“America’s hydraulic fracturing gold rush portends the greatest environmental disaster of a generation. … “The natural gas industry has spent $747 million lobbying state and federal officials over the past decade, allowing it to continue drilling in 34 states. Few Americans are any richer. But a whole lot more have horror stories to tell.”
I am proud to have participated along with two of Earthworks’ fantastic board members, Deborah Rogers and Tony Ingraffea.
Fracking: Boom or Doom
America’s hydraulic fracturing gold rush portends the greatest environmental disaster of a generation
By Denise Grollmus Wednesday, Sep 19 2012
Village Voice
This is one of my favorite quotes. I may update with more quotes later.
“The whole goal is to put a little seed of doubt in people’s minds,” Ingraffea says. “And for those who believe that they can get rich from leasing their land, there is a willing suspension of disbelief. But the real question is: How many bad things can go wrong right in front of your eyes before you finally accept the truth that this stuff is nasty and extremely dangerous?”
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Don’t think this will register as devastating, but nice line: “America’s hydraulic fracturing gold rush portends the greatest environmental disaster of a generation.” So what is the fracking rush a sign of? The world having a stable supply of energy?
If the worldwide economy is going to require 50% more energy in the next 20 years, I just don’t understand how else we would get it. Nat gas is cleaner than coal, so I think its more accurate to say “fracking gold rush is the greatest environmental (economic, and public health) savior of this generation.”
Y’all need to hire some engineers and economists over at earth works. Bring in the skill team to write your stories!
Um, “Sierra?” Earthworks didn’t have anything to do with writing the story. We were interviewed for it. ICYMI, Tony Ingraffea is a Cornell professor.
Natural gas only burns cleaner than coal. The extraction process plus all the emissions make it on par or even dirtier than coal.
Here’s how we can get the energy we need: Stop the corporate socialism to the fracking companies and give those subsidies to wind and solar. Step up conservation programs.
Clearly you don’t grasp the magnitude of our world energy needs or the limitations of wind/solar. And the rest of the world can’t afford to subsidize it.basic arithmetic. Let’s cut the oil subsidies and put everything on the table.bythe way, oil and gas companies invested 2x the federal gov in wind and solar. They don’t care where profits come from – if there is money to be made they’ll find it. It just ain’t there.
Clearly you don’t grasp the magnitude of the destruction, contamination and suffering fracking causes.
We can’t afford to water and destroy vital natural resources in pursuit of the last dab of dirty fossil fuels–basic arithmetic.
The best written article yet I think that captures a good time line of events.
I read the entire report. The cream rises to the top. That is you, Sharon.
You were there before anyone, Don.
As was said during the Watergate scandal: “Follow the money!”. The comment in the article which intimated that fracking ventures were not as profitable as first thought is a notion that should be explored in more depth. Some of the fracking companies are carrying significant amounts of debt, far more than they should be if long-term survival is desired. Long-term survival is desirable as best practices may evolve that will possibly minimize fracking’s negative impact on the environment; unlikely but possible. Long-term survival is also important as remediation, if any is possible, requires extant parties against which damages and expenses can assessed with a reasonable expectation of collection in full.
Financial smoke-and-mirrors hurts all parties involved: the employees, the investors, and the peasants in the sacrifice zones.