'Vampire Diaries' Star Opposes Proposed Fracking in Louisiana

The star of The CW series 'Vampire Diaries' is publicly showing his opposition to a proposal to set up a fracking well in a community north of New Orleans. Nola.com/The Times-Picayune reports that Ian Somerhalder attended a public meeting Wednesday where many in the crowd waved signs against the proposed well in Louisiana's St. Tammany Parish. A reporter posting comments online wrote that Somerhalder's presence 'could explain why there are more teen-agers at this meeting than at other fracking meetings' there. An energy industry representative, Bill Dale, spoke in favor of establishing a well near busy Interstate 12 in the area. The energy industry uses so-called fracking techniques to extract oil and gas from rock by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals.