Natural Gas: Promise and Perils
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-06-28/natural-gas-promise-and-perils
Natural gas extracted from deep shale deposits has been hailed as the key to America’s energy future. Compared to alternatives, natural gas is cleaner and is said to produce fewer greenhouse gases. It is also forecasted to be available at affordable prices, but some say as production rises, extraction costs will go up as well putting a squeeze on profitability. In addition, many argue short and long term environmental risks have yet to be adequately addressed by regulators or the industry: Opportunities and unanswered question about this country’s natural gas boom.
Guests
Ian Urbina
national reporter, The New York Times.
Tony Ingraffea
Dwight C. Baum Professor of Engineering
Weiss Presidential Teaching Fellow
Cornell University
Seamus McGraw
writer and author of "The End of Country"
John Hanger
former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Comments
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If we could find a way to make natural gas run vehicles, this would turn around the economy. The US has the largest reserves in Natural Gas in the world. Not only is natural gas labor intensive but would bring wealth to this country especially now when we have a 14 trillion dollar debt.
When it comes to energy sources climate change and environmental degradation the greatest pretend concern of our time. People will be shoving their grandmothers into the generators when prices reach $1000 a month to heat their houses. If people want to get serious about this issue, population control is the only answer. Not by government intervention but simply by the government not subsidizing children, no right offs and no welfare would be a good start.
Bill Gates right now is over in Africa helping build up unsustainable populations on desert land, thought the guy was smart. He should be investing in clean energy sources if he wants to make a real positive change.
The shale boom is reviving the economy of suffering areas of the
United States. The claim that fracing pollutes drinking water is
unfounded as the shale formation is thousands of underground
while the fresh water zones are a few hundred feet deep. The two are separated by solid rock.
Natural gas is the best solution to our dependence on foreign oil and the economic security of our country.
poisoning of groundwater HAS been documented from leaking well bores. Fracking DOES pose a risk to the water supply. The "there has never been a case of contamination" line is industry PR pure and simple. Read the study by Duke University, or just talk to the people who can light their tap water on fire.
http://www.frackcheckwv.net/2011/05/19/chesapeake-fined-for-groundwater-...
I am concerned about the destruction to the environment--tell us please about what will happen to the wilderness, forests and other green carbon sinks when we do this and other drilling? Does fracking do more harm to the earth than other fuels' costs?
The oil companies use water as though it was free. They deplete valuable drinking water to remove gas at a high short term profit. Our state and local governments are impotent in halting the drain of our north Texas aquifers. With landowners facing dry wells, North Texas will soon be a wasteland.
Has anyone looked at the impact of removing these liquids, gas or oil (along with what we already draw out for water) to the stability of the techtonic plates. Is there any concern that drawing all these "buffer" liquids will create an increase in earthquake activity?
Texas now gets over 60% of our electricity from natural gas and our air just keeps getting worse and worse. Already, we have experienced ORANGE alert ozone days in the Barnett Shale. When does this so-called clean energy start making our air cleaner?
How about doing a show with some of the people who actually live right in the middle of the gas patch? I can certainly put you in touch with a few.
Ask please: Have your guests watched the DVD of "Gasland" INCLUDING the 'extras'?
Skimmed any of the 111 ProPublica entries? In Germany, after mini-earthquakes, polluted air, wells, drinking water, etc., there's a slogan - in English, "NUMBY = Not UNDER My Back Yard"!
The fracking process, developed by Halliburton, was EXEMPTED from EPA regulation by Dick Cheney. So, wells can be drilled ANYWHERE - some close to farms, pasture land, near schools, in towns. Many of these gas-drilling companies are branches of oil-drilling companies - thus already getting government subsidies. BUT this money should be spent on ALTERNATIVE energy sources NOT on fracking.
Rather than the relative terms used, such as "increased risks" "much greater" will the guests please be absolute in terms of what damage in both kind and extent has been documented.
What about the recent (April) chemical spill by Chesapeake Energy in PA? What about the recent earthquakes in the UK that prompted the suspension of fracking there?
No one ever seems to talk about the fact that the 'fracking' process requires MILLIONS of gallons of water... despite what people think, potable drinking water is a finite resource. Where do they plan on getting all the water to use?
