In North Carolina, much is riding on fracking, a controversial natural-gas extraction method.
On one side, there is a lot of money. For landowners in several counties, there are huge mining-rights fees. For workers, there are many jobs, and for state and local governments, there's the promise of tax revenues.
On the other side, however, are dangerous potential environmental ramifications that range from tainted groundwater to man-made earthquakes to drilling site cleanups.
That's why North Carolina leaders must be careful in their deliberations. They cannot allow a political philosophy to guide them; they must decide on the facts and the best science available. In that vein, it was good news to hear that four members of the N.C. House, all Republicans, traveled north to Pennsylvania this week, along with state environmental specialists, on a balanced fact-finding mission.
The state contingent planned to meet with both supporters and opponents of fracking, and they planned to visit Pennsylvania commonwealth offices where they might glean ideas on the best practices under which fracking can be allowed.
Already, a Duke University scientist has said that, with proper practices, the state might both allow fracking and protect the environment. But it will take considerable patience and research to determine how best to do that. If the current fact-finding mission can help advance that process, we might enjoy the best of both worlds.
Another state legislative contingent visited Pennsylvania late last year and met only with representatives of Chesapeake Energy, a company drilling there. The all-Republican delegation was soundly criticized for looking to only one side, the business side, of the issue, possibly putting political ideology ahead of public safety on an important issue.
Two decades ago, North Carolina faced a similar situation when the hog industry charged into the state, bringing jobs to poor counties but bringing environmental risks, too. The legislature was caught off guard, and the state has never caught up entirely, never found the best balance between risk and reward.
By starting early on fracking, we can avoid a repeat of that mistake.
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