In response to “Fracking is Misunderstood”
Written by Michael Vrtis President of Realgy Energy Services in response to the Forbes article “Fracking Is Misunderstood, It’s The Key To Energy Self-Sufficiency”
This article articulates that the US should embrace fracking on the basis that it can lead to energy independence. Given the free-trade mantra advocated for years if not decades I chuckle at the thought of independence in energy.
So what does fracking mean to you and the US?
- Fracking will evolve as a technique for extracting natural gas.
- Its impact on the US cannot be understated; this is like finding a Saudi Arabian natural gas field in our backyard!
- It has the potential to keep the US below the world market price for natural gas for decades to come (currently by almost $5.00 / Dth)
- Manufacturing will return to the US to take advantage of lower energy costs
- Air pollution will decrease in the Northeast US
- The EPA will regulate the fracking fluid and will require ground water and aquifer monitoring; this is a responsible position and will prevent restricting the fracking technique
Instead of politician trying to seek energy independence I would like to see them embrace natural gas and encourage its use as a transportation fuel. This will reducing oil imports of which 60% is used as transportation fuel.
Forbes, “Fracking is Misunderstood, It’s the Key to Energy Self-Sufficiency”
We are in southeastern PA and don’t have an “official” position on fracking, but here are my personal two cents if you’re interested. The Marcellus Shale is big news around here, and big money for a lot of people. I am in favor of developing it, and I agree that this is a resource with huge economic and energy independence potential. However, I felt that the original article was much too dismissive of the concerns about fracking and its impact on our health and our water. I find it VERY hard to believe that it’s a coincidence that in areas where fracking is occurring heavily, the residents are reporting a dramatically changed water supply – check out all of the YouTube videos of people igniting their tap water, or the NPR series about people whose taps are producing brown slime. I don’t think you have to be an overzealous “environmentalist” (their quotes) to be concerned about this. Like I said, I am in favor of continuing to develop the Shale, but it needs to be done responsibly. Moderation and compromise seem to be dying a painful death here in America, but I hope that eventually people will recognize that there is too much to lose on both sides of this issue to make it yet another all-or-nothing situation.
Thanks for listening,
Shanna
Thank you for your comment Shanna. I agree that further developments, studies and investigations of this technology need to be done and done responsibly!