Vermont Becomes First State to Ban Fracking

In a purely symbolic gesture, Vermont has become the first (and likely only) state in union to ban hydraulic fracturing. Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the law yesterday with a crowd of grade school students from Twinfield Union School who have been brainwashed by their teachers into thinking fossil fuels are evil. The ban is symbolic because there is no oil or gas underneath Vermont to drill for.

Shumlin said the increased amounts of natural gas obtainable through hydraulic fracturing were not worth the risk to drinking water supplies.

In the coming generation or two, "drinking water will be more valuable than oil or natural gas," Shumlin said.

"Human beings survived for thousands and thousands of years without oil and without natural gas," he said. "We have never known humanity or life on this plant to survive without clean water."

Shumlin then appeared to contradict himself, saying other states should emulate Vermont’s ban on hydraulic fracturing but also should be the "guinea pigs" for testing the process.

"I hope other states will follow us," he said. "The science on fracking is uncertain at best. Let the other states be the guinea pigs. Let the Green Mountain State preserve its clean water, its lakes, its rivers and its quality of life."*

Here’s a thought: Why don’t energy and utility companies shut off the natural gas spigot to Vermont since gas is such a horrible, nasty fossil fuel, and see how quickly Gov. Shumlin and the Democrats that run the place change their minds?

*Bennington (VT) Banner/AP (May 16, 2012) – Vt. becomes 1st state to ban gas ‘fracking’