New York at Crossroads with Hydraulic Fracturing, Republican Platform Spurns Production Tax Credits for Wind

The state of New York has a substantial supply of natural gas located in the sprawling Marcellus Shale. Already, Ohio and Pennsylvania have begun mining natural gas using the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing. Governor Andrew Cuomo, the hugely popular center left Democrat is at the maelstrom of the decision of whether the state of New York should utilize the environmentally controversial technology of hydraulic fracturing to yield economic benefits to the state.  A recent poll of New Yorkers conducted by the Siena College Research Institute finds that 39% say they are for allowing hydraulic fracturing, yet 38% say they are opposed to hydraulic fracturing and 20% saying they don't have enough information, By party affiliation, 30% of Democrats, 50% of Republicans and 42% of Independents are pro hydraulic fracturing.  Governor Cuomo will have to decide how craft a position where he is both pro-business developments while finding a way to have concrete regulations to prevent the environmental hazards of Fracking.

Not surprisingly, the Republicans voted to keep the wind production tax credit and other renewable subsidies out of the GOP official platform. Senator John Hoeven, (ND), chair of the policy committee said the decision was to speak in generalities,.  No mention of evil subsidies, of which there are plenty, for coal, oil and gas, and nuclear.