Opinion

Gas buster

For years, Gov. Cuomo has played Hamlet on the Hudson, using his environmental and health agencies as cover to delay making a decision on fracking.

For years, too, we’ve taken him to task for it. We’ve pointed out the jobs fracking would bring to an economically strapped upstate. We’ve argued for the tax revenues that would flow to Albany. We’ve even noted that President Obama and other Democrats regard fracking as a blessing.

Maybe this year’s race will do the trick. Because a campaign can force incumbents to address issues they’d otherwise ignore.

Plainly, Rob Astorino — the Westchester county executive who is seeking the GOP nomination — intends to drive home the costs of Cuomo’s lack of action on hydraulic fracking to New York’s voting public. Astorino also seems determined to move the debate beyond the usual argument about jobs and tax revenues.

In announcing his candidacy, he put it this way: “We needed a decision on clean natural-gas exploration to lower electric rates, improve air quality, create tens of thousands of new jobs and billions in new revenue. But Gov. Cuomo sat on his hands for four years and refused to make a decision.”

In one swoop, Astorino illustrated how fracking benefits the economy, consumers and the environment. He happens to be right on all counts. We would add that threats by Russia to shut off Ukraine’s natural gas only make the need to increase our supply at home more urgent.

We may not get a decision from Cuomo anytime soon. But an Astorino candidacy promises an honest debate.