Dissertation Title: Fracking and Goldilocks Federalism: The Too Loud, Too Quiet and Just Right Relationships of States and Cities
Wicked environmental and energy challenges often originate where energy, the environment and economics intersect (Rittel and Webber 1973). Fracking is one such example. As a practice, it has prompted a certain amount of political debate at both the state and municipal levels. Proponents argue that natural gas extraction creates well-paying jobs, helps grow and revive stagnant economies and that it is a ‘cleaner’ burning energy source. Its opponents counter that the technique produces a number of environmental harms such as air pollution, surface and groundwater contamination, places new demands on infrastructure and causes geological instability (Davis 2012).
Ranging from intergovernmental battles to cooperative relationships, the politics of fracking are reshaping the relationship between neighborhoods, city hall and the statehouse. To explore the ‘second order’ dynamics of fracking, this dissertation asks several interrelated questions. What are the structures governing state-municipal relationships when it comes to hydraulic fracturing? To what extent do municipalities regulate fracking and what are the types of city-level regulation? What are the factors leading municipalities to promulgate policies that support or oppose state-level goals associated with extraction? Are these factors observable in jurisdictions with very different state-municipal or second order relationships?
To answer the questions above, I consider the second order dynamics in the context of Colorado, Texas and Ohio and a sample of cities in each state. Each state has a high number of citizens living near gas wells but offer cities and towns varying degrees of land use authority. To elucidate their second-order relationships and dynamics, each chapter tests an explanatory typology and common socio-demographic variables. Results suggest that both macro level (environmentalism and mobilization) and micro level concerns (percentage of owner occupied homes and median home values) can affect second order relations and the willingness of local communities to exert more municipal autonomy and challenge their state. My findings offer a more complete picture of second order federalism and strengthen the scholarly (and practitioner) understanding of these two key institutions– when are they hot and conflictual, when are they cold and detached and when they are just right.
Wicked environmental and energy challenges often originate where energy, the environment and economics intersect (Rittel and Webber 1973). Fracking is one such example. As a practice, it has prompted a certain amount of political debate at both the state and municipal levels. Proponents argue that natural gas extraction creates well-paying jobs, helps grow and revive stagnant economies and that it is a ‘cleaner’ burning energy source. Its opponents counter that the technique produces a number of environmental harms such as air pollution, surface and groundwater contamination, places new demands on infrastructure and causes geological instability (Davis 2012).
Ranging from intergovernmental battles to cooperative relationships, the politics of fracking are reshaping the relationship between neighborhoods, city hall and the statehouse. To explore the ‘second order’ dynamics of fracking, this dissertation asks several interrelated questions. What are the structures governing state-municipal relationships when it comes to hydraulic fracturing? To what extent do municipalities regulate fracking and what are the types of city-level regulation? What are the factors leading municipalities to promulgate policies that support or oppose state-level goals associated with extraction? Are these factors observable in jurisdictions with very different state-municipal or second order relationships?
To answer the questions above, I consider the second order dynamics in the context of Colorado, Texas and Ohio and a sample of cities in each state. Each state has a high number of citizens living near gas wells but offer cities and towns varying degrees of land use authority. To elucidate their second-order relationships and dynamics, each chapter tests an explanatory typology and common socio-demographic variables. Results suggest that both macro level (environmentalism and mobilization) and micro level concerns (percentage of owner occupied homes and median home values) can affect second order relations and the willingness of local communities to exert more municipal autonomy and challenge their state. My findings offer a more complete picture of second order federalism and strengthen the scholarly (and practitioner) understanding of these two key institutions– when are they hot and conflictual, when are they cold and detached and when they are just right.
Books:
Refereed Journal Articles:
Refereed Chapters in Books:
Professional Publications: (Kansas Government Journal (KGJ) – Reprints Noted)
2015
2014
2012
2010
2009
2008
- Fisk, Jonathan M. 2017. The Fracking Debate: An Intergovernmental Look at City and State Level Challenges (working title). Under Contract with Taylor and Francis ASPA Series on Public Administration and Policy.
Refereed Journal Articles:
- Fisk, Jonathan M. 2015. “Whose Lawn is it Anyway? Redefining Problems and the Implementation of Municipal Stormwater Policies.” Local Environment. 20(1-3): 62-80.
- Fisk, Jonathan M. 2014. “Environmental Governance and Fracking in the U.S.: Lessons Learned From Colorado’s Fracking Industry.” PA Times.
