Article 3: The article gives the writer’s perspective on the ‘Rebound Effect.’ The writer explains how the mandated increase in Energy efficiency in Energy Efficiency around the world is the driver for lowering the cost of new technologies and making them affordable to that section of society who couldn’t afford it earlier. This according to the writer ends up having the opposite effect of increasing the energy consumption instead of reducing it. The writer in the article gives example of refrigeration and air conditioning products to support his views in favor of the rebound effect. He concludes the article by saying that the lawmakers/policymakers of a nation should take into consideration the rebound effect when making laws to improve energy efficiency. My Take – I would not agree with writer Robert J. Michaels in terms of the ‘Rebound Effect’ as in the long term these energy efficient technologies and policies on energy conservation would be actually leading to energy savings. A simple example here would be of Government initiative in India of LED lighting replacing the older CFL lighting and other inefficient lighting sources. This has actually lead to energy savings in a country of the size and scale of India. Article 8: The writer Matt Ridley is a supporter of fossil fuels as is evident from this article as he praises the role of fossil fuels and …show more content…
The fracking companies are still profitable in fracking at a price of $45 per barrel. Established pipelines and other infrastructure is benefitting the drillers in these areas. Wells in the ‘stack’ are among the best performing assets according to Continental Resources Inc. Also the ‘Permian’, a major oil producing area has been reborn as a result of the combination of horizontal drilling and fracking according to the
The United States has an immense amount of proven natural gas reserves that could become a major source for the nation's energy future (1). The mining of the natural gas resources have become feasible and cheaper due to the advancement of hydraulic fracturing technologies which have increased the amount the extraction and enabled “greater access to gas in shale formations” (2). Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking of shale formations has positive benefits that includes economic growth and the natural gas extracted is cleaner than coal and oil, however it has caused serious environmental problems and possibly could be the cause of recent seismic activity in areas where fracking operations exist (3).
MR: First of all, to get a new energy system, new jobs have to be created; so, economy grows up. Secondly, it is estimated that energy can get cheaper in a 20-year term. Lastly, having clean energy means having a cleaner world, which is positive to ourselves because it makes us healthier (“The Solutions Project”, 2011).
...ydraulic fracturing. During Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, holes are drilled into shale rock formations, deep beneath the earth's surface and injected with more than a million gallons of pressurized fracking fluid. This process creates small fissures within the rock layers that are held open by the sand particles, allowing the natural gas to vacate from the well (10). However, there is much debate over the long-term vitality and validity of the use of unconventional gas as a solution to the United States dependency on foreign oil. Much of this debate stems from what some have coined as the "exploration treadmill", the rate at which new plays must be added to production, in order to maintain a flat line and or growing (carbon)
Before one can see the devastating effects of fracking, one must first understand how fracking works. As previously stated, the main intent of hydro-fracking is to access and harvest natural gas that lies below the surface of the Earth. Having formed over 400 million years ago by the collision of tectonic plates (Marsa 3), the Marcellus Shale plays host to a gold mine of natural gas, which is currently at the center of the fracking debate in the Northeastern region of the United States. Unfortunately, access...
Fracking has contributed to positive economic impacts and a closer sense of energy independence for the United States. Oil and natural gas rich areas underneath North Dakota have grown to contribute a large percentage of these resources to the overall production in the United States. The fact that the United States holds the potential to gain full energy independence could be not only monumental for the country in a global context but also extremely beneficial to the citizens. Less dependence on foreign exports could mean a healthier future for the country. The energy security potential of fracking, balanced with the environmental risks, make it important that it not be a yes-no question, but rather find a solution to satisfy it in a greater context.
Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) is “the process of injecting water and trace chemicals at high rates and pressures to create subsurface fractures along the length of a horizontal or vertical wellbore and then ‘propping the fracture open with sand or other materials” (Shemeta 6). This process allows for oil and natural gas to flow up through the Earth, allowing access to resources that would not be accessible otherwise. This topic has become debated extensively among environmental activists and the oil and natural gas corporations. One of the states most afflicted by this problem is Oklahoma because of its abundance of natural gas and oil. Oklahoma is one of the leading oil and natural gas exporters in
Fracking has become a highly controversial and publicized topic due to rising concerns and growing analysis into the mutual benefits of hydraulic fracturing to retrieve natural gas and oil reserves. With concerns of water pollution, mismanagement of toxic waste and irreversible
In the 1980’s, Americans thought that the decline of natural gases and oils was an irreversible impact (Davis 178). This led us to be dependent on other countries and pay them to provide us with these goods. However, with fracking being readily available, we can become less dependent on other countries to supply us with what we need (Davis 178). Today, fracking accounts for 56 percent of the natural gas we use and 48 percent of the oil, as recorded by the EPA (Davis 178). Fracking has caused the United States to be not just one of the top producers in the world, but the top producer (Davis 178). Researchers, scientists and even experts believe that fracking will send us on our way to being energy independent (Davis 179).
The greatest impact on reducing dependence on fossil fuels could begin at home. All around us are devices that consume energy even as we do nothing with them. Known colloquially as “vampire power”, these devices in standby power mode continue to consume energy as they are never actually “off”. Studies by Ross and Meier (2001) have shown that the average household can have up to 40 different devices consuming energy, from clocks to microwaves and DVD players to television, these devices add up to, between, 5% and 26% of the total electricity consumption in a household – energy likely produced at the cost of burning fossil fuels, both in production of the electricity and the transportation of the fuels themselves.
A relatively new process, and a topic recently under a lot of attention around the world is fracking, or horizontal high-volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing. Fracking is the term for the oil and gas industry's relatively new process of taking already existing wells, or sometimes creating new wells, and using them in such a way to extract the natural gas from the shale formations. Fracking has inspired a recent boom in natural gas extraction and our urgent energy situation. Fracking has potential to bring huge economic return to several groups including landowners, the oil and gas industry, and even the states involved. This process is attracting attention by many around the world and causing much controversy. The majority of controversy lies in the lack of regulations, uncertainties in ...
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is the process of removing natural gas from the ground by using water. The second state with the most gas wells is Pennsylvania with 115,564 wells, and Tioga having just over 1,000 hydraulic fracturing wells in it's county. While following strict enforcement fracking has a positive impact on the environment and it’s cheaper and more abundant other fossil fuels. Fracking is also good for the economy because it generates a cheaper fuel, and its taxes go to fund programs for low income families. Fracking can generate numerous jobs. There are many benefits to hydraulic fracturing, but not everyone approves of it. Fracking just one well takes millions of gallons of water, but it also includes chemicals and sand.
The number of wells fracked grew significantly, reached 3000 wells per month by the mid 1950s. During the 1970s, there was a huge proliferation of massive hydraulic fracturing, resulted in an enormous number of wells that were stimulated by fracking. By the late 1970s, the process was widely used all different countries and religions, including Canada, Germany, Netherlands and England. It was not until 1999 that scientists found a new method to apply high pressure fluids to rubblize hard-rock formations and extract oil and gas trapped inside. Also, with the invention and application of horizontal drilling to fracking, it became possible to extract larger amounts of oil and natural gas from fracking shales. This absolutely has brought a revolution for the oil and gas industry of the U.S and changed the U.S energy picture from scarcity to abundance. Producers and drillers are now able to exploit a huge amount of natural gas and oil that were locked away in shells and hard rock formations previously. According to many credible reports, about 90 percent of today’s producing wells are stimulated by fracking; up to 35 percent of U.S natural gas production is from shale gas, compares with only 2 percent ten
Ridlington, Elizabeth, Rumpler, John. “Fracking by the Numbers: Key Impacts of Dirty Drilling at the State and National Level.” 8 July 2014. PDF File.
Fracking has significant potential to alleviate our Nation’s dependency on foreign energy supplies; however, stringent regulation and careful monitoring are needed to assuage concerns regarding our nation’s water supplies, the environment and potential for increased seismic activity.
Even though we are in desperate need for a new, more sustainable source of energy in the United States, fracking does not seem to be the answer because of all the potential hazards such as the health hazards, infrastructure and environmental degrade and the environmental risks. These problems are already being seen in areas that already have fracking as a source of local income and the presence of these issues is becoming even clearer as time goes on and fracking is present in an area for longer amounts of time. The risks do truly outweigh the possible benefits in this