The core mission of Vestal Residents for Safe Energy has been to protect the town of Vestal from High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing for natural gas and its infrastructure, and to encourage the local adoption of forms of energy generation which do not risk the health and safety of town residents. We have officially ended our organization, but as Vestal residents we will continue to support the local adoption of renewable energy sources and encourage ending the use of fossil fuels.

About Us
Vestal Residents For Safe Energy (VeRSE) was a volunteer group working to protect the health and safely of the town residents, the quality of life in the town and the economic interests of the majority of the town’s residents through a moratorium on gas drilling in the town.

What is High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing Gas Drilling?
High-volume hydraulic fracturing is a natural gas extraction process by which water, mixed with proppants and chemicals, is forced down a well bore at extremely high pressure in order to create or expand fractures that will release gas from underground rock formations in which it is trapped, particularly shale formations. A proppant is a solid material, typically sand, treated sand or man-made ceramic materials, designed to keep an induced hydraulic fracture open, during or following a fracturing treatment. The fracking process as currently practiced involves the use of millions of gallons of fresh water and thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals per well.

This industrial shale gas extraction method also includes a number of associated processes necessary for completion, such as pre-drilling seismic testing, well flaring, and also pipeline and compressor station infrastructure, all of which can pose health, safety and financial risks for the local community. In general, when we refer to fracking on this website, using the f-word or any other variant of the term, we’re alluding to the entire industrial process.

Click here to see a basic diagram that outlines the basics of high volume hydraulic fracturing.