can it be fixed? Who pays for the damage?

·         How much electricity will barns and building rooftops generate? How much does it cost?

·         How many wind turbines need to be sited? Locate them on a map.

·         How many transmission lines need to be run? Locate them on a map.

·         How are intermittent wind and solar backed up?  If intermittent electricity sources require 100% back-up what are the savings?

·         And, why is no other governor (with the exception of Vermont, a state that is the size of a large national park with no hydrocarbon resources that banned fracking) having so much difficulty making a decision?

Till Next Time,

Energy Mom

New York City