The possibility that Western Massachusetts may hold limited deposits of shale gas is catapulting the contentious issue of hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, into the state.
An industry-supported group plans to hold a daylong session Thursday at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to tell landowners and the public about gas extraction, six months after a federal study mentioned the likelihood of gas deposits in the Pioneer Valley.
Comments
This Halliburton-supported mining group urges citizens to be calm and objective about its plans. Neither "water" nor "trust" should be in the name of Mr. Stone's organization.
The water isn't contaminated enough out there now they want to inject it with gas? Watch the movie Gasland and then come back and tell me what you think about frackin
Do you get all of your information from Hollywood "documentaries"? If you do, you must believe in the tooth fairy.
There's a movie about the tooth fairy? Did I already miss it, or is it coming out soon? "Oh, reality is not for me . . . . . . "
In a time of drought and limited water resources in many areas, why are we using our most precious resource to drill for gas, and fouling it in the process? New studies confirm that fracking is indeed linked to groundwater contamination. Methane is being released from fracking operations in Pennsylvania, which will only accelerate global warming. Meanwhile, we have true clean energy available in solar, wind, solar thermal and other technologies that only require a deep investment of our public interest. If you want to drill, baby, drill, then drill for geothermal energy that can power our grid and heat and cool our homes and buildings--all courtesy of Mother Earth. We need to end this frackin' madness.
We need a carbon tax.
This piece concludes that "Environmentalists were either surprised to learn of the seminar or expressed doubt fracking would come to Western Massachusetts". Even if shale gas deposits are unproven and not probable, environmental groups are mobilized to stop fracking in it's tracks. The article itself acknowlegdes Pioneer Valley Green-Rainbow Party and Sierra Club will be represented at the AGWT event. Web sites for 350MA and Climate Action Now MA indicate a demonstration and a separate rally at the AGWT event on their web site.
Natural gas is far cleaner than coal from a CO2 and acid rain perspective. We should regulate drilling in shale deposits to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination to an acceptably low level. Windmills and solar panels cannot provide enough energy to power our modern society.
Fracking is very dirty. Over my dead body.
Back to the moon, Alice! Plumb them depths -- there ain't no water to foul up there. C'mon, let's plunder outer space before we wreck our own planet further. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Oh, and hey, where's "WesternMassDad" today? He should weigh in on this topic, since he seems to be from out there. Whaddaya say, Wes? NIMBY or what?
And what happens when the Quabbin Reservour goes the way of the wells in PA? They are the people who threw a match at their water well and flames exploded. Oops sorry folks (MWRA), we just contaminated your water supply.
There is no scientific evidence that wells have exploded because of fracking. The EPA itself has had to retract reports of groundwater contamination because of flawed research. Don't believe sensational documentary films made by green activists.
Here's a question for all of you anti-fracking activists. Are you in favor of banning all technologies that pose risks to human life and to environmental quality? Would you ban jumbo jets because they could crash? Would you ban skyscrapers because Islamic terrorists could crash jumbo jets into them? Would you ban all prescription drugs because they all have side effects, sometimes fatal? If your answer is yes, then you must want to return to the poverty of the Middle Ages. If your answer is no, then you (like me) probably think that risky technologies simply need to be regulated instead of being banned.