Under the Trump administration, permits to drill on public land have increased 300 percent. Romany Webb, who studies climate and energy at the Earth Institute’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, said, “The key benefit of the surge in natural gas-fired generation is it is a lot more flexible, so it’s a lot easier to use with intermittent renewables that come in and out-it’s a backup resource to ramp up and down to meet demand when the wind’s not blowing or the sun’s not shining.” Natural gas has helped renewable energy use double since 2008. This switch has also resulted in less air pollution. The International Energy Agency estimated that since 2010, the substitution of gas for coal has saved 550 million tons of CO2 emissions globally. Natural gas has now replaced coal as the main source for generating electricity. Some contend that natural gas is key to fighting climate change because it produces about half the greenhouse gas emissions that coal does per unit of energy. A 2015 study found that a fracking-driven expansion in US oil and gas production added 725,000 jobs between 20 it also spurred manufacturing of equipment and demand for raw materials such as steel. The fracking boom also strengthened the economy. As a result, fracking has increased energy security and lowered energy prices in the US. The “fracking revolution” has enabled the US to become the world’s supplier of most of the new oil produced since 2008 and end OPEC’s control over oil prices. An online poll found 48 percent of Americans in favor of fracking and 52 percent against. Those supporting it cite the benefits of lower energy prices, job creation and energy security those against it raise issues about negative environmental and health effects, and methane leaks, which contribute to global warming. Could this year determine fracking’s fate?įracking has always been controversial. 2020 might also install a Democrat in the White House - perhaps one who has pledged to ban fracking. natural gas production rose by 70 percent, and greenhouse gas emissions rose accordingly between 20 alone, greenhouse gas emissions from US petroleum and natural gas production increased 13 percent.īut this increase in greenhouse gas emissions is headed in the wrong direction, since this year countries around the world will revisit the Paris Climate Accord to ramp up their pledges to reduce carbon emissions. has become the largest oil and gas producer in the world, largely due to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Oil and gas fracking sites in Wickett, Texas. Photo: DennisDimick
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