Maryland is poised to become the third state to outlaw fracking, as the Senate prepares to vote on a statewide ban and with Gov. Larry Hogan saying he will sign it. The permanent ban would go into effect before a moratorium on the drilling practice expires, meaning that fracking in the state would end before it ever began. Late last week, Hogan, a Republican who has called fracking "an economic gold mine," announced his unexpected support for the ban.