hydraulic fracturing

Lancashire fracking delayed until 2014

Lancashire fracking delayed until 2014

So, who among the environmentalists out there knew that Fracking is also a big issue in England?  The conservative movement (Tories as they are called in English politics), led by ALEC members in England, is pushing hydraulic fracturing as a cure-all to their energy woes.  The Fossil fuel industry–Big Oil–is quite active trying to avoid [...]

ALEC/CSG Sham Chemical Disclosure Model Tucked Into Illinois Fracking Bill

Illinois is the next state on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)‘s target list for putting the oil industry’s interests ahead of the public interest. 98 percent funded by multinational corporations, ALEC is described by its critics as a “corporate bill mill” and a lobbyist-legislator dating service. It brings together corporate lobbyists and right wing politicians to [...]

Fracking on Proxy Ballots at Chevron and Exxon

Described as laggards for their failure to address investor concerns, the oil and gas giants face shareowner resolutions addressing environmental and social risks associated with hydraulic fracturing. SocialFunds.com — Shareowners have filed 11 resolutions this year with oil and gas companies, requesting that they quantifiably measure and reduce the environmental and social impacts of hydraulic [...]

The Devil is in the Details

By David Streifford, Preserve Carolina (www.preservecarolina.org), with the Researchers at the Voters Legislative Transparency Project (www.vltp.net) North Carolinians need to understand our state Senate’s most recent attempt to circumvent controversial legislation.  Legislation that some legislators approved only because it would give them the opportunity to responsibly review a set of regulations before permitting any hydraulic [...]

A Trillion Dollar Call for Best Practices in Fracking Operations

Fifty-five institutional investment organizations representing $1 trillion in assets under management call for adoption of best practices by oil and gas companies engaged in hydraulic fracturing. SocialFunds.com — Many oil and gas companies are focusing their operations on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, claiming that the reserves of natural gas available by means of [...]

ALEC, CSG, ExxonMobil Fracking Fluid “Disclosure” Model Bill Failing By Design

Last year, a hydraulic fracturing (“fracking“) chemical fluid disclosure “model bill” was passed by both the Council of State Governments (CSG) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). It proceeded to pass in multiple states across the country soon thereafter, but as Bloomberg recently reported, the bill has been an abject failure with regards to “disclosure.” That was by design, [...]

Pennsylvania Act 13 Overturned by Supreme Court, Originally an ALEC Model Bill

On July 26, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled PA Act 13 unconstitutional. The bill would have stripped away local zoning laws, eliminated the legal concept of a Home Rule Charter, limited private property rights, and in the process, completely disempowered town, city, municipal and county governments, particularly when it comes to shale gas development. To read the Court’s Decision, [...]

Carney–Did She Really Want to Override the Anti-Fracking Veto

A couple of days ago I wrote about how long time legislator NC Rep Becky Carney pushed the wrong button and ended up being the key vote to override the veto of legislation that would allow fracking in NC.  At the time I said I smelled a rat. One of my colleagues here at VLTP [...]

Fracking Veto Overridden in NC–anyone smell a rat?

– A major policy decision by state lawmakers in the final hours of session is becoming law after a mistaken vote by a lawmaker. The House was voting on whether or not to override Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto of a proposal to allow fracking in North Carolina. Mecklenburg County Democrat Becky Carney voted for the [...]

Perdue vetoes controversial fracking bill

Well, first she vetoed it.  Then she went on an “industry paid” trip to PA and came back telling the legislature to re-introduce the bill because she would not veto it this time. Well, time came and she vetoed the bill at the last minute.  I publicly eat my hat for thinking that the Democratic [...]