2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Do you support fracking, or coal? [View all]pat_k
(9,313 posts)A shift to the widespread use of residential solar panels can be accelerated by increases in incentives/rebates/grants. Significant decreases in consumption requirements can be brought about relatively quickly. This "distributed approach" can complement the longer term development of more centralized infrastructure.
Fracking in regions where water resources are limited should be banned. But of course, whether or not that happens will be up to local governments.
Not all fields require fracking. Production has shifted away from the slower, steadier production of coal bed methane wells in favor of techniques that push the gas out as fast as possible. Where fracking is banned, CBM wells start looking attractive again. So, it's not always "coal vs. fracking," in some areas it's "fracking vs. CBM."
Where fracking is permitted, a far more aggressive program of monitoring groundwater, wells, etc., for contamination must be put in place, with the cost born by the gas corps. Federal limits need to be set. When those limits are exceeded, production stops. That's a big incentive to develop the "cleanest" processes possible. Levels of escaped methane must also be constantly monitored. Standards for minimizing escape must be put into place. Otherwise, we're just trading one greenhouse gas for another. Furthermore, restrictions on the carbon footprint associated with the diesel and gas driven drilling and production processes are needed, with surcharges to encourage a shift to cleaner processes.
The gas boom will be slowed by the additional regulation, but it will move forward with greater assurance that contamination and carbon footprint is minimized.
The current focus is on shifting from coal to natural gas. That needs to change. The focus needs to be on shifting from coal to renewables. In the current "gas boom" legislatures seem to be forgetting that. If fracking is curbed, the focus can get back on increasing the contribution of renewables. No, we won't be replacing coal overnight. But aggressive targets can be set for increasing the contribution of renewables annually, and decreasing consumption, so that in a few decades we reach the levels we know are possible. A slower "ramping down" of coal enables the coal industry, and the people in it, to adapt.
My two cents.
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