The energy industry continues to push the limits and externalize the damage fracing does.
“A 2011 analysis by federal scientists found liquid waste from Marcellus shale gas wells had overall concentrations of radium roughly 40 times what the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission classifies as “hazardous” or “radioactive.” Despite these characteristics, Congress in 1980 exempted oil and gas waste from federal hazardous waste regulations pending a review. In 1988, the U.S. EPA determined that the regulations were not warranted. That’s why cuttings and other fracking solid waste are classified as residual waste (non-hazardous industrial waste) and can be sent to municipal landfills like Westmoreland.”
This story documents how byproducts of Fracking create hazards and costs downstream, and how the industry dodges paying for them.
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!
This article quotes statistics on the horrific volume of wastewater fracking generates. It’s a terribly destructive process that permanently contaminates water, rendering it unsafe for human or animal consumption. The energy industry propagandizes and minimizes the damage, so you don’t hear much about it. Consider these statistics and think about all the efforts we make to conserve drinking water, such as low-flush toilets, shower restrictors, and drip irrigation for our gardens. Water destruction is yet another externalized cost that drillers aren’t held accountable for.
LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND.
“Despite record natural gas production in Pennsylvania, residents face soaring electricity rates as companies export the resource to higher-paying markets, leaving many unable to afford basic heating and cooling.” — Read the article below.
Fracking has no redeeming virtues, except perhaps for opportunistic investors who are unconcerned about the harm it causes.
KEEP IT IN THE GROUND.
Most of us have no question that greenhouse gases are a danger to human health. Faced with fossil energy lobby disinformation, genuine scientists need to keep beating the drum.
KEEP IT IN THE GROUND!
The energy interests promote false hopes of short-term savings and hometown opportunities for good jobs. These don’t materialize, but once the permits are issued and the drilling and fracking happens, the negative effects are long term and permanent. We now know that releasing methane, burning it, or making plastic out of it all do permanent damage. It’s so unnecessary.
The Climate effects are not only big storms, but more frequent and severe small ones. In fact, the insurance industry reports that non-farm losses due to small storms is greater than the increses in large storm losses. The energy industry takes no responsibility for this, but it’s clearly acts of men, not God, causing this. KEEP IT IN THE GROUND.
