New York

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | New York | Tompkins County

NY Eco Group Protest to Stop Plant Converting from Coal to NatGas
July 1, 2013July 1, 2013

It would be hysterically funny if it weren’t so pathetically sad. So-called environmentalists don’t want an electrical generating power plant in Tompkins County, near Ithaca, NY, to switch from burning coal to natural gas because they’re afraid it will mean more fracking. Talk about cuckoo birds. Members of a group called the Finger Lakes Action Network protested at the plant on Saturday…
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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide NY | Statewide OH | Statewide PA

Energy in Depth Websites Consolidate with National Website
June 26, 2013June 26, 2013

For those wondering (like we did) what the heck happened to the Energy in Depth – Marcellus and Energy in Depth – Ohio websites, they’ve been merged into the national Energy in Depth website. Each of those original websites and their excellent articles are still around–they’re just part of the main site, found at //energyindepth.org.

EID is a vitally important voice in the drilling debate. It is the voice of the drilling industry–backed by the Independent Petroleum Association of America. Those who hate fossil fuels are quick to point out that EID is the voice of “big oil.” Well, uh, yeah, it is. It’s also the voice of little oil and gas companies. But let’s not quibble–all oil is big oil for the eco-nuts. The anti-fossil fuel gang would love nothing better than to put a muzzle on EID. Fortunately for the vast majority of Americans who love fossil fuels and the prosperity we derive from them as a nation (fossil fuels provide virtually all of our energy), EID is not going anywhere. They’re still around setting the record straight. They’ve just done a bit of housekeeping and consolidation of their many websites into one, according to this press release:
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Monroe County (NY) | New York | Regulation

Flags at Half Staff: Rochester, NY Extends Fracking Moratorium
June 21, 2013June 21, 2013

On Tuesday, Rochester, NY City Council voted 9-0 to extend ordinance No. 2012-269, a moratorium on shale gas drilling, until June 30, 2014 (a copy of the resolution is embedded below). A similar moratorium in Binghamton, NY was found illegal and tossed out by a judge last year (see NY Judge Throws Out Binghamton Fracking Moratorium). Just a few weeks ago, a town in Delaware County was sued for passing the same type of moratorium (see Exclusive: Sidney, NY Sued by Landowners over Fracking Moratorium). Perhaps City Council members and voters in Rochester simply like paying high taxes to defend lawsuits?
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Schoharie County | Williams

Iroquois Pipeline Files App for Constitution Interconnect in NY
June 21, 2013June 21, 2013

In January, MDN told you about plans from the Iroquois Gas Transmission System to build a new interconnect and expand their compressor station in Wright, NY to connect to the new Constitution Pipeline that will be built by Williams to pipe Marcellus Shale gas from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY where it will connect to the Iroquois pipeline (see Iroquois Announces Interconnect for Constitution Pipeline in NY).

Last Friday, Iroquois announced they’ve officially filed the request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The filing says Iroquois plans to have the interconnect up and running by March 2015:
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Anti-Drilling Stupidity on Parade in Albany, NY
June 19, 2013June 19, 2013

The problem in New York, dear reader, is not (necessarily) an inept politician–Gov. A. Cuomo–but rather the hypocrisy and stupidity of many of my fellow residents. To wit, a rally in Albany on Monday drew something over 1,000 anti-fossil fuel protesters (the AP says 2,000, they always double the real number), where those who attended cheered poll results that show an increase across the state in those who oppose shale drilling…
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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY State Politicians Tackle the *Really* Tough Issue…of Cider
June 19, 2013June 19, 2013

This post is somewhat off-topic and purely for your entertainment purposes. We’re near the end of a legislative session here in New York State–you know, the state where 4/5 of the state, known as “Upstate,” is in economic poverty with job and population losses year after year. Our intrepid governor, Andrew “The Ditherer” Cuomo is hard at work with lawmakers (before heading off to the Hamptons for the summer). They’re trying to figure out how to improve the lives of all ~~serfs~~ New York residents, especially those ~~losers~~ in Upstate.

