April 14th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s abrupt decision last month to support a permanent ban on hydraulic fracturing- left local elected officials frustrated and disappointed by what they view as the loss of a tremendous revenue stream and job creating industry. A 2014 Towson University study found that fracking could support more than 2,500 jobs, add about $80 million a year in wages and generate more than $16 million in annual revenue — from taxes on gas extraction and income — during the industry’s first decade of activity in Western Maryland.  Governor Hogan said for him it became an issue of putting the environment above fiscal issues…