Jackson dodges fracking, sans resolution

Jackson County officials were recently set to discuss the possibility of joining other local governments in the region and consider an anti-fracking resolution. At least that’s what Commissioner Vicki Greene thought.

Fracking opponents question show of fracking support at hearing

Attendees at Cullowhee’s hearing on the proposed oil and gas rules Sept. 12 were overwhelmingly anti-fracking, but a small contingent of men showed up on a bus from Winstom-Salem — provided by the N.C. Energy Forum —  wearing sky blue t-shirts bearing the words “Shale Yes.” Except, fracking opponents are saying, the men weren’t exactly informed proponents of the fossil fuel extraction practice.

Fracking opponents: What they said

“We want unannounced reviews and inspections by DENR. It’s like a drug test. You tell them they’re going to be drug tested? They’re clean. So we want unannounced inspections, number one. We want records kept for a minimum of 50 years, not 5 years. We want no wide-range variances on regulations. We don’t want favors given out to criminals that are fracking our land.”

— Louise Heath, Cherokee tribal member

Fracking opponents sweep public hearing

fr frackingIt didn’t take but a glance around the lawn of the Liston B. Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University to see that Sept. 12 was going to be an eventful evening.

Evergreen paper and the fracking debate

By Avram Friedman

Last year Becky Johnson of The Smoky Mountain News interviewed me about Evergreen Packaging’s plans to convert their electrical power plant from being fueled by coal to natural gas. This transformation was being touted as an advancement that would greatly improve regional air quality as it decreased operating costs due to currently less expensive natural gas. Further incentive was the promise that state government funds, about $12 million, would be made available to subsidize the renovation.

Fracking opponents prepare for battle

It was back to school for a group of staunch fracking opponents on Friday, Sept. 5. The corner conference room in the Jackson County Public Library was a bit small for the 20 people crammed in to it, but they were ready to learn. 

Fracking panel draws crowd in Franklin

A walk through the parking lot was all that was necessary to see that a diverse crowd had gathered to hear what the group of panelists N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, had assembled had to say about fracking. Cars outside the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin sported bumper stickers promoting everything from gun rights to local foods, their owners pouring into the auditorium by the hundreds to settle into self-assigned pro- and anti-fracking seating blocks. 

WNC shale gas study cancelled

Western North Carolina is no longer on State Geologist Ken Taylor’s schedule for this fall’s tour de hydrocarbons in North Carolina. Taylor had planned to come to WNC in September to collect rock samples from road rights-of-way to test their carbon content. That initial test would have determined whether there was any point in pursuing shale gas exploration in the region any further.

Peeling back the layers: A closer look at proposed fracking regulations

cover 330 200Anyone who’s read a newspaper, turned on a TV or listened to chitchat in a grocery store sometime over the last six months has probably heard about North Carolina’s impending foray into the world of natural gas exploration. At the end of May, the state legislature passed a bill to lift a statewide moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for fossil fuels. And in July, the Mining and Energy Commission released a draft set of rules to govern the industry. 

SEE ALSO: WNC shale gas study cancelled
Fracking panel draws crowd in FranklinFracking opponents prepare for battle

Depending who you ask, that document contains either the strictest regulations of any of the 34 states that allow the practice, or a joke specially designed to favor industry and render citizens powerless. 

The rules document covers a lot of ground in its 105-page span, but some sections are especially adept at drawing out praise from supporters and criticism from opponents.

Fracking debate heats up in WNC

The fracking issue is exploding in Western North Carolina as a public hearing on proposed oil and gas rules in the state draws closer.

Look for special coverage in next week’s issue of The Smoky Mountain News on what the proposed rules mean. We hope the issue will serve as your guide to the fracking debate, and specifically to the pros and cons of the pending rules that will lay the groundwork for oil and gas extraction.

Fracking critics have claimed the spotlight in recent months with a bevy of meetings, speakers, film screenings and discussions. This week, however, fracking supporters got a voice at a forum hosted by N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, billed as the real story on fracking. Due to press deadlines, the forum could not be included in this week’s edition, but it will be included in next week’s special coverage.

 

Venue change for fracking hearing 

A public hearing on North Carolina’s proposed oil and gas rules will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center at Western Carolina University.

This is a change in venue from the original location of WCU’s Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. University officials opted for the change in venue, according to a press release from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

Registration for those who wish to speak starts at 4 p.m. The deadline for written comments goes through Sept. 30.

 

Opponents to organize around talking points

The Canary Coalition, Clean Water for North Carolina and Jackson County Coalition Against Fracking will hold a training session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva to help fracking opponents hone effective talking points in advance of the upcoming fracking hearing.

The hearing will be a forum for people to recommend specific changes to the proposed rules rather than a place to take a stand as pro- or anti-fracking. The training session will cover the law that passed this summer lifting the ban on fracking in N.C. and the newly proposed rules and guidelines for hydraulic fracturing. Known as fracking, the process involves injecting water mixed with sand and a chemical cocktail into a deep wellbore in order to extract natural gas from the rock below. 

The Canary Coalition, 828.631.3447 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Page 2 of 3
Smokey Mountain News Logo
SUPPORT THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS AND
INDEPENDENT, AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM
Go to top
Payment Information

/

At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.

The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.