Keep Tap Water Safe

Forbes Contributor, Jeff McMahon, Joins Hal Harvey In The Methane Fact Bubble   

Speaking at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy on Thursday April 11, Hal Harvey, CEO of the lobby firm Energy Innovation and former Energy Advisor to Clinton and H. W. Bush, offered up his playbook for frackers. On April 12, Forbes contributing writer, Jeff McMahon, covered Harvey’s speech in the article, “5 Things U.S. Must Do To Win At Fracking.” I wasn’t there, but I’m guessing it must have been a bit like preaching to the choir.  

It’s not that any of Harvey’s points are wrong. He obviously has a tremendous grasp on the issues. It’s his premise I question – that more extreme fossil fuel extraction is a given, a necessary evil, we just gotta get it right.

It’s pure myth that natural gas can be used safely as a “bridge fuel” without increasing hydrocarbons in the earth’s atmosphere past the point of no return and irrevocably destroying fresh water supplies. In fact, it might be the industry’s only truly successful PR effort to date. But the way I understand it, much like people, there’s only so much our planet can take. I may be an environmentalist, but I’m thinking it’s Harvey and McMahon who drank the Kool-Aid. Oh yeah…

5 Things U.S. Must Do To Keep Sucking At Fracking…                

1. “Control Methane Leaks”  … Starting with the “bridge fuel” hot air.
2. “Use Gas To Push Out Coal, Not Renewables” … Use your bajillion dollar advertising budget to push out anyone who questions extreme fossil fuel extraction and wants to leave it in the ground.
3. “Adopt Strong Well Standards”  … Use only magical cement and steel that will last forever.
4. “Prevent Surface Pollution”  … Don’t forget to close your valves no matter how much Meth-Amphetamine you’re on.
5. “Zone Gas Fields To Avoid Ecological Damage”  … Just don’t let the neighbors know they are now living in a heavily industrialized Sacrifice Zone.

Tags: Bridge Fuel Fantasy, Hal Harvey, Jeff McMahon, Methane Bubble

This entry was posted on April 13, 2013 at 3:11 am and is filed under Energy, Environment, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, Unconventional Gas Drilling, US Energy Policy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.