Perdue flip-flops on fracking. We'll speculate on why | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    During the last session of the General Assembly the legislature passed S 709 which was a bill that, among other things, was intended to "increase energy production in North Carolina" and one of the specific issues it dealt with was natural gas exploration and production. Governor Bev. Perdue vetoed the bill.

    Perdue, as had Democrat leaders in the Legislature, particularly Sen. President Pro Tem Marc Basnight (D-Beaufort), opposed natural gas drilling known as "fracking." We'll dispense here with a technical explanation of fracking, but suffice it to say that it is the rage in the energy industry these days as it is opening up vast natural gas reserves which with older technology could not be practically exploited.

    But fracking is not something new. It has been used extensively in other states and in general numerous studies have found that it can be conducted without any significant harm to the environment if done correctly. Senate Bill 709 set up a mechanism to develop a state management plan to insure such safe production. But, again, Perdue vetoed the bill.

    Wednesday (3-14-12) she announced that she has changed her position and that she now believe not only can fracking be done safely but that the exploitation of natural gas reserves that North Carolina has can be a boon to the state's economy.
Governor Beverly Perdue in Beaufort County, August, 2011: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
    The Raleigh news media, including the News & Observer are reporting that Perdue changed her mind after a quick, secret trip to Pennsylvania where fracking is being used extensively.

    Her staff says that she was impressed in her trip to Pennsylvania that fracking can be done safely but that she will await a big study that is scheduled to be released by her Department of Economic and Natural Resources next week before making a "final decision."

    We are prepared to report that this explanation is bogus. A reliable source within the Governor's office tells us that the Governor was told by DENR sometime ago that the report was accumulating substantial scientific data that would lead to a conclusion that fracking not only can be done safely but that it holds significant economic potential for the state. Knowing that Perdue's position had been the opposite we are told DENR gave her advance notice and in effect sought clearance to release the report which would have been contrary to her position.

    We are told that the evidence is so overwhelming that if Perdue stuck to her position that the report would be a major contradiction of her position. So they had two choices: Either DENR could try to kill the report, somehow; or Perdue could change her position.

    We are told that the trip to Pennsylvania was not to "investigate" or learn about fracking, but rather to give her cover to change her position. "She had already decided that she was going to have to change her position before she went on the trip," we were told.

    Moreover, another sources tells us that the first source was probably correct but that another factor came into play. It is believed that the Obama Administration is on the verge of announcing a reversal of their position on natural gas exploration, not only from fracking but also in offshore drilling. "The DOE (Department of Energy) has already sent the message that if gasoline prices continue to climb that they will change their position on fracking.

    That makes perfect sense to us. If Perdue really was waiting to see the DENR report to determine what her position is going to be why would she not have waited until the report came out since it is due next week.

    But our source says: "It was very much like announcing that you're not going to run and then trying to come up with an explanation after you have already announced your decision." "They were trying to keep her from looking foolish once again."

    Rush Limbaugh talked about Perdue's sudden change of position in his Thursday (3-15-12). His speculation was different. He suggested that Perdue flip-flopped because she is not running for re-election and thus does not need to pander to the Democrat base which is opposed to anything that would increase our energy supply that relies on fossil fuels.

    We think our source in the Governor's Office has the more accurate read on what really happened.

    We'll wait until the report hits the street and see what she does.