In New York, state lawmakers eye measures to fight climate change
A bill that would extend New York state’s ban on natural gas fracking is heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk after the State Legislature acted recently to prohibit using liquid carbon dioxide to extract the gas from shale rock.
It’s one of a number of measures that lawmakers are considering to combat climate change.
New York banned the hydrofracking of natural gas in 2014. Since then, a fracking process using carbon dioxide has been pioneered in China. Many environmentalists say the process can potentially cause earthquakes and acidify drinking water.
Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she wants to make sure it’s not used in New York.
“As one of the first states to ban fracking, we’re once again leading the way by prioritizing the health and well-being of our residents over short-term profits,” Stewart-Cousins said. “This is not just a policy decision, but it's a moral decision to protect the lives of our constituents in their communities.”