Gov. Andrew Cuomo isn’t the only potential 2016 aspirant facing political pressure over hydrofracking.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley last week proposed $1.5 million to study the controversial natural gas extraction process, a move that has environmentalists applauding.

O’Malley’s move comes after a two-year standoff with the gas industry over how to pay for the study.

From The Baltimore Sun:

The governor’s move to fund the “fracking” study comes after the gas industry twice succeeded in blocking legislation that would have financed the review through a fee on drilling leases. Amid growing concern about the drilling practice, he issued an executive order putting it on hold in Western Maryland and ordered a comprehensive three-year study of the environmental and other impacts. State environmental officials said they lacked the staff or funding to carry out the ordered study, however.

Part of Marsellus Shale formation veers into western Maryland, though the marquee fight over fracking has been in New York between environmental groups and the gas industry.

O’Malley has seemingly kept a close eye on what Cuomo does in Albany (and perhaps vice versa), as potential 2016 candidates jockey for position in the Democratic Party.

New York has gone through an extend study of whether to permit hydrofracking, with the state Department of Health’s impact study expected to be finalized next month. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is also conducting a study on how to regulate fracking should it be permitted.

Last year, the state Assembly in New York pushed for $100,000 in budget to study the health effects of hydrofracking, which ultimately was not included in final plan.

Share|