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 6
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Energy News Recap: China May Soon Burn Half of All World's Coal, SuperFracking, Vestas Closing Wind Turbine Plants, More
Lots of energy news today; unfortunately, apart from the notion that peak oil is actually an opportunity for massive positive societal and environmental change which we'll get to in a few words, it's not really good news.
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Energy News Recap: 2.4 GW Seawater Pumped Hydro Project; China Ups Wind Power Target to 1000 GW
Plus... a former IEAer says oil to decline shortly after 2015 and Chevron smacked (again) by a judge. Here's what we've just been scanning in energy news.
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Youngstown, Ohio Mayor Buys Earthquake Insurance After Quake Caused By Fracking
Two days after the earthquake caused by a nearby fracking well the mayor said, "I called my insurance man and got earthquake insurance.”
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Most Popular Articles of December: Best DIY Gadgets, Pigs Using iPads, and More
From the best DIY gadget projects of the year, to pigs playing with iPads, and fighting fracking, here are the hottest stories of December.
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Energy News Recap: Keystone XL Whistleblowing, BP Spill Fingerpointing, Shale Gas Rising
"Let's be clear, I'm an engineer. I am not telling you we shouldn't build pipelines. We just should not build this one," Klink says about Keystone XL.
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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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Rick Perry Fracks Up, Denies Link to Groundwater Pollution
Voters call the presidential hopeful out for being unaware of the health risks posed by fracking.
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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.
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Colorado and Texas to Require Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals
Colorado legislation goes further than most, will be model for other states, says Gov. Hickenlooper.
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Officials Who Regulate the Drilling Industry Are Also Tasked With Promoting It
State oil and gas agencies across the country that are supposed to be regulating the drilling industry, and ensuring risks to the environment and human health are minimized, are also tasked with promoting the same industry.
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EPA Declares 'Fracking May Be To Blame For Causing Groundwater Pollution'
Fracking scientifically demonstrated to have polluted a small town's water
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Josh Fox, Director of Gasland, on the Lies of Hydrofracking (Podcast)
Josh Fox, the writer and director of Gasland, discusses the ravages of hydrofracking and the fight against it .
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Most Popular Articles of November: Fracking Causes Earthquakes, Lt. John Pike's Pepper Spraying Revolution, and More
A British energy company admits they caused earthquakes with fracking, Lt. John Pike's pepper spraying is seen around the world, and an octopus walks on land: Find this and More.
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How to Keep Fracking Out of Our Drinking Water: An Interview with Josh Fox, Director of Gasland
The Academy Award nominated director talks fracking, civil disobedience, and the decision that could endanger 15.6 million people's drinking water.
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Delaware River Fracking Vote Canceled
"You've saved the Delaware, for now." - Gasland director Josh Fox
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Bill McKibben and Josh Fox Tell Joe Biden to Halt Fracking in Delaware River (Video)
The two environmentalist icons team up to send the Vice President a powerful anti-fracking message.
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Plan to Allow 20,000 Fracking Wells in Delaware River Basin Threatens Drinking Water for 15.6 Million
This Monday, a governmental commission will decide whether to open up the region for dangerous fracking operations. The plan would threaten the water supply for 15.6 million people, including residents of New York City.
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Fracking Has "Real Risk Of Serious Environmental Consequences", Federal Subcommittee Reports
Progress has been made to reduce fracking's environmental impact, but less than the Subcommittee had hoped.