Would an immediate influx of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment from drilling in shale deposits be one of the things our hardworking politicians are discussing to, you know, improve the lives of Upstaters, especially farmers? Nope. Not even on the table. Instead, they’re fiddling around with legislation to allow farmers to make up to 150,000 gallons of hard cider a year (using NY apples of course)–presumably to keep them drunk so they won’t notice their property rights have been confiscated and they’re about to lose the family farm…
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Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide NY | Statewide PA | Williams

It’s Official: Williams Files Constitution Pipeline App with FERC
June 17, 2013June 17, 2013

It’s official. Since last year we’ve known about and have reported on plans by Williams and Cabot Oil & Gas to build a new Marcellus Shale pipeline from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY–called the Constitution Pipeline (see New Marcellus Constitution Pipeline Announces “Final” Route). On Friday, Williams filed the official application for the new pipeline with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Original plans called for the FERC filing to happen in “spring” of this year, with construction set to begin in April 2014 and the pipeline coming online in March 2015. According to the latest press release, the in-service date is still on track.

In addition to three original investors, the Constitution Pipeline picked up a fourth investor just a few weeks ago (see New Partner Invests in Marcellus Shale Constitution Pipeline). Perhaps that’s why a “spring” filing became an “early summer” filing? The announcement from Williams last Friday:
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Delaware County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation

Exclusive: Sidney, NY Sued by Landowners over Fracking Moratorium
June 14, 2013June 14, 2013

Three town board members in the Town of Sidney (Delaware County), NY should be concerned–very concerned. They voted February 13th to enact a one-year moratorium against shale drilling and fracking. Two other board members voted against the moratorium, so it passed. Now, all residents of the Town of Sidney will have to shuck out more money in taxes to defend that vote–on Wednesday they were sued by a group of local landowners whose property rights have been violated by the ban.

The worrisome part for Sidney is who is doing the suing on behalf of the landowers–Hinman, Howard & Kattell (HHK)–the same law firm that successfully sued Binghamton over their moratorium. Binghamton’s moratorium was found illegal and tossed last year (see NY Judge Throws Out Binghamton Fracking Moratorium). Below is a summary of the lawsuit against Sidney, as provided to MDN by HHK:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY | Tompkins County

Dryden Files Request with NY Highest Court to Not Consider Appeal
June 14, 2013June 14, 2013

Although New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has dithered for more than a year on whether or not to allow fracking–and continues his equivocation–there is a much more important drama unfolding that will ultimately, in our opinion, determine whether or not New York will ever see meaningful shale drilling. The more important issue is now in the courts. Specifically, it revolves around whether or not New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, will hear a pair of cases from towns that have banned drilling.

A few weeks ago we told you about the appeals from a landowner near Cooperstown (Middlefield) and from Norse Energy (Dryden) asking the Court of Appeals to hear the case and overturn the town bans. The Town of Dryden has now sent their own request to the Court of Appeals–asking them to not consider the case…
Read More “Dryden Files Request with NY Highest Court to Not Consider Appeal”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Willie Nelson & Farm Aid Concerts Go Anti-Drilling
June 14, 2013June 14, 2013

We guess we’ve always known that country music superstar Willie Nelson tilts to the liberal spectrum when it comes to politics (but dang, we like his music!). One of the things Willie has done over the years, to his credit, is promote family farms. He’s raised a boatload of money from his “Farm Aid” concerts to benefit family farms. Unfortunately, Willie has allowed his liberal buddies to convince him that fracking is bad, and now that misinformed philosophy has sadly co-opted the Farm Aid events.

Willie is coming to upstate New York in September for another Farm Aid concert. His message? Buy locally grown/produced food, and ban shale drilling. We recommend you pass by supporting Willie, his music, and Farm Aid events…
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Industrywide Issues | Maryland | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide MD | Statewide NY | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Boundaries of the Utica and Marcellus Shale (Maps)
June 13, 2013June 13, 2013

A brief post on the RealClearEnergy website presents what at first glance seems glaringly obvious to us: Most of the Marcellus Shale is underlain by the Utica Shale. But on second thought, perhaps it’s not so obvious to many people.

