Should Florida ban fracking?
Last year Florida lawmakers debated whether to pre-empt local governments from passing their own regulations to control or rule out oil and natural gas drilling by hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Now a bill in the Legislature would ban the practice statewide.
Unlike many controversial proposals in Tallahassee, the fracking ban has bipartisan support. The bill’s Republican and Democratic backers contend the drilling methods pose a danger to the aquifer and Florida’s water supply.
Fracking wells inject water, sand and “fracking fluid” underground to fracture rocks and release the gas or oil beneath them. Fossil-fuel companies insist fracking is safe, and point out that the practice is largely responsible for the U.S. oil and natural gas boom. Environmentalists contend the process is bad for the environment, and warn that the fracking fluid could contaminate water or soil if spilled.
Last year, when the Legislature debated legislation that would prevent Florida’s counties and cities from passing local limits or bans against fracking, Orange and Seminole counties were among those on record as opposed to fracking.
To learn more about fracking, and what a ban would mean, the Sentinel turned to two Floridians with strong views on the subject:
■ Republican Rep. Mike Miller of Winter Park, one of the sponsors of the bill to ban fracking.
■ David Mica, director of the Florida Petroleum Council, who represents oil and energy interests.