CSSD illustrates what is wrong with fracking debate

By attempting to address the need for stronger standards, the effort validates claims that existing state oversight of oil and gas extraction is inadequate to protect impacted communities.

But CSSD also validates local communities’ mistrust of fracking supporters by excluding drilling-impacted communities from the CSSD formation and decision-making structure. The CSSD has publicly launched a plan to certify drilling, but has not publicly disclosed its verification process.

Furthermore, the Center for Sustainable Shale Development, by its very name, implicitly and erroneously assumes that a finite resource can be sustainable. The only sustainable energy choices are conservation and renewable sources like wind and solar power. MORE...