I'm from the Finger Lakes area, and I'm scared to death that our pristine lakes, a source of beauty (and drinking water), not to mention tourist dollars, will be polluted by some unforeseen circumstance - One quart of motor oil is enough to make 250,000 gallons of water toxic. While this is not motor oil, it contains a variety of other chemicals that could destroy our water supply. One accident is all it takes - I'd rather reduce my energy consumption, and see more attention being paid to wind and solar power than put our future at risk.
Ian Urbina rightly asks for transparency from the corporations that have purchased leases in shale gas fields. Without suggesting impropriety, I would ask that he state whether he receives or provides any kind of support from or to groups or individuals that have interests in promoting or protecting programs such as “Cap and Trade”, conventional petroleum production, and solar subsidies and that he be completely transparent about his own interests since he as written several articles critical of a single industry in the span of several months. I do not know of many industries in this economic environment where you could not dig up a few emails that question if the strength of the business is exaggerated or has week points.
Texas has municipal water wells with levels of radiation so high they have been shut down. These wells are all in areas where there is a lot of drilling.
This process creates MASSIVE amounts of waste--solid and liquid--and there is NO PLAN for how to handle this waste. They are dumping it everywhere and spreading it on our farmland.
The Barnett Shale is more advanced that the Marcellus Shale. We have MANY communities where residents are simply abandoning their homes. There are families living in hotels, families who are renting homes while still paying their mortgages, families who have abandoned their homes. MANY of these people did not own their mineral rights!!! They had no choice and no say in the matter.
Please come to Texas. I can give you a tour like I have top EPA officials, PBS, 60 Minutes and several environmental organizations that once though drilling for gas was the greatest thing.
Read Flowback: How the Texas Natural Gas Boom Affects Health and Safety.
Also, check into the frack sand mining because that increases the amount of water they have to use by millions of gallons of water per well. Google: Frack sand mining doesn't just suck, it blows.
Hundreds of thousands of wells drilled in the decades of using the fracturing technique with only a handful of issues speaks to the fact that nothing is risk-free but certainly not a reason to discontinue the development of this transformative energy source.
Wind farms cause hearing loss to humans and interfere with migratory birds.
Solar cells leach toxic chemicals.
CFL bulbs are basically mercury bombs.
Hybrid car batteries are also a hazardous waste.
Corn-based ethanol requires tremendous fossil fuel consumption and raises food prices.
It seems to me the grout may be the weakest link. Is the grout tested by reputable testing agents? Tremendous pressures and vibrations and torque are created as the drill turns horizontal.
When concrete is poured in the roadway, it has to be tested for strength and other parameters. Fracking grout should be scrutinized to prevent leaks.
Larry Caver
The claims of the caller from Flower Mound are not substantiated by the evidence.
Go to the website of Flower Mound for details and links to the efforts and results of the tests conducted.
http://www.flower-mound.com/env_resources/env_resources_airquality.php
The State of Texas has conducted numerous tests and studies in Flower Mound Texas. Finding no links to increased cancer risks nor any instances of ground water pollution that can be linked to the mud or fracking fluids used in gas well production. Methane measurements have also been inconsequential.
PS - Each frack well takes 1-7 million gallons of water laced w/ traces of 596 chemicals - some of which are cancer-causing neurotoxins. People near gas wells: water undrinkable, increased cancer rates, brain lesions, neuropathy, loss of taste & smell. NO regulation as to WHERE wells can be drilled. So, near schools, cattle ranches & farmland - in the middle of towns - in National Forests - anywhere. 1000's of gas wells = an average of 18 fracks! ------Afterwards, polluted waste water is sent to large holding ponds via 400-600 tanker trucks. That waste water can leak into ground water & thus, into precious aquifers. EACH job = 1150 truck trips. (Math anyone?)
---Pass SB 587 to give enforcement power - to prevent this
Environmental Armageddon.
The aggressive push to frack the Marcellus and Utica shale formations already threatens to turn Pennsylvania into a national sacrifice zone similar to the coalfields of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, etc. New York State could easily tip in the same direction with the one-year moratorium about to expire and the Republican-controlled state senate unwilling to bring regulatory bills to a vote. New York might well be the new Appalachia. God help us.
