EPA Report That Lowers Methane-Leak Estimates Further Divides Fracking Camps

gmfeier writes "The EPA has significantly lowered its estimate of how much methane leaks during natural gas production. This has major implications for the fracking debate, but puts the EPA at odds with NOAA. From the article: 'The scope of the EPA's revision was vast. In a mid-April report on greenhouse emissions, the agency now says that tighter pollution controls instituted by the industry resulted in an average annual decrease of 41.6 million metric tons of methane emissions from 1990 through 2010, or more than 850 million metric tons overall. That's about a 20 percent reduction from previous estimates. The agency converts the methane emissions into their equivalent in carbon dioxide, following standard scientific practice.'"

What 2 camps?

[slashmydots]

They should take all their fracking gear, fracking sell it, and build some fracking wind turbines, solar towers, and solar panel arrays. That's really the only camp out there, assuming everyone allowed to go camping has a basic understanding of chemistry and the atmosphere.

Re:What 2 camps?

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't worry. The economics of solar and wind will crush gas, natural gas and coal.

Re:Less methane? So fracking what?

[Anonymous Coward]

The chemical that they use in fracking is well know. It is very dangerous. My friend drives a truck n Canada in the oil fields and transports this chemical. He drives on roads that are well built and contained...more environmentally destructive than the roads you drive to work every day. They take great care not to do anything wrong because they know all are watching. The local economies are BOOMING in Canada with the wealth being distributed as all liberals in America wish it were here. Everyone is prospering and the fracking will continue for a very long time...they get more oil from a single drill point than traditional drilling...that is the point...less impact and cost and harm to the environment.
 
Oh yeh, the chemical they pump into the ground that my friend delivers is commonly known as dihydrous-oxide. Many people die every year from this. If they have too much...death. It's also a part of acid rain. Its even found in our wells and city pipes. Look it up to know more so you make points that are detailed with specifics and not generalities.