Fracking Makes This Worse
Cheaper Oil? –Not!
“It’s clear that turning a blind eye to fracking’s environmental impact in an effort to reduce coal use is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.”
This article makes a mistake that is common: It asserts that the cost of oil is reduced from $90 to $30 a barrel. That’s not the whole cost, not by a longshot. Conside this:
- The costs of climate change are “external” to the pricing model.
- The permanent damage to local property values is “external.”
- The Federal and state subsidies are “external.”
- The incalculable damage caused by toxic contamination of air and water is “external.”
- The adverse health effects and their cost is “external.”
These “externalities” aren’t priced in. Consequently, market forces that should make fossil energy more expensive than renewable energy are defeated. The incentives to develop solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal is reduced by the availability of cheap oil.
It’s the Climate!
I’m an old man. At 84, I don’t expect to live to see the consequences of the denial that energy industry propaganda has caused. My kids will, and my grandkids will.
Climate change is accelerating exponentially. A number of destructive vicious cycles are on the verge of being triggered. Once they are, our once-stable ecosystems will become even more chaotic than they are now. Humanity will not be capable of reversing the cascading catastrophic changes.
Fracking and Politics
The fossil fuel industry and the “mailbox money” crowd don’t want to stop drilling and pumping despite the proven damage to local life quality and property. They are ignoring the looming climate disaster. Here are some articles representing points of view.
If the environment and/or fracking is a make/break issue for you, vote even if neither candidate stands against fracking. Choose the candidate whose judgment and character you trust. Who is most likely to listen to voices like yours and do the right thing in day-by-day environmental decisions after thoughtfully weighing the costs and benefits to all concerned?
Unfettered by Regulation
It’s a driller’s dream, little regulation or enforcement, vast amounts of fossil fuel to be exploited. The Patagonia region of Argentina is a land of opportunity. What could possibly go wrong?
Wells to Store Surplus Solar Energy
Geothermal, and high pressure undeground storage of water are two experimental techniques being studied for short-term storage of wind and solar energy. Since both sources are intermittent, the generation capacity is often not available when needed. Batteries are not the only solution, “hot rock” and subterranean pressurized caverns present alternatives.
It remains to be seen if the dangers of fracking can be avoided with these wells.
How a Technology Similar to Fracking Can Store Renewable Energy Underground Without Lithium Batteries – Inside Climate News
Three Houston startups are using fracking-like techniques to create underground storage caverns for pressurized water, which when released drives a turbine to send power to the grid.
Fracking in Western PA Up
Fracking boom in PA raises health and environmental concerns
Fracking is on the rise in southwestern Pennsylvania, leading to more plastic production and harsh consequences for residents. Washington County is heavily fracked, with almost 4,000 fracking wells on top of current and legacy coal mines. Sarah Martik, executive director of the Center for Coalfield Justice, said conversations are happening at the national and global level about fracking, affecting the way the fossil fuel industry wants to operate in the area.…
Quakes
About Those “Good Paying Jobs”
Tipping Points – Yes, that’s plural.
The Methane vicious cycle is not the only point of no return. If you like fracking or any other activity that makes fossil fuel cheap and available, think again. How close to the abyss are you willing to dance?
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