Fracking
Fracking, the popular abbreviation for hydraulic fracturing, is a technique which injects highly-pressurized fluid into a well to split the rock and allow access to natural gas trapped within.
Energy companies, driven in no small part by dwindling reserves of easy-to-access fossil fuels, are increasingly turning to so-called unconventional sources of fossil fuels. Shale gas is one of these; and hydraulic fracturing promises to open up access to what is claimed to be vast to sources of natural gas, and profits. National governments too, driven by a desire for greater energy independence, want access to these reserves of natural gas.
But big questions remain about the environmental safety of fracking: Will fracking cause more earthquakes? Will the chemicals used contaminate drinking water? What will be the impact on small farms? Does natural gas obtained by fracking have similar greenhouse gas emissions to other natural gas?
Energy companies downplay all of these concerns. Politicians focus on energy independence. Environmentalists urge caution. Whatever side you're on, fracking is likely to remain an issue in the forefront of energy policy for some time.
Featured Stories in Fracking
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Increased Use of Natural Gas Will Make Climate Change Worse, Not Better, New Study Predicts
“The large GHG footprint of shale gas undercuts the logic of its use as a bridging fuel over coming decades, if the goal is to reduce global warming.”
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4.0 Earthquake Caused by Fracking in Ohio Was Felt in Toronto
After a series of 11 earthquakes in nine months, a fracking operation near Youngstown has been suspended.
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Farmer Calls on Reddit to Help Him Protect 30,000 Acres of His Homeland from Fracking
A farmer turns to the popular social media site to throw light on plans to lease 30,000 acres of land to fracking companies.
Tag: Fracking - Page 2
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The Science is Clear: Hydraulic Fracturing is Putting the Lives of our Children at Risk
In this guest post, Sandra Steingraber warns of the dangers to Colorado's water supply if natural gas fracking is allowed to continue.
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Energy News: US Wind Power Passes 50 GW, China's Solar Power Industry on Life Support, More
Plus: India gets it's first net metering system; pro-fracking groups astroturf rally in Albany, New York
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Occupy the Pipeline Shuts Down Spectra Construction in NYC
Pipeline developer Spectra cancelled construction for the day at the mere threat of protest.
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Frack-Free Colorado Highlights Natural Gas Fracking Facts (Infographic)
Frack-Free Colorado shares some of the startling facts of dangerous natural gas drilling.
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New York Steps Back From the Fracking Abyss, For Now
The Cuomo administration has restarted the entire review process for fracking in New York State, opening up a new period of public commenting, pusing off a decision on permitting hydraulic fracturing into 2013 at earliest.
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Wyoming Water Was Contaminated by Fracking - USGS Study Confirms EPA Findings
High levels of gas concentration appear to come from fossil fuels and are not naturally occurring.
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Quebec's New Government Looks to Ban Fracking
New natural resources minister Martine Ouellet says she doesn't think fracking can ever be done safely.
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Energy News: US Emissions Set to Rise in 2013, Cuomo's Fracking Aide, Indian Point Power Agreement Set to Expire
Higher natural gas prices are likely to lead to a shift back to coal, a new EIA report shows. More...
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California Fracking Set to Expand with New Federal Auction
Nearly 18,000 acres in the Monterey Shale is coming up for auction, with companies hoping to frack for shale oil.
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Fracking Poses "High-Risk" to Human Health & Environment, EU Study Finds
The combined negative effects of hydraulic fracturing mean it's worse than other fossil fuels, the report finds.
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Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon Speak Out Against Natural Gas Fracking
They are helping other artists organize against it.
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Fracking to Get Green Light in New York by Labor Day
The final regulations are yet to be determined, but here's a glimpse at how fracking will soon start in New York State.
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Will Falling Renewable Energy Costs Do In Fracking?
I'd like to think so, and Juan Cole clearly thinks so, but nothing in this world happens due to purely economically rational reasons.
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Pro-Fracking University Studies Funded by Natural Gas Industry
You may have already suspected this was the case, but now there's some research to back it up.
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It's Shaping Up To Be A Long Hot Summer
It's turning into a hot climate summer in two ways, only one of which you can measure with a thermometer.
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75% of New York's Active Oil & Gas Wells Go Uninspected Every Year
As the number of oil and gas wells increased in New York by roughly 1000 in the first decade of this century, inspections fell by a similar amount.
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Rupert Murdoch Needs Some Schooling on Shale Gas & Climate Change
Rupert, shale gas is absolutely not a climate-friendly fuel, nor is climate change happening slowly.
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Stop the Frack Attack: Join Us July 28 in Washington DC
Come to Washington, DC, on July 28 for the huge "Stop the Frack Attack" Rally.
