This is a news story I thought I'd never see: The US is on the verge of becoming energy independent. That outlook is gaining realistic credibility. We're that close. Every White House since Jimmah Cahtaa has put forth their plans to get us there, but their plans usually wound up as bird cage lining. This is for real.
Now here's the rub....a lot of the new oil and natural gas we're producing is via a process called hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" for short, and it's becoming more controversial by the day. A chemical goop is injected into the ground under pressure, forcing oil and gas back out. A LOT of oil and gas. But there's also a lot of scary anecdotal evidence, everything from poisoned drinking water to minor earthquakes, that is giving rise to a bunch of activists opposed to fracking.
The day may come when we can retire using nasty 'ol coal to produce our electricity (sorry Appalachia) and instead use much cleaner and cheaper natural gas. This could help revitalize our industries, making them more competitive worldwide. Think CLEAN AIR and JOBS! And more than enough gasoline to power our cars and trucks and trains and buses. We won't have to kiss up to those #$&^*&@ bastards in the Middle East any longer, either. WooHoo!
Of course, the danger is we'll become complacent and go back to driving our land yachts that get 12 mpg, and put the development of new, clean, less polluting non-hydrocarbon fuels on the back burner. Are we going to have the political will to impose enough taxes on oil and gas products in order to subsidize R&D looking for these better energy sources for the future? (I doubt it. Our politicians have never, in my lifetime at least, been known for their stiff spines.)
So do we risk it? Do we plow forward with more fricking fracking (too easy!) and hope we can overcome the pollution problems that come with it, and tell the rag hea....er....Sheiks....in the Middle East to kiss our obese American hineys, or say NO to fracking and just accept the status quo?
In my mind it's touchy, but I say go for it. What say you?
S
I don't think there's enough information to know. But this "fracking" is in the long run another short-term solution. Eventually we have to get off the fossil fuels. I still think solar is the way to go because the sun is a virtually limitless supply of energy. We just need to figure out how to effectively harness it.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Grumpy. It is a short term fix. But it can be the bridge between what we're doing now, sending the Middle East our country's treasure, to the energy source of the future, be it solar, wind, hydrogen, or something we haven't even thought of yet.
ReplyDeleteS
I agree with Grumpy. Fossil fuel must go. Besides, while world-wide oil production, and demand, affect the price of oil, I thought the bulk of our oil came from Canada, not the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteCanada is our #1 foreign supplier (last I heard) but there's still a LOT imported from the mid east. Yes, we must find something better, but there will be a transition from what we have now to the new source. This could be that bridge.
ReplyDeleteS
Go for it but there should be rewards for alternate energy sources. I wish I could find a way for a hydrogen vehicle to be viable and accessible for instance...
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered if, in general, pumping out of fluids of any sort from the ground doesn't make earthquakes and such more probable. Just chewing gum for my mind, though, as I have no real knowledge in the area. Sure, I say we go for it. Since I have no real knowledge, why not go for the easiest solution? :-)
ReplyDelete