Natural Gas
“Fracking” fluid disclosure: why it’s important
When the Department of Energy panel on hydraulic fracturing released its 90-day report on shale gas production, I mentioned a few areas of concern. But one finding from the report where we can agree is the importance of disclosing the composition of fluids used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
During these challenging economic times, there are plenty of facts and figures to show how the U.S. oil and natural gas industry is creating jobs and economic opportunity across the United States. But just as powerful, I think, are the real-life stories from where the job growth is actually taking place. And it’s happening in places you might not expect.
The SEAB shale gas report: More time and including industry experts would have led to a better report
On Thursday, the Department of Energy released the first of two reports from the panel established by the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) to make recommendations regarding safe and environmentally responsible shale gas development. The report rightly acknowledges the importance of shale gas development and steps taken by industry to protect groundwater. Some of the report’s other conclusions and recommendations, however, lead me to think the panel would have benefited from additional time to study the issues rather than being held to an arbitrary 90-day deadline.
Where is the job growth? Take a look at the U.S. energy industry
Although today’s jobs report is slightly more encouraging than generally expected, most Americans would agree that it’s nowhere near enough. Many are asking “how can we create more jobs?” It’s not an easy question. But one obvious place to start would be to encourage sectors in which jobs are already growing – including the U.S. oil and natural gas industry.
A state-level look at how energy companies create economic opportunity
Many Americans, including many in Washington, are looking for ways to stimulate job growth and economic recovery. I suggest they look at what’s happening in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry, which – with its emphasis on innovation and technology – continues to be a powerful resource on both of these fronts.
New York Times’ public editor: Shale gas article “out on a limb”
Considering it is the “paper of record” for many Americans, I’m glad to see that The New York Times has published its own critique of a June 25 article about the U.S. natural gas industry. The original article, by Times reporter Ian Urbina, aspired to be an exposé about U.S. shale gas production. But in his column on Sunday, the Times’ public editor, Arthur S. Brisbane, chastised the article for many of the same flaws that a wide range of commentators and industry experts had already identified.
