Andrew Thomas

4/5/11

Writ 1122-43

Mathew Hill

Natural Gas: Friend or Foe

To be certain, our world today has found itself facing a great

many difficult and elaborate complications. Humanity is more troubled

today than it ever has been in its history, or we may simply be far

more acutely aware of what ails us. Regardless, the afflictions that

plague our existence are dire and intricate, yet most find themselves

revolving around a central theme: they are either rooted in, or at the

very least exacerbated by, environmental degradation. World hunger,

genocide, economic instability, poverty, and disease, are but a few of

the crucial dilemmas we find ourselves facing in today’s global society.

To be more specific, humanities addiction to fossil fuels is proving

intensely problematic. The environmental and social complications

certainly beg for a solution of great cost. But what will this cost be?

For many, facing the beast that is our world’s oil addiction is far

to daunting a task. Such people would prefer to detach themselves

from such issues, and live their lives unaffected. However, such a

stance is naive and impossible. Take for example those of rural

Colorado, who have unknowingly found they are living atop great sums

of natural gas reserves. The possibilities that may come from the
drilling of this new resource has substantial potential, both

economically, and environmentally. However, some are less than

ecstatic about these prospects than others. There are those who stand

to lose substantial land, property value, and even clean water (Grant).

Some claim that major gas companies are seizing their land to make

way for drilling, and then contaminating their ground water with

chemicals and pollutants (Orr). However, it is possible that despite

these concerns, it is in the best interest of everyone to allow and

encourage this drilling of natural gas.

Beyond any doubt, fuel and energy is one of our worlds most

important and profitable markets. With public approval shifting away

from energy sources such as coal, oil and nuclear power, there has

been a striking rise in the potential profitability of alternative options,

with natural gas a leading contender. In fact, Exxon Mobil, the

international energy giant, has recently released its 20-year forecast

and its predictions are striking. They believe that over the next two

decades natural gas use will very likely overtake oil in its prevalent

use, and will begin to rival oil as the dominate fuel source, with china’s

demand alone likely to increase six fold over what it is today during

this time period (LeVine).

This economic potential is perhaps one of the strongest

arguments in favor of drilling. With the world in economic down turn,

American unemployment floating at around 9%, and the United States

budget deficit rising to nearly unmanageable levels, the incentive for

promoting drilling of such a valuable American produced and

exportable commodity is clear. However, these benefits are not

exclusively applicable to the national level. Current projections state

that by promoting new cleaner energy sources, it may be possible to

create somewhere between 1.5 to 2 million new jobs nation wide

(Pollin, Heintz, Garrett-Peltier). Making exact predications is always a

difficult if not impossible task, especially when focusing closely on a

particular area. However, it stands to reason that Colorado is

particularly well poised to take advantage of this economic boost,

because of its plentiful natural gas. This is a strong particularly central

reason behind the push for the greater utilization of natural gas.

Though it is important to recognize that economics is not everything.

Those who are more concerned with the environmental effects of

the natural gas industry will likely find themselves conflicted. With a

comfortable scientific consensus about the existence and potential ill

effects of global warming, (Schneider) the motivations for investigating

natural gas should be obvious. Current research shows that natural gas

produces only about a third of the CO2 emissions than other fossil

fuels, such as coal or oil, do (LeVine) This provides a very real and

clear reason why we should push for more drilling and incorporation of

natural gas into our national energy stockpiles. However, natural gas is
not without it’s negative externalities, and there are those who feel

that, because of these, drilling may not be worth the cost.

Many would consider the physical action of drilling and extracting

natural gas to be considerably more harmful than the resource itself or

even the fuel it is replacing, and for many Coloradans this has had a

very direct affect on their lives. Government agencies have recently

found industrial chemicals, used in the drilling process, in local ground

water reserves. As companies drill they often inadvertently pollute the

surrounding environment, often contaminating water sources. The

effects of this are not only trying on the environment, but also on the

health of citizens. Recent studies have revealed that these chemicals

have contaminated even the drinking water of many people’s homes, a

dangerous possibility.

This contamination is strongly believed to be the result of the

common drilling technique known as “hydraulic fracturing” or

“Fracking”. This technique involves blasting millions of gallons of

water, sand and chemicals into the ground, in an attempt to release

the natural gas (Brown). Though this process was originally thought to

be completely safe, many disagree. An earlier Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) study found little wrong with the technique,

leading to its popular use. However, in light of recent new evidence

these findings are being reexamined (“Natural Gas "Fracking" Debate

Draws Hundreds”).

Though it is possible that this particular drilling technique should

not be the preferred method of extraction, it is still important to ask

whether the desperately needed economic benefits out way the

environmental and health hazards. It is important that we continue to

recognize the drawbacks of natural gas drilling, and attempt to

mitigate these with further research and advancement. However,

considering the state of today’s economy, and the need for alternative

fuels, and the benefits that drilling for natural gas might provide, it

seems evident that it is in all of our best interests to continue drilling

and expand our utilization of this resource.

This issue is by no means straightforward or clear. However, it is

reasonable to predict that natural gas will play a vitally important role

on both the national and international stages. This means that this

issue will certainly not be disappearing in the near future, and will

continue to require our discussion and thought. There are certainly

many who would prefer to remain removed from this issue. However,

to take such a stance would be to ignore what is happening around you

and likely effecting you in very real ways, an unwise and rather

irresponsible stance. You do not have to be a high-powered oil

executive or an important policy maker to find yourself engaged in this

issue. For many residents here in Colorado this problem takes place,

very literally, all around us. It affects the water we drink, the food we

eat, and the lives we lead. However, it may not be entirely a bad thing.

There also rests great positive potential in this resource should we

choose to embrace it. Ultimately, this issue is likely to remain unsolved

for a very long time, yet it is also likely to remain equally crucial and

important, if not evolve into an even more critical debate. Thus, the

best thing for us all to do is to avoid the Naivety and complacency that

tempts us, and instead realize the importance of this dilemma,

engaging ourselves in its debate.

 Works Citied

Brown, Valerie J. “Industry Issues: Putting the Heat on Gas”

Environmental Health Perspectives (2007) Web. 6 April 2011

Grant, Bill. “McInnis was the Real Story at Parachute Minerals

Meeting.” The Daily Sentinel 15 June 2009: 6. Print. 6 April 2011

LeVine, Steve “Exxon Mobil: Goodbye coal, hello natural gas | The Oil
and the Glory.” Foreign Policy. (2011) Web. 6 April 2011

“Natural Gas "Fracking" Debate Draws Hundreds ” CBS News. (2010)

Web. 6 April 2011.

Pollin, Robert, Heintz, James, Garrett-Peltier, Heidi. "The Economic

Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy." Amherst, MA: University
of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009. Print. 6 April 2011

Schneider, Tapio. “How we know Global Warming is Real.” Skeptic 14.1

(2008): 31-37. Print. 5 April 2011

Orr, John “Weekly water roundup: Saga continues for benzene tainted
spring near Debeque - Denver water ” Colorado Water Examiner.
(2009) Web. 6 Apr. 2011.