Amid protests, executives discuss hydrofracking at Buffalo meeting

As the downtown Buffalo work day was winding down on Nov. 12, it was just getting started for a group of about 25 environmentalists.

They had gathered around 4 p.m., just outside Hyatt Regency Buffalo at the corner of Pearl and West Huron Streets to protest the practice of hydrofracking, and messages that area industry execs share about the safety of the process. Inside the hotel, executives from the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York had gathered for their annual meeting, held Nov. 11 and 12.

High-volume hydrofracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process the oil and gas industry uses to extract natural gas from deep within shale formations. New York state does not allow oil and gas companies to access gas using the process. Proponents cite the economic benefits of the process. Opponents say the process is harmful to the environment.

Among the latter is Martin Gugino of Amherst whose hand-made sign blew around in the wind. It that read, "No more fracking lies."

He claims that the hydrofracking process ruins communities.

"Some people get rich doing it, but the people making the money aren't those whose houses are destroyed," he said, adding that there are better ways to heat homes, including geothermal.

Inside the Buffalo hotel, about 100 listened as guest speakers talked about new pipeline projects, expansions and locations of improved systems. One of the presenters, geologist Timothy Erikson of Waverly, N.Y.-based Moody and Associates Inc., shared data about the decreasing number of dangerous methane gas leaks in Pennsylvania oil and gas wells. He said this is a result of drilling fewer wells in recent years.

David Bertola covers small business, energy and marketing