European Lawmakers Tighten Rules on Fracking

[pampango]

Source: New York Times

European Union lawmakers voted narrowly on Wednesday to force energy companies to carry out in-depth environmental audits before they deploy a technique known as fracking to recover natural gas from shale rock. The technique involves shooting a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals under pressure into shale to break it up and release the gas. France has already banned the technique, also known as hydraulic fracturing, and it has sparked protests in Britain.

Even so, the result is a setback for the shale-gas sector in Europe, where the industry is far less developed than in the United States and where many citizens are more concerned about the environmental impact of recovering the gas than about finding new sources of hydrocarbons as a way of combating stubbornly high energy prices.

Industry groups immediately condemned the result as more red tape for European business at a time when the bloc is seeking ways to grow after five years of economic crises.

But environmental groups and lawmakers praised the rules covering the gas sector. “While this would not prevent permits from being granted, it would ensure a basic standard of assessment and public participation,” said Sandrine Bélier, a French member of the European Parliament who is the spokeswoman for the environment for the Greens.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/10/business/energy-environment/european-lawmakers-tighten-rules-on-fracking.html?_r=0

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Good environmental news from Europe.

[gopiscrap]

1. good wish we would do the same

[Swede Atlanta]

2. That would be nice but will not happen in my lifetime....

The rightwing is constantly telling the lie that we are more dependent on foreign sources of energy than ever before and that Obama's green initiatives such as investing in solar and wind power are in shambles a la Solyendra. They mock his decision to raise fuel economy standards claiming it is the end of Detroit.

None of which is true
- Obama announced yesterday we are likely to become the largest energy producer in the world this year and be a net exporter
- Investments in solar and wind power are still getting their sea legs but have great promise for the future
- Detroit will meet or exceed the new standards and the industry is in a position of strong recovery

Unfortunately becoming a net exporter of energy has untold victims including those in areas where tracking is done. I was born and raised in the inter-mountain west with a father who was in the petroleum business - both drilling and production. So many of my cousins, classmates, etc. are still dependent on the petroleum industry for their livelihoods and they refuse to accept the scientific evidence that fracking is dangerous.

I am not suggesting the practice be entirely stopped now but we need to reduce the practice until we have a better understanding of the affects on the underground geology and the long-term impact on water availability and quality.

[gopiscrap]

3. Yeah sad to say, you're right.