As the state Department of Environmental Conservation continues to drag its feet on allowing shale drilling in New York, more people are starting to wonder if the state has lost its opportunity to take advantage of economic development that comes with natural gas drilling. As this recent article asks, has New York missed the hydraulic fracturing boom? Another article also picks up the theme, noting that New York’s neighbor, Pennsylvania, is reaping the advantages of natural gas drilling while New York is doing nothing.
The areas of New York that could benefit from natural gas development were hit hard by the recent recession and are still suffering from high unemployment. One only has to look over the border at Pennsylvania to see the numerous benefits from natural gas drilling. But DEC continues to delay, and New York’s economy suffers.
New York Energy Citizens know that the state’s economy has been hurt by DEC dragging its feet on this issue. It seems that more observers are coming to the same conclusion.