- Davis, Charles and Jonathan M. Fisk. 2014. “Energy Abundance or Environmental Worries? Analyzing Public Support for Fracking in the United States.” Review of Policy Research 31(1): 1-16.
- Fisk, Jonathan. M. 2013. “The Right to Know? State Politics of Fracking Disclosure.” Review of Policy Research 30(4): 345-365.
- Mosier, Samantha and Jonathan M. Fisk. 2013. “Can Local Voluntary Environmental Programs “Work”? An Examination of Fort Collins’ Climate Wise Program.” Environmental Management 51(5): 969-987.
Refereed Chapters in Books:
- Fisk, Jonathan. M. 2013. “Green Transportation – An Amenity Approach.” In Local Economic Development and the Environment: Finding Common Ground (ASPA Series in Public Administration and Public Policy). Eds. Susan Opp and Jeffrey Osgood Jr. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press: A Taylor-Francis Group.
Professional Publications: (Kansas Government Journal (KGJ) – Reprints Noted)
2015
- Fisk, Jonathan M. 2015. “Numbers and the Aura of Objectivity.” ASPA National Weblog. Available at https://aspanational.wordpress.com/2015/01/20/numbers-and-the-aura-of-objectivity/
2014
- Fisk, Jonathan M. 2014. “Why Managing Water is like Reading Or Choosing Your Own Adventure Book.” ASPA National Weblog. Available at http://aspanational.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/why-managing-water-is-like-reading-or-choosing-your-own-adventure-book/
- Fisk, Jonathan M. 2014. “Environmental Governance and Fracking in the U.S.: Lessons Learned From Colorado’s Fracking Industry.” PA Times. Available at http://www.aspanet.org/public/ASPADocs/FFF%20Papers/2014%20FF/FiskFFPaper.pdf.
2012
- “The Politics and Dynamics of Energy Transitions: Lessons from Colorado’s New Energy Economy.” White Paper prepared for the Center for a New Energy Economy, Colorado State University (with Michele Betsill, Dimitris Stevis, Linse Anderson, Stratis Giannakouros and Samantha McGraw).
2010
- The Future of the Electrical Grid, KGJ 96(9): 272-276. Also in March 2011 edition of Missouri Municipal Review.
- Landbanks, KGJ 96(1): 18-22.
- Childhood Obesity - Community Responses, KGJ 96(8): 230-235. Green Transportation, KGJ 96(2): 53-56.
- Coming Together: Regionalism in the 21st Century, KGJ 96(7): 199-205.
- A Snapshot of the Economy, KGJ 96(5): 134-138.
- Affordable Housing, KGJ 96(4): 108-111.
- Graycare: The Senior Boom and Retirement Housing, KGJ 96(3): 70-74.
2009
- Interlocal Agreements, KGJ 95(12): 358-362.
- The Public Library 2.0, KGJ 95(11): 329-332. Available at Kansas State Library
- Weatherization: Reducing Energy Consumption and Energy Bills, KGJ 95(9): 276-279.
- The Next Step in Citizen Engagement, KGJ 95(8): 234-237. Also in ICMA Research Database.
- Grant Writing Basics, KGJ 95(7): 212-216.
- Heart to Heart: AEDs, KGJ 95(5): 140-143.
- Telehealth: Promise and Kansas Case Study, KGJ 95(4): 102-108 (with Doug Stefek).
- Using the Web to Grow and Develop, KGJ 95(2): 50-52.
- Retaining New Public Servants, KGJ 95(1): 6-10. Also in the ICMA Research Database and June edition of Fair and Equitable (International Association of Assessing Officers).
2008
- Recruiting New Public Servants, KGJ 94(12): 366-371. Also in ICMA Research Database.
- Environmental Policy Options, KGJ 94(11): 366-371
- Community Wind Projects, KGJ 94(9): 274-276.
- The Fiscal Conditions of Kansas Municipalities, KGJ 94(8): 236-237.
- Environmental Options, KGJ 94(7): 202-205.
- Energy Efficiency for Cities, KGJ 94(6): 176-179. Also in ICMA Research Database.
- Electric Transmission Challenges, KGJ 94(5): 140-144.
- Energy Production Options, KGJ 94(4): 102-106. Also in the ICMA Research Database.
Google Scholar:
http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iDy6H9AAAAAJ&hl=en