Fracking problems

The EPA’s proposal to limit coal burning is a good one, but we continue to have major environmental problems with the so-called “clean-burning fuels” we obtain from fracking.  Matthew L. Wald in an article in the Times Business section (6/4/14) noted three big ones.

First, cheap natural gas is replacing more expensive nuclear power.  While nuclear reactors have waste problems, they also have approximately zero carbon footprint.

Secondly, many areas using fracking to obtain oil (i.e., North Dakota) have no pipelines to carry away the natural gas.  The excess gas produced is “flared off,” resulting in emissions up to 16.5 million tons annually.

Finally, the methane released during fracking adds large amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.   The estimates are that between 2007 and 2013, a methane equivalent of up to 19 million tons of carbon dioxide was released.

The next time somebody starts touting how wonderful fracking is, you might mention one or two of the downsides.