"Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration announced on Wednesday that it would ban hydraulic fracturing in New York State because of concerns over health risks, ending years of debate over a method of extracting natural gas.

Fracking, as it is known, was heavily promoted as a source of economic revival for depressed communities along New York’s border with Pennsylvania, and Mr. Cuomo had once been poised to embrace it.

Instead, the move to ban fracking left him acknowledging that, despite the intense focus he has given to solving deep economic troubles afflicting large areas upstate, the riddle remained largely unsolved. 'I’ve never had anyone say to me, ‘I believe fracking is great,’ ' he said. 'Not a single person in those communities. What I get is, ‘I have no alternative but fracking.’ ' "

Thomas Kaplan reports for the New York Times December 17, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"New York to Ban Fracking; Environmentalists Cheer" (AP) [3]

"Gov. Andrew Cuomo To Ban Fracking In New York State" (Huffington Post) [4]

"New York Plans To Prohibit Fracking" (Gannett/USA TODAY) [5]

"New York State Just Banned Fracking" (Climate Desk/Mother Jones) [6]

"New York Fracking Ban Reverberates Nationally" (Aljazeera America) [7]