Should Environmental Watch International Support the Use of Natural Gas - Case Study Example

Should Environmental Watch International Support the Use of Natural Gas? Diana Rosen is tasked with the role of stating the position of San-Francisco-based Environmental Watch International Organization on the use of natural gas. She has to consider various issues concerning the natural resource’s impacts on the environment, the extraction method used, and how it impedes the development of renewable sources such as solar and wind energy. Rosen also has to consider other issues such as natural gas’s pricing, consumption and the impact the resource makes on people’s lives among other issues. Environmental groups ensure that the government and the corporations’ undertakings are environmentally safe. Nowadays, many environmental groups are aimed at lobbying key energy regulators to ensure that there is reduced coal use in the United States of America (Mooney, 2011). Natural gas is a better substitute for coal as it gives off half the amount of carbon dioxide as coal, therefore, having a positive impact to the environment. However, its extraction process which involves the fracking technology has invoked concerns over methane leakage, water usage, and damage on the local environmental (Kennedy and Schifrin, 2013). As the paper unfolds, the advantages and disadvantages involved in the exploitation and use of natural gas will be evident to show that Diana Rosen should not support the use of natural gas unless its use and extraction are controlled by a number of stipulations. Natural gas is a nonrenewable fossil fuel that is mainly composed of methane gas and can be found in reserves located below the earth’s surface. It is in plentitude in the United States of America and in 2012, it played a significant role in the generation of electricity, heating homes for fifty percent of the American population and served as an energy source for various industries. Through the use of new technologies such as the fracking method of extracting natural gas, the extent of exploitation for this resource has increased and the prices have fallen making it an important source of energy in many American homes. However, some gas suppliers have indicated losses and they are looking forward to an increase in the price to ensure that the venture remains profitable. They are also eyeing the international market as they look forward to exporting the resource to Europe and Asia where it will fetch a higher price (Kennedy and Schifrin, 2013). The new technologies mainly used in the extraction of natural gas include horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Horizontal drilling occurs where the natural gas is vertically drilled but on reaching the reserve, there is use of hydraulic fracturing to extend horizontally. Hydraulic fracturing involves the use of chemical, water or sand pumped at high pressure into the reserves, to cause fractures that enable the extraction of natural gas(Mooney, 2011). Rosen has to consider the impact made on the local environment by hydraulic fracturing or fracking, which is the primary method used in the extraction of natural gas. This method has many concerns. Firstly, groundwater can be contaminated. Through defects in the construction of the natural gas well or its deterioration, there can be leakage of fracking fluid into water aquifers. The fracking fluid holds a variety of contaminants that can poison the underground water. There is also fracking waste water that is pumped back to the surface for treatment (Ralph, 2012). It also contains contaminants which could cause cancer, sore throats, headaches and eye irritation among other complications. Secondly, the methane from the natural gas reserves can leak into the water wells through flaws in the fracking process. Studies show that wells near natural gas drilling sites are usually contaminated by methane gas. Thirdly, the fracking process requires large amounts of water, therefore, raising concerns over the depletion and competition for the natural resource. Fourthly, fracking leads to a lot of surface disturbance as pads; roads pipelines and equipment are prepared or developed for the drilling process to commence. Due to the numerous activities and the fact that new wells need to be established often, there is a lot of noise and air pollution. Fifthly, fracking reduces air quality as chemicals such as benzene, volatile organic compounds and methane are emitted during the process. They increase the likelihood of cancer and other diseases for area residents (Kennedy and Schifrin, 2013). Sixthly, fracking leads to emission of methane gas. Extensive studies have not been carried out to confirm the exact percentage of methane that leaks during fracking. Methane is a greenhouse gas that has a higher effect than carbon dioxide. Seventhly, fracking causes micro earthquakes, which can intensify with the extent of the activity. Fracking has been associated with earthquakes in Oklahoma, Ohio and some parts of England (Kennedy and Schifrin, 2013). Rosen also needs to consider that natural gas has reduced dependency on coal, therefore, playing a significant role in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The rate of climate change will be reduced as natural gas acts as a transitional energy source as the country gears up to develop and utilise renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. However, some people fear that some politicians and other people with interests in this industry maybe opposed to adoption of renewable energy sources as long as they are making profits from the natural gas industry. Rosen should put keen consideration on this matter as it may deter the adoption of clean energy resources, especially when many people will be dependent on natural gas to fuel their cars, heat their homes and run their industries. Change may not seem pleasant to some people (Ahearn, 2012). Rosen should also consider that the utilisation of natural gas in America would translate to larger exports of coal to Europe and Asia. These areas offer market for coal as some countries shut down their nuclear reactors for example, Germany, while the others experience an increase in energy demand for example, China (Mooney, 2011). This means that the environmental impact that Rosen’s organization is trying to mitigate, will be transferred to another country. This does not contribute to a positive effect of using natural gas. Furthermore, the United States natural gas suppliers are determined to export the resource to other countries where they would fetch higher prices. Experts say that this may increase the price of Liquid Natural Gas in the United States. There are other adverse implications associated with Liquid Natural Gas such as, transportation using diesel trucks, and cooling and storage effects (Ralph, 2012). Diana Rosen should not support the use and extraction of natural gas as the paper indicates that it brings more harm to the environment than good. The only way that the resource can be exploited is through the enactment of certain stipulations that will ensure that the environment is well protected from the adverse effects of extracting and using natural gas. These recommendations include introducing well designs that will combat methane leakage, protecting water quality, reduce diesel usage in the extraction of natural gas, manage all the impacts brought about during the process of extraction, ensure more research goes into the field to improve all aspects involved, and enhance awareness about natural gas and its extraction. These recommendations should be improved, expounded and implemented to ensure that the environment is preserved (Kennedy and Schifrin, 2013). Rosen should not support the extraction and the use of natural gas without before these stipulations are enforced. References Ahearn, A. (2012). ‘Managing Wastewater from Fracking, with Robert B. Jackson,’ Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(2), 67-80. Kennedy, D., & Schifrin, D. (2013). Natural gas and its role in the new energy dynamics. Stanford Business Graduate School. Mooney, C. (2011). ‘The Truth about Fracking,’ Scientific American, 305(5), 80-85. Ralph, P. (2012). Dirty fracking business no more coal seam gas mining. Melbourne: Melbourne Books. Read More