I was really bummed about the prospect of this threat to one of my favorite breweries coming to pass:
A well-known brewery in the Cooperstown area says that fracking may force it to relocate or fold. Brewery Ommegang lays out its case in a friend of the court brief, which it submitted in support of a Town of Middlefield zoning law. That law bans heavy industry, including gas and oil drilling, according to the Oneonta Daily Star. Approximately 50 percent of the land next to brewery property has been leased by drilling companies. The property owner, Cooperstown Holstein, is suing to overturn the Middlefield ordinance and has asked a judge to reject the brief. Middlefield is located in prime Marcellus Shale country.
Last November, the story same out that Ommegang was seriously concerned that the practice of hydro fracking was a risk to their water supply. There isn't anything on the brewery's website as the news there seems not to have been updated since 2008. But for me, it's up there with the chance that the natural gas exploration technique could trigger earthquakes.
Ommegang is participating in public outreach on the issue including a community forum this Saturday. They are also actively involved in the political debate. Which makes me like them all the more as they are doing more than issuing a threat. I have written a lot about how peace is good for good beer and a precondition for brewing the best stuff. Maybe we need to say the same about a healthy environment.
Comments
Dave Stokley - January 10, 2012 9:46 AM
I think maybe it's a little dramatic to say that they could be forced to close. They're obviously a wildly successful brewery and would continue to be even if they were forced to relocate.
That being said, I would be interested in reading the brief they submitted to get a better idea about what their concerns are. Any idea where we could get that?
Ethan - January 10, 2012 10:43 AM
I would think that F.X. Matt would have a pretty large stake in the water quality in central NY, too; have they not weighed-in? Regardless, it would be a huge loss for NYS and a huge difficulty for Ommegang if they had to move.
Craig - January 10, 2012 3:29 PM
I think Ommegang may also be trying to make a general anti-fracking point. They hosted an anti-fracking concert featuring Levon Helm and Arlo Guthrie, back in May.
Craig - January 10, 2012 3:30 PM
Either way, Alan, you and I need to meet up in Cooperstown!
Alan - January 10, 2012 3:45 PM
Ah, Cooperstown... such a hit was Adam Dunn's.
dave - January 10, 2012 4:24 PM
Just because they are successful doesn't mean they have a huge cash pile to use up for relocation expenses. If their water becomes contaminated, so they won't be producing any beer (i.e. no money coming in), they would have to bear the burden of relocation through any cash reserves or through loans (which, given the glorious economic climate, are not given out all that easily). It would be a massive/time intensive undertaking to find a place of their needed size with the right resources, all while no beer is flowing.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like Otsego County is part of the ny ecourt system, but that is only after some quick searching. Even then it doesn't mean the brief would be in there.
Pok - January 11, 2012 10:29 AM
Obviously great beer is humanity's most important fluid but what is the second? Water or petroleum? Pick one; because you rarely get to have both.