Statewide NY

Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | New York | Pipelines | Statewide NY | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

Kinder Morgan Opens the Valves on TGP Northeast Upgrade
November 4, 2013November 4, 2013

Good news for those who live in the northeastern U.S.–Kinder Morgan, owner of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline, said on Friday they have thrown the switch (or in this case opened the valves) on their new $500 million Northeast Upgrade Project. The upgrade to TGP’s system in Pennsylvania and New Jersey adds 636,000 dekatherms per day of additional capacity to the system, which means more Marcellus Shale gas is now flowing to markets like New York City and the coast of NJ.

This is very good news indeed. Kinder Morgan’s announcement from Friday:
Read More “Kinder Morgan Opens the Valves on TGP Northeast Upgrade”
Air Quality | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Latest Laughable NY Anti Tactic – Not Enough Gas, Just Move Along
November 1, 2013November 1, 2013

A couple of nights ago a group of four retired anti-drilling ~~hippies~~ “smart people” tried the latest tact in the sad tale of frackless (and feckless) New York: Try to convince the unthinking masses with charts and maps and bamboozling bullcrap that recoverable, profitable natural gas stops at the border of Pennsylvania and New York. Yes that’s right folks. “Don’t bother to drill in NY because there just ain’t enough gas in the ground to make it worthwhile.” That’s what passed for smart and insightful, as delivered by Jerry Acton (pictured), Chip Northrup, Lou Allstadt and Brian Brock (anti-drillers all) at the once great Cornell University.

Master of ceremonies? The itinerant stand-up comedian and Cornell professor, Tony Ingraffea, of course…
Read More “Latest Laughable NY Anti Tactic – Not Enough Gas, Just Move Along”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

LNG Storage/Fueling Stations Latest Anti-Drilling Target in NY
October 31, 2013October 31, 2013

New York State is first in all of the things you don’t want to be first in–like having the highest unemployment and taxes of any state in the union–and dead last in all the things you don’t want to be last in. Example: New York is the only state that does not allow liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and LNG fueling stations. Translation: All of those new trucking fleets being purchased by UPS and other companies can’t operate in New York because there’s no place to fuel up.

LNG fueling stations have nothing to do with whether or not NY decides to allow fracking, but anti-drillers are attempting to make a connection anyway. A group of more than 100 anti-drillers piled into a hearing room in Albany yesterday to tell the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation they oppose the DEC’s plan to allow LNG storage and fueling stations. The usual crowd of hippie retreads from groups like Catskill Mountainkeeper and NY Public Interest Research Group showed up to mouth off–then they piled back into buses powered by dirty diesel fuel to head back to New York City from whence they came. Rank hypocrites, the lot of them…
Read More “LNG Storage/Fueling Stations Latest Anti-Drilling Target in NY”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

When Will We Know if NY Will See Fracking? June 2014
October 29, 2013

A question MDN is frequently asked… Q: When will the issue of fracking in New York State really and truly be decided–and by whom? A: June 2014, by the NY Court of Appeals. “Not by Gov. Cuomo?” you ask. Nope. He’ll come around, eventually. The real issue has always been whether or not entire towns can ban fracking based on the vote of 3 or 4 people who sit on a town board–a vote that denies every citizen in that town their Constitutional private property rights. Two cases now before the New York Court of Appeals will decide the issue once and for all.

Thanks to the lead attorney for one of those cases–Scott Kurkoski, attorney for the “Middlefield” case–we now have insight into how and when this will all progress from now through June of next year. It started yesterday when briefs were filed by Kurkoski (for Middlefield) and by Albany-area attorney Tom West (for the “Dryden” case) with the Court of Appeals…
Read More “When Will We Know if NY Will See Fracking? June 2014”
Energy Companies | Erie County (NY) | New York | Pennsylvania | Seneca Resources | Statewide NY | Statewide PA

National Fuel Gas Production Jumps 45% in FY13
October 23, 2013October 23, 2013

National Fuel Gas Co. is headquartered in Buffalo, NY, but it’s the Pennsylvania Marcellus that is causing the company to grow “by leaps and bounds.” National Fuel said its oil and natural gas production jumped 45% during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Via their Seneca Resources subsidiary, they are a major Marcellus player with 780,000 net acres in the PA Marcellus.

Which leads MDN to ask, what the heck are they still doing with their HQ in Buffalo? Why not move to Pittsburgh or someplace else in PA?…
Read More “National Fuel Gas Production Jumps 45% in FY13”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Norse Energy | Regulation | Statewide NY

Lights Turned Off, Door Closed – Good Night, Norse Energy
October 17, 2013October 17, 2013

It’s a sad day for New York landowners–for everyone really. Norse Energy has converted from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means the courts protect you while you regroup, to Chapter 7, which means break it all up and sell off the pieces to the highest bidder. Norse has now literally, as well as figuratively, shut off the lights and closed the door behind them. The remaining eight employees of Norse have just been let go.

