Comments on: Fracking is just the beginning: the rise of extreme energy

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:19:51 +0000

In the USA we haven’t seen any good come from extreme energy ventures. The claims that fracking has reduced energy bills simply isn’t true – in fact, they are higher now than they have ever been. Pressure from pro-fossil fuel groups teaming with anti-nuclear groups has forced nuclear plants to close. While nuclear does have its pitfalls, it is a lot closer to the hypothetical “transitional” clean energy Obama speaks of when he pushes fracking on us.

One thing people forget when they tout the benefits of “extreme energy” is that nuclear energy is much cheaper (and emissions-free) per MW·h than fossil fuel power and always will be. The waste issue is the most undesirable facet but that’s a small hit to take compared to the permanent damage extreme energy ventures are causing. Maybe it’s time the nuclear industry starts running ads like the oil companies do, it’s sickening to see these and know there are so many gullible Americans who buy into the garbage they are peddling. As Germany flies ahead of the world in renewable energy production, I can only hope private ventures in the US renewable industry will eventually be able to turn a profit – the only thing that seems to matter in this money-hungry country.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 10:04:04 +0000

Please could readers consider signing the following petition:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_the_EUUS_free_trade_agreement/?copy

Why you should consider signing?
http://corporateeurope.org/trade/2013/06/who-scripting-eu-us-trade-deal

The proposed deal is being closely followed by public interest groups concerned that the deal will open the floodgate to GMOs and shale gas (fracking) into Europe, threatens digital and labour rights and will empower corporations to legally challenge a wide range of regulations which they dislike. With all this and more at stake, Corporate Europe Observatory wanted to find out who sat on the group which recommended negotiations. Under EU access to information rules, on 4 March 2013, we requested the “full membership list of the High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth”. In fact, we had to make numerous requests……..

Thank you :-)

By: jon parker

jon parker — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 22:27:23 +0000

skintnick: – couldn’t agree more with some of your comments here, esp. your view on the unprofitability of the whole shale gas extraction scenario. One of biggest carrots being dangled in front of UK public is idea that fracking will immediately lead to significantly reduced energy bills. I beg to differ! Just as an exercise, I did a few calculations myself today to try to work out just how much our energy bills would reduce if this were true. I recently came across a comment in one of the largely pro-fracking bits of govt propaganda which stated that, in the US,fracking had provided a min 40% reduction in consumer energy bills. This is result of (roughly,& this is a highly conservative estimate) 40,000 fracking wells in operation. In UK, even with full scale development of fracking industry, we are looking at a likely maximum of a few thousand wells – which will obviously result in considerably less energy being produced and, consequently, a much lower reduction in energy bills – perhaps down to as little as 5-10%. What would a 10% reduction in our annual energy bill look like? – the average annual energy bill has been quoted in the range of £1,300 -£1,500 pa. With a 10% reduction this could mean, in some cases, a saving of just £150 on our annual bill. And for this we are supposed to endure the progressive industrialisation of our rural landscape, hundreds of heavy goods lorries tearing through narrow country lanes, the resulting pollution and possible contamination of our water supplies? This is the reality of the so called economic ‘bonanza’ which fracking will bring us. It really is the biggest con ever to have been inflicted on the UK public in recent times.

By: skintnick

skintnick — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 14:29:05 +0000

Lots of important issues mentioned here including Net Energy (EROEI) – touched upon “When the energy used in extraction exceeds that produced, at what point do you no longer have an energy source?” – whereby all the low-hanging fruit has gone and it becomes increasingly less profitable to produce energy, both in physical and economic terms.

Another key factor absent from most anti-fracking analyses is the sheer unprofitability of this venture. Sure it is possible for a few market pioneers to squeeze some profit out of the better fields, but the degree of hype demonstrated by media and politicians would have you believe this was the silver bullet to our energy crisis. Richard Heinberg (http://www.postcarbon.org/person/36200-richard-heinberg) and Arthur Berman (http://petroleumtruthreport.blogspot.co.uk) are a couple of analysts who have dug beneath the veneer to produce scathing verdicts on the true costs and benefits of unconventional energy.

By: Steve Leary

Steve Leary — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 03:43:38 +0000

The article mentions opencast mining. The Loose Anti Opencast Network (LAON) has been campaigning against new potential opencast mines across the UK since 2009. According to the Coal Authority, in 2012 34 opencast coal mines across England Scotland and Wales produced over 10m tonnes of coal. LAON is monitoring proposals to develop a further 13 sites in England, 14 in Scotland and 7 in Wales, and supports over 20 local groups in developing their objections to such destructive and intrusive planning proposals.

In the UK this is a highly speculative industry which can leave in its wake severe environmental damage. We are witness to this now, with two major opencast coal operations going bankrupt is Scotland, leaving behind at least 15 scares in the landscape where large coal sites have yet to be restored. For one local authority area alone, East Ayrshire, the expected cost of the clean up to the local taxpayers is expected to be £74m.

This is already the price we are paying in the UK to exploit these more extreme forms of energy.to find out if their is a local campaign group near you contact LAON in infoatlaon@yahoo.com

To find out more about LAON just google The Loose Anti Opencast Network or follow Seftonchase on Twitter.

Steve Leary, Co-Ordinator, The Loose Anti Opencast Network