Production of energy has environmental costs. Nobody denies that. But how “pure” is it for us to use the energy, as we all do, so long as it doesn’t create LOCAL problems? Personally, I don’t believe “nimby” is an “impure” motive, any more than is the sale of natural gas to create local private wealth.

Monroe County has not been noted for its great prosperity and I am glad to see more wealth in the county, from sources other than folks who bring their money with them into the county and then try to prevent the rest of us from making something of our resources here.

I’m glad to see that President Obama now supports shale gas development and West Virginia has recently enacted legislation granting tax credits to individuals and business for natural gas vehicles and filling stations.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/laws/WV/tech/3253

Natural gas costs about 1/3 as much as gasoline to run a vehicle.

We are not claiming a majority…yet. But we are going to find out how this county feels, and so far, across the multiple days in multiple locations (from Alderson to Greenville and in between), different times of day, etc, about 80% of all residents met ended up signing a BAN petition. That is a staggering unheard of number and should shock you as much as it shocked us. More on the endeavor as it unfolds.

As for the ulterior motive, I really am glad we had this little exchange.

I was being polite and passive calling it an ulterior motive. You have stated it so much more clearly.

It is not an ulterior motive, it is a primary motive.

“those of us who want to sell the gas under our land?”

That’s right! – YOU want to SELL the GAS under your land.

That is your motive, and counter-attacking/attempting-to-disprove all the scientific and anecdotal evidence currently available that shows fracking to be BAD NEWS – serves your motive.

Imagine a world for a moment, in which you were reading the same stuff, hearing the same stories, same articles, etc – but DID NOT want to sell the gas under your land? Would you perceive them the same?

Mr. Blakeslee, our motive is pure. We want to save our little county, our land, and our water supply. Your motive, and those of the supporters of fracking, is MONEY.

In the report released today, the EPA said that pollution from 33 abandoned oil and gas waste pits – which are the subject of a separate cleanup program – are indeed responsible for some degree of shallow groundwater pollution in the area. Those pits may be the source of contamination affecting at least 42 private water wells in Pavillion. But the pits could not be blamed for contamination detected in the water monitoring wells 1,000 feet underground.

That contamination, the agency concluded, had to have been caused by fracking.