For years MDN has been writing about the plight of Norse and their inability to tap shale deposits under 130,000 acres of leased land in New York. The signs have been there for some time that Norse may face extinction if NY does not open up for shale drilling (see Norse Energy 2Q13: Concerned About Remaining ‘a Going Concern’). Thanks Gov. Andy! You sure know how to make NY “business friendly.” Norse announced the change to Chapter 7 last week in a very brief press release. Buffalo Business First reports about the final employees being shown the door…
Read More “Lights Turned Off, Door Closed – Good Night, Norse Energy”
Delaware County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

When Do/Don’t Municipal Frack Bans Violate the U.S. Constitution?
October 17, 2013October 17, 2013

When do (and when don’t) municipal bans on natural gas drilling violate the U.S. Constitution? It’s a sticky question and it takes an ace legal mind to tackle this broad and complex topic. An ace attorney has done just that. MDN friend and litigator Ken Kamlet from the Binghamton law firm Hinman, Howard & Kattell (HHK) does a deep dive on the topic of when town bans violate the Constitution. This is not a theoretical exercise for Kamlet. The lawyers at HHK are currently suing (on behalf of landowners) the village of Sidney, NY (Delaware County) over a ban they passed in February 2013 (Exclusive: Sidney, NY Sued by Landowners over Fracking Moratorium).

HHK is also the law firm that sued the City of Binghamton, NY over their illegal frack moratorium and won (see NY Judge Throws Out Binghamton Fracking Moratorium). HHK knows the law, knows the Constitution, and is well-equipped to write about when bans do, and do not, violate the Constitution…
Read More “When Do/Don’t Municipal Frack Bans Violate the U.S. Constitution?”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Can Donald Trump Save Fracking in NY?
October 15, 2013October 15, 2013

While NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to delay his decision about whether to go up against the nutjobs of his own party–to “man up” and allow fracking, or not–he continues to dream about running for president in 2016. But before he can do that, he has to win re-election as governor of NY next year, in 2014. A shoo-in? A fait accompli? Foregone conclusion? Don’t be so sure. There are a LOT of angry landowners in Upstate NY. And now, there’s Donald Trump.

Rumors are circulating that NY state Republicans are teeing up Trump to run against Cuomo next year, and so far, Trump is not saying “no” to the idea. Could it be that Trump will be the savior of fracking in NY?…
Read More “Can Donald Trump Save Fracking in NY?”
Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Cuomo Says NY Doing a Good Job on Frack Health Review (LOL)
October 11, 2013October 11, 2013

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Oh, sorry, but we just could not stop laughing when we saw a quote made by Gov. Andy “he without a spine” Cuomo yesterday. With respect to the now year-long health review of proposed fracking regulations in New York–a review that was supposed to be done “within the next few weeks” back in February–Cuomo actually, incredulously said (please, try not to roll on the ground laughing like we just did): “I think we’re doing a good job on it.”

Andy must have a REALLY low opinion about the intelligence of the average NY voter…

Read More “Cuomo Says NY Doing a Good Job on Frack Health Review (LOL)”
Air Quality | Broome County | Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo’s Anti-Drilling Snit Fit
October 10, 2013October 10, 2013

New York Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo is a Democrat from the Binghamton, NY area, a member of the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation and a member of the governor’s High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel–appointed to the panel by Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens. Her opinion on fracking matters—she carries influence in Albany. She’s also anti-drilling, as MDN pointed out in March (see NY Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo: Fracking Friend or Foe?). She coyly attempts to straddle the fence with her language, but her actions speak so loudly we no longer hear her political double-speak.

Once again Lupardo proves her anti-drilling creds. She has just sent (yet another) letter to DEC Commissioner Martens (full copy embedded below). This time Lupardo wants to let Martens know she’s miffed that he won’t assemble the fracking advisory panel per her previous request earlier this year, and to let him know she thinks the never-ending health review of fracking regulations by State Health Dept. Commissioner Nirav Shah should be put on immediate hold. To which we say, really? The health review is already on hold! More on Lupardo’s anti-drilling snit fit to Martens…
Read More “NY Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo’s Anti-Drilling Snit Fit”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Frack Ban Cases Make (Glacial) Progress, Some Dates to Share
October 7, 2013

In August MDN told you that New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, would hear the twin cases of Dryden and Middlefield (see BREAKING: NY Court of Appeals will Hear Dryden/Middlefield Case). There are two things that keep shale drilling away from New York right now: (1) Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s spineless inability to take a stand and do the right thing to allow it, and (2) the Dryden/Middlefield cases. MDN believes the court cases are the more important of the two. Cuomo will come around sooner or later–he has to. However, if the court says a majority vote from a local town board can ban fracking thereby denying property rights for landowners throughout an entire township–that’s the death knell for drilling in New York. No sizable driller will gamble with hundreds of millions in lease money to see a local town simply vote to shut it all down. Too risky. (For our analysis of the New York situation, see the post: Anti-Drillers Attempt a Brave Face with NY Appeals Court Decision.)

