The Brits are considering banning fracking. A writer for the Global Witness advocacy group, Jon Noronha-Gant said this:

“The government’s decision to ban fracking is a win for people over polluters.

Fracking is a dirty fossil fuel drilling method that exposes people to earthquakes, water pollution and more planet-wrecking emissions.

Aside from destroying our environment, we also know that it wouldn’t give the UK more jobs, cash or security – unlike its renewable energy counterparts. Any party would be senseless to back fracking.” 

The same is true for the US. Renewable energy is already meeting 25% of US needs. It is competing with fossil fuels that are heavily subsidized by advantageous legislation. The producers take no responsibility for the harm done by the uses of their product or the damage done in extracting it fromd the ground.

Renewables employ lots of people. Technological advances in batteries are making storage practical so that surplus energy can be stored, and battery storage promises to reduce the inefficiency of transmission from source to user as well. Imagine what is possible if the US fully embraced clean energy, and leveled the competitive playing field so that fossil fuels carried the costs they so artfully dodge!