The Dallas Morning News: The board of commissioners for the town of Dish will vote tonight on banning natural gas drilling out of concern for citizens’ safety.
Dish, which conducted its own air tests in the area and found worrying emissions, is considering imposing a moratorium on natural gas drilling permits, according to a press release. The Dish study prompted the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to conduct its own tests throughout the Barnett Shale, which found high benzene levels at some sites, but no widespread air-quality issue.
“It is clear that the State of Texas is not going to take appropriate action to protect the citizens of Dish. Therefore, it is up to the local municipal government to take these steps,” Mayor Calvin Tillman said in a statement.
This is why news of environmental concerns among local people is worth following. When people are worried about energy facilities, whether that concern is warranted or not, bad things happen to the energy industry.
It’s sort of like when Americans feel worried about terrorism, whether there is any actual threat, defense executives celebrate. It’s similar in the energy industry, only when citizens feel worried, oil executives groan — and hire more public relations people. (Read an excerpt from the Dish proposal)
