Fracking can be done safely and regulations could be put into place to address individual state concerns. Bans like this are just overreacting to the vocal, and sometimes ill informed opposition. There is likely more risk to our drinking water from the use of lawn / agricultural products and from the salt used on roadways than from fracking. Will we ban lawn fertilizers next?
America’s Natural Gas Alliance said the Vermont law was “poor policy that ignores fact, science and technology.”
Science and technology are different than facts. Facts constantly evolve, for better or worse. VT cannot afford to open up for fracturing now, only to get late-developed facts which could show pollution of ground water. That’s why discovery is called ‘after the facts’. And with some of the best dairy in the world based in VT, there is little margin for error.
Our drinking water is contaminated enough as it is. There are articles, such as this one: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-10-drugs-tap-water_N.htm that show how even our current filtration/water reclamation plants are incapable of removing chemicals from our drinking water.
Wanting to reduce the risk of adding to the problem by banning fracking (really…using a Battlestar Galactica curse word as a substitute for hydraulic fracturing???) is probably showing good decision making.
Just so the good citizens of Vermont can keep their environmental morality absolutely pure and not tinged with abject hypocrisy, I suggest they pass another law to prevent the use or importing to their state ANY Natural Gas or Oil Products which have been produced, derived or developed using Hydrofracturing technology. Bet it gets really COLD up there in the winter without natural gas or heating oil, not to mention all the petrochemical products in their clothing, gasoline in their cars, etc.
This goes for any State which consumes energy produced elsewhere but is unwilling to get their hands dirty with the Production or Refining process.
There is risk in everything we do, as many of you understand. The risk of isolated and correctable problems for a major step in energy independence is an acceptable,calculated risk. For those that automatically claim environmental hazards too catastrophic to contemplate, either man-up or move to California where they have been fracking with weed since the late 50’s.
Dr Paul Hetzler, a technician who was responsible for investigating and managing groundwater contamination at the New York Department for Environmental Conservation: “If you were looking for a way to poison the drinking water supply, you could not find a more chillingly effective and thorough method of doing so than with hydraulic fracturing.”
I’m not on the left and I’m not on the right (have to say that because someone always turns something into a political issue)….also not against all carbon based fuels. This being said, feel free to have the fracking come to your back yard…but I will choose to keep it out of mine.
How about instead of offering illogical and untenable ultimatums-the country actually put research into safely and cleanly obtaining the necessary resources?
Vermont has one of the greatest dairy industries going. An area that hasn’t been explored enough is the capturing and reuse of another form of gas – bovine flatus. I suggest the Aggies at UVM study how cogeneration from this more natural form of natural gas can be used on small scale installations to at least keep the lights and equipment running. Percolated manure can be used to the same effect, and powers the campus of URI (which accounts for the unique aroma, but at least it’s green).
What flavor should Ben & Jerry’s next ice cream be called in honor of this important project? What colors / ingredients?
May 23, 2012 at 2:31 pm
EBA says:
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I live within 10 miles of a nuclear reactor and feel safer than I would if they were fracking in my neighborhood.
Fracking can be done safely and regulations could be put into place to address individual state concerns. Bans like this are just overreacting to the vocal, and sometimes ill informed opposition. There is likely more risk to our drinking water from the use of lawn / agricultural products and from the salt used on roadways than from fracking. Will we ban lawn fertilizers next?
America’s Natural Gas Alliance said the Vermont law was “poor policy that ignores fact, science and technology.”
Science and technology are different than facts. Facts constantly evolve, for better or worse. VT cannot afford to open up for fracturing now, only to get late-developed facts which could show pollution of ground water. That’s why discovery is called ‘after the facts’. And with some of the best dairy in the world based in VT, there is little margin for error.
Keep Vermont the Green State.
Our drinking water is contaminated enough as it is. There are articles, such as this one: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-10-drugs-tap-water_N.htm that show how even our current filtration/water reclamation plants are incapable of removing chemicals from our drinking water.
Wanting to reduce the risk of adding to the problem by banning fracking (really…using a Battlestar Galactica curse word as a substitute for hydraulic fracturing???) is probably showing good decision making.
That’s a fantastic argument: Our water is already polluted, so why not let corporations pollute it even further for profit?
Did you miss the part where I said the ban was showing good decision making?
Sheesh.
Just so the good citizens of Vermont can keep their environmental morality absolutely pure and not tinged with abject hypocrisy, I suggest they pass another law to prevent the use or importing to their state ANY Natural Gas or Oil Products which have been produced, derived or developed using Hydrofracturing technology. Bet it gets really COLD up there in the winter without natural gas or heating oil, not to mention all the petrochemical products in their clothing, gasoline in their cars, etc.
This goes for any State which consumes energy produced elsewhere but is unwilling to get their hands dirty with the Production or Refining process.
There is risk in everything we do, as many of you understand. The risk of isolated and correctable problems for a major step in energy independence is an acceptable,calculated risk. For those that automatically claim environmental hazards too catastrophic to contemplate, either man-up or move to California where they have been fracking with weed since the late 50’s.
Dr Paul Hetzler, a technician who was responsible for investigating and managing groundwater contamination at the New York Department for Environmental Conservation: “If you were looking for a way to poison the drinking water supply, you could not find a more chillingly effective and thorough method of doing so than with hydraulic fracturing.”
http://www.domesticcleanup.net/2012/05/hydraulic-fracturing/
Fracking is safe and attacks on it have been debunked already. This is about the left hating the use of carbon based fuels of any kind.
Would you like to show your research/sources to support your declarative statement?
I’m not on the left and I’m not on the right (have to say that because someone always turns something into a political issue)….also not against all carbon based fuels. This being said, feel free to have the fracking come to your back yard…but I will choose to keep it out of mine.
As I said above, those unwilling to incur any of the risk should not receive the benefit.
How about instead of offering illogical and untenable ultimatums-the country actually put research into safely and cleanly obtaining the necessary resources?
Vermont has one of the greatest dairy industries going. An area that hasn’t been explored enough is the capturing and reuse of another form of gas – bovine flatus. I suggest the Aggies at UVM study how cogeneration from this more natural form of natural gas can be used on small scale installations to at least keep the lights and equipment running. Percolated manure can be used to the same effect, and powers the campus of URI (which accounts for the unique aroma, but at least it’s green).
What flavor should Ben & Jerry’s next ice cream be called in honor of this important project? What colors / ingredients?
I live within 10 miles of a nuclear reactor and feel safer than I would if they were fracking in my neighborhood.