Surviving Capitalism (Not) : U.S. Energy Insecurity: Why Fracking for Oil and Natural Gas Is a False Solution

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Thursday, November 15, 2012

U.S. Energy Insecurity: Why Fracking for Oil and Natural Gas Is a False Solution

Click here to access article from Food & Water Watch.

There has been a lot of hoopla broadcast in mainstream media about the abundance of energy we have in the US based on estimated reserves of shale oil and gas. This well researched article, and the study (please read it) on which the article is based, disputes that.

Still, you might think that the authors from this website are biased. Well, then I would like to refer you to an article entitled, "IEA Oil Forecast Unrealistically High; Misses Diminishing Returns", written by independent analyst Gail Tverberg who has specialized in subjects related to the fossil fuel industry.

The statements about rising oil production in the US are just a distraction. Diminishing returns mean that US oil production will never increase very much. Oil costs will remain high, and this will be the real issue disturbing economies around the world.

I believe what lies behind all this hoopla are the high profits that can be generated in the short term by, and for, the highly subsidized fossil fuel industry.