MDN has remind ourselves that new readers are accessing this site all the time–sometimes learning about the Marcellus and Utica Shale for the first time. So in the spirit of “refresher course” for some, and “here’s how it works” for others, below is that brief post, along with an excellent map. We’ve also included, for the first time ever, a series of maps from Vol. 2 of the 2012 Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook that show the boundaries for both the Marcellus and Utica Shale on state maps (PA, OH, WV, NY, MD) with counties identified on the maps (this is really cool stuff folks!)…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Herkimer County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

Manheim Latest NY Town to Pass Illegal Fracking Moratorium
June 13, 2013June 13, 2013

Yet another New York town has foolishly voted to extend a moratorium on drilling. Why foolish? A judge threw out a similar moratorium in Binghamton, NY last year (see NY Judge Throws Out Binghamton Fracking Moratorium). Depending on the language used and general circumstances, moratoriums in New York are illegal. Outright bans, for now, are still legal–although a pair of cases is (hopefully) headed to the state’s highest court which may overturn the right of towns to ban fracking (i.e. stop them from stripping away the rights of property owners).

The latest NY town to pass a moratorium and announce to the world it’s closed for business is Manheim (Herkimer County), NY. Note to Manheim taxpayers: Get ready to open your wallets to defend an expensive lawsuit…
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Economic Impact | Erie County (NY) | Industrywide Issues | New York

Natural Flame Near Buffalo May Change World Shale Gas Estimates
June 12, 2013June 12, 2013

An “eternal flame,” a naturally occurring flame that burns from a source of underground natural gas just outside of Buffalo, NY (see video below) may have profound implications for energy worldwide. The source of fuel for that flame, not yet fully understood, may mean everything we thought about how much natural gas is available in shale deposits is wrong–grossly wrong. And way, way too low…
Read More “Natural Flame Near Buffalo May Change World Shale Gas Estimates”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Onondaga County | Regulation

Pompey, NY Votes to Ban Drilling, Bullies 2 Board Members
June 12, 2013June 12, 2013

The Town of Pompey (Onondaga County), NY, near Syracuse, voted on June 3 to ban all fracking and shale drilling in the town. We’d like to take this opportunity to once again deliver a brief history lesson of how and why this is nothing short of mob rule and not classic democracy in action.

First, the news from Pompey and how three town board members (Carol Marsh, Greg Herlhy and Victor Lafrenz) bullied two other board members (Carl Dennis and Craig Smithgall) into not voting, and how those three individuals unilaterally snatched away the property rights of 15-20 landowners in the town who already have gas leases, with a single vote…
Read More “Pompey, NY Votes to Ban Drilling, Bullies 2 Board Members”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Bloomberg: NY Dead Last in Business Because of Fracking Moratorium
June 12, 2013June 12, 2013

An article appearing on, of all places, the ultra-liberal Bloomberg news service, compares both California and New York and their neck-and-neck race to be dead last in business friendliness. Although both states have ineffective governors and shoot themselves in the head on a number of issues, the article concludes that New York wins the dubious distinction of being “dead last” for business climate primarily because of one deciding factor: fracking.

California, even with Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown and its pot-smoking, granola-head legislature has embraced (or at least not rejected) fracking, while New York’s Gov. Andrew “Ditherer” Cuomo, frightened of his loony left, has continued to block fracking. New York is entering a fifth year of a de facto moratorium on drilling and it has killed the upstate economy.

From the article:
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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Fracking Moratorium Bill in Senate Still Stalled, TY Repubs
June 12, 2013June 12, 2013

Thank God for the Republicans in the New York State Senate. Because of the leadership (and opposition) of people like Sen. Tom Libous (Binghamton, NY) and Senate Co-Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a bill in the Senate to extend a fracking moratorium statewide until next May is still stalled and likely will not come to a vote. A similar bill has already passed the Democrat-dominated NY Assembly…
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