I actually have quite a few personal and professional ties to the energy industry, especially natural gas. The protestors are loud, but the simple realities of the need for energy, the massive problems with "sustainable" power, and simple economics are driving natural gas into the mainstream. The resistance to pipelines is overblown by the media. My firm's energy group designs pipelines and our engineers are worked 50-60 hours and weeks and we're TURNING DOWN projects because we don't have the manpower to do them. In addition, the EPA has essentially concluded that tracking is not dangerous to the environment, although we have to keep common-sense rules in place, despite the screams and howls of the uninformed Hollywood elite and a small, but influential group of people opposed to energy development.
I believe that you mean fracking in your reply. For my state, how many years away are we from pulling the first cubic foot of natural gas from the ground?
NC fracking bill becomes law with veto override
The Associated Press Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Quote: The measure directs a state panel and other agencies to develop rules and regulations for the process to drill and collect the natural gas by October 2014.
The Legislature would have to sign off at a later date before actual permits could be issued.
http://www.reflector.com/ap/staten/nc-fracking-bill-1-step-closer-law-override-1123987
In rural areas, like mine, how many more years will pass, before people, like myself and my neighbors, can take advantage of natural gas in lieu of other forms of carbon based energy? Will that become a viable alternative
before "the price of electricity skyrockets"?
"Small and elite"?
I respectfully beg to disagree with you. Every Al Gore type with investments in "green" energy are opposed to carbon based fuels. I'll have to do some research to see if any of the "preserve Mother Earth" organizations endorse fracking and the development of a natural gas alternative. Another research topic, that you may already know the answer. Even though the EPA has "concluded that fracking is not dangerous to the environment" will they infact hamper efforts with endless rules and regulations?
FWIW, I was around when OSHA was implemented. Worked in a factory and saw firsthand safety requirements so stringent that production machinery could not be operated. Machinery that had not been associated with any lost time accidents over the years that it had been in use at our plant. Yet it had to be shut down because required modifications rendered the equipment useless for it's intended purpose. -- Just one of several reasons why that operation eventually moved to another country. Almost 60,000 jobs were lost as this company phased out US operations.
The old saying, there's more than one way to skin a cat comes to mind. How many times have we seen government fail to live up to promises? Promise not to ban ABC outright, while working on more subtle ways to, in effect, render ABC useless.
I'm sorry, but as long as "green" energy is the watchword, I cannot share your optimism. Especially over the next 5-10-15(?) years or so. Wish I could. (sigh)
Hope, too, that I'm wrong.
