Florida lawmakers discuss statewide fracking ban

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Dozens of lawmakers and environmentalists attended the two-day Fracking Summit in Fort Myers to learn how fracking could affect the state if it is allowed.

The goal of the conference was to educate people about fracking and why the state of Florida may ban it completely.

“It’s not about drilling or not drilling. It’s about how do we drill and where do we drill, and there are certain types of drilling that people do not feel are appropriate for their community,” Jennifer Hecker, the director of Natural Resources with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida said.

Fracking is a controversial topic across the US; several other states have already banned it for various reasons such as water, soil, and air contamination.

State Representative Jose Javier Rodriguez says he’s doing whatever he can to make sure it’s not allowed in Florida.

“We’re in an economy based on trade, tourism, and a number of other things. There’s a lot of proposals to diversify our economy, fracking is not one of them,” Rodriguez said.

While an oil boom could bring more jobs to the state, environmentalists feel it could hurt tourism.

“My feeling is, given the chance, voters and Florida will say no thank you to fracking once and for all.”
Lawmakers hope to put the statewide ban of fracking on the 2016 ballot.
The Village of Estero decided to prepare an ordinance to ban fracking in their community. They will vote in the next couple of weeks.

 

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