Will Florida see fracking?

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The fight over fracking is heating up again in Florida.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is an oil and gas drilling technique that involves pumping fluids and chemicals at high pressure deep underground to break up rock formations.

Last month, Democratic Sens. Darren Soto of Orlando and Dwight Bullard of Miami filed legislation that aims to ban fracking in Florida, citing potential environmental and health concerns.

In GOP-controlled Tallahassee, such a bill may seem like a nonstarter.

However, the Washington, D.C.-based Food and Water Watch tells FloridaPolitics.com that 45 municipalities across Florida have passed resolutions or ordinances supporting a fracking ban (St. Johns County being the latest).

“Florida is reviewing about two dozen fracking applications right now that could lead to hundreds of wells statewide,” spokesman Jorge Aguilar said.

The energy industry says fracking bans threaten America’s energy independence, and Florida jobs.

Consumer Energy Alliance –Florida Executive Director Kevin Doyle released this prepared statement in reaction to Soto’’s proposal:

It is unfortunate that Senator Soto has chosen to move the clock backwards on energy economic and security policy by introducing legislation banning hydraulic fracturing in Florida. Hydraulic fracturing has received much national attention as the technology that has enabled a resurgence in American oil and natural gas production, as well as manufacturing, chemicals, plastics, agriculture and almost every other facet of our lives.

Looking at the national picture, the jury still seems to be out on the long-term effects of fracking on communities’ land, water, and overall health.

That said, the Academy-award nominated 2010 documentary Gasland did a lot to increase the awareness level — and the controversy — around this new method of energy production.

Melissa Ross

In addition to her work writing for Florida Politics, Melissa Ross also hosts and produces WJCT’s First Coast Connect, the Jacksonville NPR/PBS station’s flagship local call-in public affairs radio program. The show has won four national awards from Public Radio News Directors Inc. (PRNDI). First Coast Connect was also recognized in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 as Best Local Radio Show by Folio Weekly’s “Best Of Jax” Readers Poll and Melissa has also been recognized as Folio Weekly’s Best Local Radio Personality. As executive producer of The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State, Melissa and WJCT received an Emmy in the “Documentary” category at the 2011 Suncoast Emmy Awards. The 904 examined Jacksonville’s status as Florida’s murder capital. During her years in broadcast television, Melissa picked up three additional Emmys for news and feature reporting. Melissa came to WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications. She can be reached at [email protected].



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