Pittsburgh City Council Supports Ban on Fracking

Today the Pittsburgh City Council made a preliminary vote of 8-0 to support legislation to ban Marcellus Shale drilling in the city of Pittsburgh.

“The industry thinks they can come in here and roll all over us,” said Pittsburgh Councillor Doug Shields, who introduced the legislation. “Look at what this industry has done to the commonwealth...it has pitted neighbor against neighbor,” he continued.

Councillor Patrick Dowd also voted to support the ban. In his comments, however, he called the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), which helped write the legislation, a "charlatan" group. Dowd said he wants a letter from CELDF stating what role they will play in supporting the city as he noted concerns over the possible costs of a legal battle.

In response to Dowd’s comment about costs, Council President Darlene Harris, “What price do we put on life?”.

Invoking the memory of Mahatma Ghandi, Councillor Bill Peduto declared that "extraordinary times require extraordinary action...it's a fight that needs to happen."

Three City Councillors were not present at the time of the vote, but two of them later cast their vote to support the ban. The only Council member who did not vote was Reverend Ricky Burgess.

The final vote will take place on Tuesday, November 16th, at a full City Council session.