Test Fracks Not In Budget

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 7, 2014

 Fracking opponents were absent at the county commissioner’s meeting Monday night.

And while the Davie/Yadkin shale basin, where hydraulic fracturing could be used to extract natural gas, it is a small basin and not likely to be economically viable for companies to explore, according to experts.

The issue came to light when State Sen. Andrew Brock (R-Davie), introduced a bill to include $1.1 million for testing for the viability of fracking in the state’s shale basins – including the small one bordering Davie and Yadkin counties.

That money was not included in the state budget, Interim County Manager Mike Ruffin told county commissioners Monday night. “You’ve had lots of comments … but it’s off the radar screen,” Ruffin said.