Our Stories

The Latest by Kathleen Scatassa

Regional Communications Strategist

From 2007–2018, Kathleen partnered with clean energy coalitions and grassroots organizations, empowered communities to fight against fracking, and worked with the Policy & Legislation team to have their messages heard by legislators.

A young fracktivist in Denton, TX.
November 5, 2014

Fracking Ban Victories a Ray of Sun on an Otherwise Gloomy Post-Election Day

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

Guest blogger Joanne Cipolla-Dennis: We will not give up, give in, settle or walk away

The Town of Dryden in upstate New York.
May 8, 2014

Dryden: The Small Town That Changed The Fracking Game

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

Not only is a change possible, it’s happening

Helen Holden Slottje, a winner of the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize.
April 30, 2014

Goldman Prizewinner Helen Slottje: The Secret Weapon In the Fight Against Fracking

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

In 2010, Helen Holden Slottje, a lawyer in upstate New York pioneered a legal strategy to keep fracking out of communities using local zoning laws. Four years later, her hard work and bravery was rewarded with the Goldman Environmental Prize, sometimes referred to as the “Green Nobel.” Read about Helen’s work, and listen to an interview where she discusses how and why she became involved in the fracking fight.

August 19, 2013

In The Spotlight: The Town That Beat Fracking

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

The town of Dryden, NY has earned a spot in the national conversation about fracking. The town’s story of fighting back against the fracking industry—and winning—was spotlighted on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris Perry Show this weekend. With her friends and neighbors at home cheering her on, Dryden resident Deborah Cipolla-Dennis made the trek from her quiet …

August 8, 2013

Kids Speak Up On Fracking

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

A group of 5th graders did a special project—on fracking. After considering both sides of the issue, and learning that the chemicals used in fracking are often secret, many of the students decided it wasn’t a good idea. Afterwards, they explained—in their own words—why they felt that way.

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Barray (rebeccabarray.com).
August 1, 2013

Fracking Industry Sought Lifetime Gag Order on Kids

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

Whatever happened to “sticks and stones”?

January 18, 2013

Journalists Expose Fracking Cover Up

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office & Northern Rockies Office

New uncovered documents show that fracking company Range Resources persuaded the Environmental Protection Agency to drop its investigation into water contamination of a Texas home—in spite of the fact that preliminary testing showed that the company could have been responsible for cancer causing benzene and flammable methane in the family’s drinking water. Take the time …

October 19, 2012

Fracking in California? We're On The Case.

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  California Office

Here’s what we know: Fracking is already happening in California. Based on the oil and gas industry’s own admission, there were 600 wells that were fracked in 2011 alone. Here’s what we don’t know: exactly where, when, or what chemicals the oil and gas industry is blasting into the ground during fracking. What makes matters …

September 26, 2012

VIDEO: Sneak Preview of Matt Damon Fracking Film

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

Here’s the trailer for Promised Land, a feature film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matt Damon that depicts the effects of the fracking boom on a small town. It is definitely worth a watch: Damon is cast as a likeable farmboy-turned-landman, earnestly persuading struggling farmers to lease their properties to oil and gas …

June 29, 2012

Is The Fracking Boom Doing More Harm Than Good?

By Kathleen Scatassa  /  Northeast Office

Tune in this Sunday to a debate between environmental advocates and defenders of the fracking industry. Deborah Goldberg, Managing Attorney in Earthjustice’s Northeast office, and Katherine Hudson Watershed Program Director at Riverkeeper of Riverkeeper will be arguing that the country’s natural gas boom is doing more harm than good. They’ll be squaring off against Joe …