Cornell’s Howarth Warns EPA on Shale Gas Greenhouse Footprint
"Probably as dirty as coal — could be marginally better or substantially worse"
"Natural gas is not the clean fuel we’ve been led to believe," said Prof. Howarth, certainly not a good "bridge fuel" to get beyond coal to sustainable green energy. See Howarth’s preliminary study (pdf) which he told us at Binghamton would be updated in a new paper "in the next month or two.” This will be the first peer-reviewed study of the greenhouse footprint of shale gas in the nation. Also see our essay "Fracturing the Talking Points" for a breakdown of industry propaganda which has been masterful in convincing cash-strapped farmers and job-hungry citizens in 34 states that shale gas and the high-volume hydrofracturing to get it out of the ground are clean, safe, and good for you.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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A little history lesson in what the cost to all of us can be when all of the applications of a new technology completely masks the unknown health risks associated with it.
I agree with Howarth's work! It's good. But, on top of all that there's the acid gas stream that is vented to the air during gas processing at amine treatment plants. These shale gasses can contain some 6 to 40% CO2 which is vented to the air! More green house gasses.