Maryland Continues to Shoot Itself in the Head re Shale Drilling

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Even the Republicans in Maryland are Democrats. That's the only conclusion we can come to, to explain why politicians in Maryland keep shooting themselves in the head with respect to shale drilling. First, the state, under former governor Martin O'Malley (who tried to run for the Democrat nomination for president and washed out) studied fracking for four long, bloody years. There's only drillable shale deposits under 1.5 counties in the entire state--in the far western corner (Garrett County and Allegany County). As he was leaving office, O'Malley--to his credit--teed up new fracking regulations that would allow the state to begin fracking THIS YEAR. Then the new Republican governor, Larry Hogan, took office as a supporter of natural gas. He promptly wimped out after the legislature voted on a new two-year moratorium. The legislators from Garrett & Allegany counties voted FOR the moratorium! Insane. And now, the Garrett County Commissioners are considering a frack ban around one of the lakes in the county. Hello! There ain't that many places to drill in the first place in Maryland!...

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