Vermont first state to ban fracking

[alp227]

Source: CNN

Vermont's governor has signed a bill making it the first U.S. state to ban fracking, the controversial practice to extract natural gas from the ground.

"This is a big deal," Gov. Peter Shumlin said Wednesday. "This bill will ensure that we do not inject chemicals into groundwater in a desperate pursuit for energy."

Shumlin said fracking contaminates groundwater and the science behind it is "uncertain at best." He said he hopes other states will follow Vermont's lead in banning it.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has unleashed a boom in energy production in the United States by allowing the extraction of oil and gas from shale rock. Supporters say it has reduced the country's oil imports, boosted natural gas production and provided thousands of jobs.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/us/vermont-fracking/index.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I vote Vermont the best state in the union!

[murray hill farm]

3. I plan to retire to Vermont in a few years.

To Burlington specifically. The most progressive and liberal city...in the most progressive and liberal state in the US. Sounds excellent to me. Plus and extremely beautiful place to live.

[Great Caesars Ghost]

4. Expect Oregon to follow suit.

[Politicalboi]

2. Good for Vermont

Gay marriage good, fracking bad. They have it right.

[BigD_95]

7. is it cold in Vermont?

I think I want to move there but my wife hates the cold & snow here in PA

[sulphurdunn]

8. I wonder how long it will take

the Supreme Court to find Vermont in violation of the inter-state commerce clause?

[xtraxritical]

9. Really great snarkasm!

[HotRodTuna]

10. Since when did Vermont have any natural resources?

Besides lobster? Please. That's like Hawaii saying it's going to ban snowblowers.

Ok, I just looked it up. Vermont has a total of three wells, all dry holes. Hey, way to stick your neck out fellas, gutsy call!

I find this kind of crap irritating.

[karynnj]

12. Lobster?

I don't think so - they are not on the ocean. I don't think Lake Champlain has lobster. I think they are famous for their granite.

Not a Vermonter - yet. (We will retire there.)

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Maine has lobster. Vermont has maple syrup and a couple of great senators...

I'm in NY, but spent my summers in Vermont when I was a kid and love it there. It's a beautiful state.

[karynnj]

15. We've vacationed there for over 20 years in the summer and will retire there. It is beautiful -

and the Senators and maple syrup are wonderful.

[HotRodTuna]

14. Yeah, landlocked - doh!

[FarCenter]

19. New Hampshire is the "Granite State". Vermont has marble.

The Vermont Marble Museum

[karynnj]

20. Thnaks should have googled rather than tried to rely on memory

of what was said in a long ago tour of the capital building with our kids about 17 years ago.

[24601]

11. Guess they never watch Battlestar Galactica reruns there....

[harun]

16. Keep up that kind of free thought Vermont and D.C. is likely to sell you to Canada!

[polichick]

22. No kidding - same way Jesus would be re-crucified if...

...he showed up talking that smack about the status quo!

[goclark]

17. The Fracking is takig place within ten mile

of my house-- CA

Do a google and see wha the Oil Industry is doing to property and land all over the map.

[Nihil]

18. The Governor's statement should also be applauded for clear-speaking.

> "This bill will ensure that we do not inject chemicals into groundwater in a desperate pursuit for energy."

If only such honesty were the rule rather than the exception in politicians.

[polichick]

21. Once again, Vermont leads with its evolved values...

This is the state that banned slavery 100 YEARS before it was banned across the country.

BRAVO!!

[RogerShuler]

23. Pennsylvania?

Any chance of the opposition getting this strong in Pennsylvania? Isn't that one of the states where the problem is especially severe?

[harun]

24. Nope. Oil and Gas own PA.