NORWICH – The controversy over natural gas exploration is being driven by emotions and politics rather than sound scientific theories, according to proponents of the industry who sat on a panel Wednesday during Commerce Chenango’s most recent Good Morning Chenango! breakfast.

The event, attended by more than 80 local business people, was designed to shed light on Chenango County’s budding natural gas industry, and the economic potential and environmental concerns associated with it. The breakfast, held at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Norwich, was sponsored by Frontier and catered by Carmen’s Cafe.

“We want our members to be educated about the issues surrounding natural gas,” explained Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter.

The panelists were eager to oblige, particularly when it came to clearing up what they called “misinformation” about natural gas drilling and the process of hydrofracking in particular.

“The process of hydrofracking has not polluted one water well,” reported Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, who sat on the panel along with Dennis Holbrook, Executive VP of Regulatory, Public and Investor Relations for Norse Energy; Chenango County Natural Gas Consultant Steve Palmatier; and Bob Williams, Dir. of Environmental Studies with Barnes-Williams Environmental Services.