COOPERSTOWN -- Advocates for home rule in setting energy policy won the first round of a major battle with the natural gas industry Tuesday when state Supreme Court Judge Phillip Rumsey upheld the town of Dryden's law that zones out drilling operations.
The challenge to the local law in the Tompkins County community of Dryden is one of two major court battles that pit hydrofracking advocates against supporters of local governments' ability to determine whether drilling and other forms of heavy industry can be kept out.
