Study suggests shale-gas development causing rapid landscape change

[FBaggins]

2. We're already dependent on them...

...the question here is whether we'll produce them ourselves (and live with the environmental consequences of our actions), or import fuels from abroad.

Note that prior to the recent gas boom, the US was feverishly constructing LNG import facilities.

The shift to renewables is worthwhile on its own... but that's a question of "why use gas at all?" rather than what this article is talking about.