To see how Fracking is supposed to work on an animated video by a drilling company :
http://www.northernoil.com/drilling.php
Larry Caver
monte- I actually, sadly, agree with you on population control.
The idea that climate change is a 'pretend concern' is typical crazy but I think most people would apply that label to most of the things you whine about (gun control and 'freedom'- which you harp about).
I am so disappointed in this show - the prospective dangers were barely mentioned. 'Fracking' has the possibility of destroying our drinking water and no amount of regulation will prevent that. We've seen that regulation of the financial companies fell far short of standard and these companies will insure that there are weak regulation and regulators.
I am shocked by the way you are treating John Hanger on this show. I have never heard you cut someone out of the conversation in this way. Several times he has tried to make comments and you have cut him off and not returned to give him the opportunity to speak. I have heard you control conversations by not letting someone dominate, and not letting someone repeat the same argument over and over again, or by challenging people to put some meat on the bones of what they are saying. That is all good. What you have done in this show with John Hanger is not. He has important experience to contribute whether you or your other guests agree with him or not. This is so unlike you. I don't get it.
Monte,
Population control...really? You do realize that negates the prime directive of our species; propogation. You're basically asking people to ignore their instincts and be ase*#ual. Because as much as some would like to deny it, the only biological reason for s#@ is to have babies.
If you want to see video of first-hand account of Marcellus Shale development's impact on environment and people, then follow my twitter or my blog or go to youtube.com/anonymous35733. You will be quite surprised at how much damage can be done before fracking even happens.
If you want to see video of first-hand account of Marcellus Shale development's impact on environment and people, then follow my twitter or my blog or go to youtube.com/anonymous35733. You will be quite surprised at how much damage can be done before fracking even happens.
I agree completely about the manner in which you treated John Hanger. I was ashamed, very ashamed for your behavior. I do not blame him for dropping the call near the end of the show. Why stay on when the host clearly has an agenda to disparage or deny your comments.
A very bad performance on your part.
Larry Taylor
Springfield, Arkansas
Today's agreement will align federal agencies so that oil and natural gas development in the United States is achieved in a way that also protects important environmental resources,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “Working with our federal partners, we are committed to delivering an environmental review process that is both transparent and comprehensive, supporting responsible domestic energy production on federal lands while ensuring environmental protection.”
Friday's agreement builds upon the best practices applied in a recent successful interagency collaboration on a major natural gas development project in Utah.
The Greater Natural Buttes Area Gas Development Project had been delayed, in part, over concerns about its potential impacts on air quality in the Uintah Basin, which has seen some of the highest winter time ozone levels in the nation.
Over the last several months, the BLM and EPA worked closely with the project proponent to develop a mitigation plan to significantly reduce the project's potential impacts, an important step forward for a project that could include up to 3,675 new gas wells over 10 years and produce more than 6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The MOU outlines a number of steps the agencies will take to ensure that federal laws protecting air quality, human health, and the environment are balanced with the nation's energy needs.
The agreement provides for early interagency consultation throughout the NEPA process; common procedures for determining what type of air quality analyses are appropriate and when air modeling is necessary; specific provisions for analyzing and discussing impacts to air quality and for mitigating such impacts; and a dispute resolution process to facilitate timely resolution of differences among agencies.
Just an example of how the Obama Administration is removing the abuses of previous Adminstration of Land Management: http://lakeconews.com/content/view/20283/928/
I agree with comments regarding the treatment of John Hanger and would also like to know why the program did not include anyone representing the natural gas industry. John Hanger does not represent the industry; he previously worked as a regulator. In a recent program on a very similar subject (why two programs dedicated to this same issue within months of each other are needed is another question) a spokes person for the industry was included and was not overbearing or rude. Perhaps they were reluctant to participate due to concerns that their positions would not be treated fairly as we seem to have seen with John Hanger.
YEP. Very Interesting reading. Thanks!
http://climatechangepsychology.blogspot.com/2011/06/frack-sand-mining-do...