North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) vetoed a Republican-backed bill on Sunday that would have given the state clearance to pursue natural gas exploration through a controversial process known as “fracking.”
“I support energy policies that create jobs and lower costs for businesses and families,” Perdue said. “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.
It marks the third veto of legislation passed by the GOP-controlled legislature over the last week for Perdue, who announced in January that she will not seek re-election this year.
