More states should follow New York’s lead and allow communities to accept or ban gas and oil corporations’ offer to perform hydraulic fracturing on their local land.
Two New York Supreme Court decisions last week heralded a victory for local citizens that proved individuals who band together through political action can overpower corporate interests.
Each state Supreme Court judge ruled the Town of Dryden and the Town of Middlefield, respectively, were within their municipal rights to ban hydraulic fracturing and gas drilling.
Within the past year or so, Ithaca residents and those from surrounding towns like Dryden and Danby brought passion to town meetings and demanded that oil companies stay out of their backyards. As seen in the Dryden and Middlefield case, a general resident stance on fracking greatly aids in arguments against corporations that say permits in towns should be designated by the state.
The Ithacan
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