How Shale Fracking May Hurt Your Investment

Quick Look: Companies like Continental Resources and Chesapeake Energy are two oil companies largely engaged in shale fracking, with Chesapeake forecasting more than 50% of its revenues coming from shale. Integrated oil companies that aren't completely dependent on shale will be a safer bet for investors.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/01/26/investopedia70484.DTL

New York Fracking Advocates Say Local Bans Are ‘Kiss of Death’

New York, the third-most-populous state, may become the only one that allows municipalities to ban fracking, West said. So far, 20 towns have done so, said Karen Edelstein, a geographic information-systems consultant in Ithaca.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-17/new-york-fracking-advocates-say-local-bans-are-kiss-of-death-.html

Hydraulic Fracturing Letter NY City AIA Chapter sent to DEC

We understand the need to identify areas for increased sources of energy to serve the NYC metro area and the greater metropolitan region, especially if the Indian Point Nuclear Facility is closed.  However we firmly believe that New York State’s support of energy efficiency strategies is a far better way to accomplish a significant increase in the available energy supply.  Buildings in New York City use 95% of the electricity and we have the knowledge and the science to retrofit existing buildings and create new buildings that dramatically reduce energy consumption.  Drilling for natural gas does not improve energy efficiency nor does it reduce carbon emissions from buildings.  While natural gas reserves are in great supply, they do not address the issues of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to control the already devastating impacts of global warming.  Energy efficiency helps solve not only a resource problem, but a climate crisis.

 

There are many knowledgeable people in New York State who could be helpful in approaching the problem through energy efficiency initiatives.  These include the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter and its Committee on the Environment, Urban Green (The New York branch of the U.S. Green Building Council) and several enlightened real estate developers. For example, witness the exceptional work done by Malkin Holding’s at the Empire State Building.

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New Study: Severe Health Impact of Fracking

By Bernhard Debatin

A new study on the Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health (*)shows that fracking fluids, methane gas exposure, and other gas-drilling related contamination can have a serious impact on the health of both humans and animals. The study, conducted by private practice veterinarian Michelle Bamberger and Robert E. Oswald of the Department of Molecular Medicine at Cornell University, investigated 24 different sites with gas wells, 18 of which were horizontal hydro-fractured wells. The researchers observed and documented severe changes in health of both humans and animals living close to these sites. The majority of the observed animals were cows; other animals included horses, goats, llamas, chickens, dogs, cats, and koi.

Bamberger and Oswald interviewed animal owners affected by gas drilling in six different states (Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas). In addition, they obtained lab test results and data from drilling companies and state regulatory agencies. The most striking finding of the study is the death of over 100 cows, caused by their exposure to fracking fluids or drinking of fracking wastewater that was dumped or leaked into freshwater sources. The researchers also frequently found reproductive problems, particularly lack of breeding and stillborn animals, often with congenital deformations. Other health effects on both animals and humans encompassed a wide range of symptoms, such as upper respiratory symptoms and burning of the eyes,  vomiting and diarrhea, rashes, nosebleeds, headaches, and neurological problems.

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Gas-rich Ohio is in the running for a $2 billion chemical plant

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A giant chemical plant that processes natural gas is coming to the Midwest and Ohio leaders hope the state's newly tapped gas deposits, coupled with growing industries that use gas products, make Ohio the favored location.

Shell Chemical is finalizing plans for a $2 billion complex that is expected to create hundreds of jobs and pull other industries and manufacturers into its orbit. Shell has said only that it plans to build in either West Virginia, Pennsylvania or Ohio, three states that overlay ancient shale beds rich in natural gas.

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The plant needs hundreds of acres of land, according to Dan Carlson, Shell Chemical's general manager of new business development in the Americas. Shell would also like access to railroads, river barges, a skilled workforce and university researchers, Carlson said via email.

"What we're looking for is cost-effectiveness and ease in moving this project forward quickly," he added.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich flew to Houston in late November to make a personal pitch to Shell executives and the state has provided written appeals from the governor's Republican allies and Democratic rivals alike, including Democratic House Minority Leader Armond Budish of Beachwood and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

http://www.cleveland.com/shalegas/index.ssf/2012/01/gas-rich_ohio_is_in_the_runnin.html

CDC scientist: tests needed on gas drilling impact

PITTSBURGH — One of the government's top scientists says much more research is needed to determine the possible impacts of shale gas drilling on human health and the environment.

"Studies should include all the ways people can be exposed, such as through air, water, soil, plants and animals," Dr. Christopher Portier wrote to The Associated Press in an email.

Portier is director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

WSJ.com 

FracTracker- Co-occurrence of earthquakes and geological faults in Central NY

Created Oct 3, 2011 by Karen Edelstein

Despite some assumptions to the contrary, earthquakes are known to occur across the northeastern United States. In Central NY, they are sometimes associated with known geological faults

Follow the site

http://data.fractracker.org/cbi/snapshot/full?concept=~01e73a7988edde11e0829c942a7385dc67