What the frack?: Controversy over fracking in Michigan prompts calls for ban, moratorium

[marmar]

from the Detroit Metro Times:




What the frack?
Controversy over fracking in Michigan prompts calls for ban, moratorium

By Curt Guyette
Published: June 15, 2011


We've all seen the ads touting the benefits of natural gas as a cleaner-burning alternative to other fossil fuels. And it's true that, compared to coal or oil, natural gas is much less harmful in terms of its effect on global warming when used to generate electricity or power vehicles.

"Natural gas produces 43 percent fewer carbon emissions than coal for each unit of energy delivered, and 30 percent fewer emissions than oil," according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Don't, however, be fooled into thinking that just because methane produces a lesser amount of greenhouse gases when it's burned means that it is necessarily a green-friendly fuel. Especially, as is increasingly the case, when that natural gas is extracted from the earth by means of a process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Which is why a nonprofit group called Food & Water Watch had some of its folks holding a press conference down by the Detroit River on a sparkling morning earlier this week. They were there with copies of a just released report called "The Case for a Ban on Gas Fracking." ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://metrotimes.com/news/what-the-frack-1.1161879

[Bryan Buchan]

1. I wish I could clone myself so I could be involved...

...with all the crazy shit going down in Michigan. I can only spread the word and choose my battles. Thanks for spreading the word marmar