So the Dryden/Middlefield cases are of supreme importance in the fight for property rights and to allow drilling for New York’s landowners. What’s the latest in those all-important cases? They’re moving along at the speed of a glacier–but at least we now have some dates to share…
Read More “NY Frack Ban Cases Make (Glacial) Progress, Some Dates to Share”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Willie Nelson & Friends are No Friends to Farmers
September 25, 2013September 25, 2013

A bunch of once-famous singers took to the stage this past weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY to lend Willie Nelson some help with his annual Farm Aid concert. Willie & friends were there to raise money for farmers and to bash fracking–the very thing that would raise more money for poor farmers than all of Willie’s concerts added together since he began doing them in the last century.

Among the has-beens who took to the stage was 94 year-old Pete Seeger–or a very passable taxidermist’s version of him. Pete had to get his licks in by bastardizing Woodie Guthrie’s song, “This Land is Your Land”…
Read More “Willie Nelson & Friends are No Friends to Farmers”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

JLCNY Asks Why Actors Couldn’t Keep Fracking Out of CA
September 25, 2013September 25, 2013

As MDN noted on Monday, California now has new fracking regulations signed into law by none other than Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown (see CA Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill into Law to Allow Fracking).

The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) also noticed the CA vote and points out the irony of Hollywood actors who preen in New York State who claim that so far they’ve defeated fracking here, but who apparently couldn’t keep fracking from happening in their own state…
Read More “JLCNY Asks Why Actors Couldn’t Keep Fracking Out of CA”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Research | Statewide NY

Ingraffea to Defend the Indefensible: His Own Flawed “Research”
September 24, 2013September 23, 2013

Prof. Tony Ingraffea of Cornell University continues to embarrass his employer. A new study by the University of Texas and the Environmental Research Council was released last week that (gasp!) used actual science–you know, out in the field measurements–instead of fanciful theories like Tony uses (see New Study Final Nail in Coffin of Inflated Fugitive Methane Claims). The real science in this new study completely, utterly refutes the guesswork of Ingraffea and his cohort in less-than-rigorous research, Robert Howarth.

So what does Tony do? He heads back on the lecture circuit with his best-ever dog and pony to try and convince people his guesses really are better than actual scientific measurements. He may also try to sell you a bridge while he’s at it…
Read More “Ingraffea to Defend the Indefensible: His Own Flawed “Research””
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

CA Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill into Law to Allow Fracking
September 23, 2013September 23, 2013

Last Friday, California Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown signed Senate Bill 4 into law–a new law that allows fracking in the state. In less than a year California took up the fracking issue, investigated it, debated it, crafted new regulations, and passed it–with Democrats in charge. Credit where credit is due, so our hat is off to them.

New York’s fracking moratorium (and debate) is 5 years 2 months old as of today. We believe California’s actions (and the following article) speaks for itself. However, just so we’re clear on our reason for highlighting the California vote last Friday: New York is broken. Whose fault is it? The person sitting in the governor’s mansion…
Read More “CA Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill into Law to Allow Fracking”
Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Eco Group Sues Health Dept/Shah to Release Frack Health Study
September 18, 2013September 18, 2013

MDN has made it plain we believe New York State Dept. of Health Commissioner Nirav Shah, who in February of this year said he was just “weeks away” from releasing the results of his research on the potential public health impacts of proposed new fracking rules from the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation, is covering for his boss, Gov. Andrew “Ditherer” Cuomo (see Cuomo Underling Shah: “No Timetable” on Fracking Decision). We on the pro-drilling side of the debate are not the only ones unhappy with the Cuomo/Shah marionette show.

This week an anti-drilling group from the Finger Lakes area–the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association–sued Shah and the Dept. of Health in an attempt to get the research documents finally released. The Association previously filed Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests in an effort to obtain the documents but Shah refused. Now the courts may finally force Andrew the Great Ditherer to finally get off his rear-end and make a decision by requiring Shah to release his findings…
Read More “NY Eco Group Sues Health Dept/Shah to Release Frack Health Study”