Well site during active drilling to the Marcelllus Shale formation in Upshur County, West Virginia, in 2008. Photo copyright West Virginia Surface Owners Rights Organization.
We’ve talked before about whether the greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas — especially when it comes from drilling into shale formations — has been understated in the rush to proclaim natural gas as a “clean” source of energy.
And now, there’s a new study out from researches at Cornell University which concludes:
The footprint for shale gas is greater than that for conventional gas or oil when viewed on any time horizon, but particularly so over 20 years. Compared to coal, the footprint of shale gas is at least 20 percent greater and perhaps more than twice as great on the 20-year horizon and is comparable when compared over 100 years.
The study is due out this week in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Change. But The Hill has a story already out about the paper, reporting:
The conclusion is explosive because natural gas enjoys broad political support – including White House backing – due to its domestic abundance and lower carbon dioxide emissions when burned than other fossil fuels.
Cornell Prof. Robert Howarth, however, argues that development of gas from shale rock formations produced through hydraulic fracturing – dubbed “fracking” – brings far more methane emissions than conventional gas production.
Enough, he argues, to negate the carbon advantage that gas has over coal and oil when they’re burned for energy, because methane is such a potent greenhouse gas.
But Howarth’s research was previously discussed in great detail in a story by ProPublica’s Abrahm Lustgarten, available here.
UPDATED: The industry website “Energy in Depth” has published a response attacking the new study.
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Ken, Where does the energy come from that powers your computer? Why don’t you tackle the 600lb gorilla in the room that is processed food? I would really like to know why you have such disdain for fossil fuels. Did someone from the energy sector do something to you personally? You’re the Don Quixote of the press.
Climate Progress blog’s Joe Romm says the evidence isn’t strong enougth to reach any conclusions one way or another on the GHG footprint of shale gas. He thinks a National Academies of Science study is the way to go, and that sounds reasonable to me.
What has gone unstated in nearly all media – print and electronic – pieces on natural gas drilling in shale is this: The footprint of the drilling process alone (roads, clear-cutting of trees, noise pollution, etc.) both destroys and fragments wildlife habitat, an especially egregious problem for forest-interior wildlife like the Wood Thrush. You can see a classic example of habitat fragmentation in the photograph accompanying this blog posting.
The Sierra Club writes:
Subject: Upcoming events – Extension Svce continues to tout Marcellus for industry
Dear friends,
The WVU Extension Service is continuing to stage its series of so-called “Fundamentals of Natural Gas Exploration and Leasing” programs around the state. The trouble is they’re leaving out some crucial factors. If they are anything like the events they’ve had in Buckhannon, Keyser and Oak Hill recently, there will be a carefully crafted agenda that describes the mechanics of Marcellus drilling and very little, if any, consideration of the environmental degradation to our roads, homes, air, land and water.
By omission, these “dog and pony” shows are designed to soothe citizens’
fears of the coming unregulated industrialization of West Virginia. And since these programs are industry-funded ($125,000 worth, see links below), you can expect dismissive responses to folks’ environmental concerns.
Here’s the where and when:
Apr. 26, Tuesday 6 p.m. Days Inn at Flatwoods (Exit 67 of I-79)
Braxton County
May 3, Tuesday 6 p.m. Parkersburg City Building, Wood County
May 10, Tuesday 6 p.m. Agricultural Sciences South, Room 1021,
WVU Evansdale Campus, Monongalia County
For more info contact: Georgette F. Plaugher, WVU Extension Service Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources Development Cell Phone:
304-376-4515 E-mail: Georgy.Plaugher@mail.wvu.edu
You may want to contact Ms. Plaugher and inquire about the program, its questionable source of funding and why there are no environmental degradation aspects being presented.
Extension Service has told us that we can set up a table and hand out information, so please feel free to print out any of the attachments included with this message. If you can videotape the program, please do.
Accountability is a strong tool. There will be Q&A time, so we urge you to attend and voice your concerns about Marcellus shale drilling. Please tell us your impressions of the event.
Thank you,
Chuck
Chuck Wyrostok
Sierra Club Outreach Organizer
Ken – can youlook into what looks like a fairly serious conflict of interest and lack of academic objectivity on the part of an important component of our state university?
Thanks,
Gibbs Kinderman
Here’s a link you may find interesting:
http://www.alternet.org/environment/150597/revealed%3A_confidential_document_shows_oil_company%27s_strategy_to_con_landowners_into_giving_up_drilling_rights?page=entire
The comments of Chuck Wyrostok and Gibbs Kinderman are very revealing as to how environmental advocates see Ken Ward as nothing more than an errand boy.
The primary constituent of natural gas is methane, which is not a regulated air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. That’s the fed’s call — that’s right, the divine EPA doesn’t regulate methane! Methane is emitted in vast quantities from numerous sources, like land fills, humans and cows. Methane a byproduct of about anytime organic matter decays.
As for the Extension Service’s programs, these aren’t “dog and pony shows” as Wyrostok unknowingly portrays. There have already been several of these programs, and DEP representatives have made presentations. These programs came at the request of citizens who wanted information about the type of activity and leasing. In my opinion, that’s actually the epitome of academic objectivity and consistent with the purpose of the Extension Service. It’s not the appropriate place for groups with pro- or anti-drilling agendas.
Ok people, lets turn off our lights,walk to work, and freeze in the winter. Either you drill it here or buy it from sand land or else where. WE NEED OUR OWN ENERGY. So go hug a tree or grow up and drill. Do you really think these outher countrys care anything about the enviroment? No. Here in the US we drill with the safest and most enviromently sound practices in the world. Let our country reap the benifits of jobs and fuel.