Citizens Win One Against Big Gas

For once the little guy wins. Whitespot residents, featured in the award winning Behind the Shale series, won their case against Carrizo.

Carrizo loses appeal
3:24 PM Fri, Oct 23, 2009
Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe

In our “Behind the Shale” series, we profiled the fight of one southern Denton neighborhood against a proposed gas well, known as Whitespot, planned within 200-300 feet of many people’s backyards.

They protested the permit, primarily on the grounds that many of the leases had expired. Carrizo argued that “savings” clauses in the agreement meant the leases had not expired. After two hearings, the commission’s examiner agreed with Carrizo and recommended the permit be approved.

In a surprise move yesterday, commissioner Juan Carrillo overruled the examiner and sided with the neighborhood.

You can watch the proceeds here (scroll down to Item 11.)

more…