The Good News: Middlefield / Dryden Upheld WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!! Today, in a landmark decision, the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the
The Good News: Middlefield / Dryden Upheld
WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!
Today, in a landmark decision, the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, ruled that the towns of Dryden and Middlefield can use local zoning laws to ban fracking within their municipal borders, supporting home rule and providing a resounding victory to all towns that have already banned fracking. 170 municipalities in New York have banned fracking so far (see map at left, thanks to the good work of the folks at Fracktracker).
Hopefully this decision will encourage others to follow. Some towns had hesitated to institute bans for fear of being sued. Dryden and Middlefield activists, and CEDC attorneys Helen and David Slottje, deserve huge praise and congratulations from all of us!
The Bad News: Casino Deal Opens State to Fracking?
The change comes as a result of a settlement agreement brokered by Cuomo and Oneida Indian Nation Representative and CEO, Ray Halbritter, pictured above.
As of today, as a result of an agreement meant to settle decades-old lawsuits, land within Madison and Oneida counties (just east of Syracuse) owned by the Oneida Indian Nation becomes eligible for conversion to federal "Trust" land. Because federal land is not subject to state or local law, under Obama's "All of the Above" energy policy, the change could open the door to fracking within New York State, despite a de facto moratorium.READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Mixed news: Update on the Radon Bill
: ( The radon bill did not reach a floor vote this past legislative session, which closed 10 days ago. Intel is that there was some objection to the bill's $25,000 per day fine, which would kick in if utilities violate the terms of the law by delivering gas to residents with dangerous levels of radon. (You mean, motivate them NOT to poison customers?) One imagines that is a sticking point requiring more convincing from constituents, especially when rate increases are so readily approved.
: ) We'll get it next year! While we were hopeful, it would have been a long shot to pass a bill so easily (not for nothing do they call it sausage making). The coming recess gives us all more time to educate the wider public so they can convince their reps to support the measure. To join Citizen Radon Watch, an alliance that does outreach and education on radon, please send an email to contact@saneenergyproject.org.
