Despite earlier promulgations that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can be performed safely, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue on Sunday vetoed a bill that would have legalized the practice and begun the process for its regulation.

Senate Bill (SB) 820, also known as the Clean Energy and Economic Security Act, passed the state Senate on June 6 and the House of Representatives on June 14, mostly along party lines (see Shale Daily, June 18; June 11). Both chambers are controlled by Republicans.

Perdue, a Democrat, said she still supports unconventional drilling using fracking to stimulate production, but she said the bill didn’t go far enough to protect drinking water, landowners and local governments, or address health and safety issues.

“I urged the sponsors of the bill to adopt a few changes to ensure that strong protections would be in place before any fracking would occur,” Perdue said. “The General Assembly was unwilling to adopt the changes I suggested. Therefore, I must veto the bill. Our drinking water and the health and safety of North Carolina’s families are too important; we can’t put them in jeopardy by rushing to allow fracking without proper safeguards.”

Perdue added that she wanted to see the General Assembly members continue to work on fracking legislation. “If they improve the bill to strengthen the protections for North Carolina families, I will sign it into law,” she said.

In a joint statement Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Thom Tillis (R-Mecklenburg) blasted Perdue’s decision and took issue with her comments. “Gov. Perdue’s latest flip-flop on shale gas exploration is an attempt to slam the brakes on the creation of a vibrant new economic sector in North Carolina. The General Assembly incorporated many of the governor’s recommendations in a bipartisan plan to begin developing the regulatory framework for affordable, clean energy alternatives.

“We are disappointed, but not surprised, that when decision time neared, she once again caved to her liberal base rather than support the promise of more jobs for our state.”

Environmental groups heralded Perdue’s decision. “Gov. Perdue stood up for our drinking water today,” said Environment North Carolina State Director Elizabeth Ouzts. “She stood up for our air quality and our rural landscapes, and we’re enormously grateful. We’re urging representatives to stand up for the state’s waters and sustain the governor’s veto.”

On Monday SB 820 was placed on the state Senate’s calendar but it was unclear when a vote would take place. Republicans need a three-fifths majority in both houses to override Perdue’s veto. While they hold that advantage in the Senate (31-19), they would need four Democrats to join them in an override effort in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold sway, 68-52.

Last year Perdue vetoed another energy bill, SB 709, also known as the Energy Jobs Act, on her contention that it was unconstitutional for her to enter into an offshore energy compact with neighboring Virginia and South Carolina (see Shale Daily, Oct. 12, 2011; June 22, 2011). The Senate overrode her veto on that measure a year ago but the state House has not been successful in following suit, withdrawing votes to attempt an override in May and again last month.