Kentuckians overwhelmingly want a ban on hydraulic fracking

Kentuckians who testified at three public hearings last summer or submitted written comments overwhelmingly want strict controls or an outright ban on high-volume hydraulic fracking.

According to a summary of the hearings and comments, comments were received from 834 individuals with 732 of them calling for a moratorium or ban on hydraulic fracking.

Only nine of the comments received were classified as being “pro industry.”

KFTC comments, which supported a hydraulic fracking ban, focused on worker safety, protections for residents near drilling operations, soil and water pollution, regulatory gaps, landowners' rights, fracking wastewater, social impacts and pipeline safety.

"Kentucky should instead invest in developing clean energy and energy efficiency programs such as those proposed in the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, which has been introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly. Passing the Clean Energy Opportunity Act would create more than 28,000 local jobs, curb energy costs for our families, farms and businesses and improve Kentuckians' health and well-being," said the comments signed by KFTC's Land Reform Committee Co-chairs Mary Love and JoAnne Golden Hill.

The summary was released in October by the Energy and Environment Cabinet, which had solicited the public comment. The results were given to the governor and legislative leaders, and is supposed to guide the work of the Oil and Gas Working Group charged with reviewing and updating Kentucky’s oil and gas laws.

The public hearings were held in July in Madisonville, Somerset and Hazard. About 150 people attended these sessions, and 778 individuals submitted comments via email.

Here’s a summary of the various issues and concerns mentioned in the comments.