The Economics of Fracking
Studies in New York and Pennsylvania are documenting the negative impacts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) natural gas drilling on farming, tourism and other economic sectors.
The impacts of a heavy extractive industry like natural gas mining in rural areas – destruction of farm or forest land, 24-hour operations with noise and lights, large wastewater lagoons, hundreds of heavy trucks on remote roads – are taking a toll on other sectors of local economies in Pennsylvania and New York.
Cornell University Professor Susan Christopherson, the J. Thomas Clark Professor in the Department of City & Regional Planning, is leading a team of researchers looking into the economic consequences of shale gas drilling. Follow the link to the Cornell Green Energy site, with reports on economic impacts, workforce challenges, water resource impacts and protecting local roads.
Farming & Fracking
The Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes region in New York held a Farm Forum, “Agriculture – The Promise & The Reality” on March 15, 2011 in Penn Yan, NY. Three excellent presentations:
Terry Greenwood, farmer in Washington Co, PA
Ron Gulla, farmer in Hickory, PA
Leslie Lewis, attorney discusses gas drilling leases
