The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released a draft proposal to administer potential natural gas drilling activities in the Marcellus Shale basin, which spans 600 miles though New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Originally, this gas was economically inaccessible but due to horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, the high demand for natural gas in New England, and the construction of the Millennium Pipeline it is economically feasible to drill. This proposal will permit for horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing to release the natural gas. Some geologist estimate that the entire Marcellus Shale formation contains up to 500 trillion cubic feet of gas—enough to fuel the United States for 2 years. To drill into the shale rock it would require between three to five million gallons of water per well.
This proposal has caused a lot of controversy because the Marcellus Shale basin lies near a million-acre watershed servicing 15 million people, 9 million of which reside in New York City. The regulations do not ban drilling near the watershed, but many have urged for this provision due to the fear of water contamination. But there have been many supporters to say that the economic benefits of a new gas boom in this economy far outweigh the risks. In this the report creates strict rules for companies to disclose the chemicals they use.
To drill at these well sites, vast amounts of water are going to be needed thus depleting water resources in an already sensitive area. By drafting upon the water table to supply the drills is, in my opinion, irresponsible of the government and companies. The project also poses the risk of releasing the gases into the atmosphere. Additionally, I believe that it would further increase our dependence on dirty energy rather than help us to shape a new economy around green jobs and clean, renewable energies.
Joshua Brooking
It seems like the underlying question is ‘how much longer the world will depend on new technologies to “dig” us out of the ensuing energy crisis’? This drilling overwhelmingly highlights the issue of increased demand and depleting supply of finite energy. I understand that there needs to be a transition period between current fossil fuel use and clean and renewable energy practices but at what point do we set the mark and begin this transition? The remaining oil reserves becoming increasingly more risky to tap into and it is only with new technology that ocean drilling and horizontal drilling are even possible. I just don’t think it’s all worth the risk, and all for two years of simply putting off the real problem further.
ReplyDeleteKELLEY JUNCO