Congratulations on your thoughtful article in today's Gazette. I share your concern about the environmental hazards associated with drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale. However, I do not agree with the notion of "leaving the gas in the ground".
Like many engineers and scientists, I am alarmed by the lack of a coherent and intelligent energy plan for our nation. Such a plan, if properly conceived and executed, would insure that all alternate forms and sources of energy are developed in a responsible way with proper precautions taken to protect our natural environment. As you pointed out, we are all endangered by the callous and uninformed policies laid down by the Bush administration under the leadership of VP Cheney.
What many Americans do not realize, but most knowledgable experts agree on, is that we have entered the age of declining worldwide oil production. This means that our current way of life cannot continue unless conserve our scarce petroleum reserves while developing alternate energy sources as quickly as possible. Natural gas is absolutely essential to our economy - not only for home heating, but also for a variety of industrial products and processes. According to most estimates, the Marcellus Shale formation is the largest remaining source of natural gas to be developed domestically. We need to do so, but we need to do it right.
I believe that we should "get our house in order" by establishing federal standards that will require the companies drilling for gas to divulge their methods (including the chemicals to be used for hydro-fracking) and laying down strict guidelines to protect the underground water sources. In short, we should eliminate the "Halliburton loophole" and get serious about protecting our water supplies. In this regard, I agree with you 100%.
As concerns our local water supply, the Great Flats aquifer, I don't think it is in danger from gas drilling. However, some of the other counties in NY that you mentioned, who overlie the Marcellus formation, may be more at risk. As I understand the nature of these shale formations, they are much different from the type of underground structures that comprise aquifers. I plan to consult with one of my friends who is a hydrologist, on this very subject.
Pat, thanks again for raising this important subject. It is essential that we ask the right questions before we allow the "drill and burn" crowd to put our critical water sources in jeopardy.
I would like to expand on the 1.5 million the Co. Legislature said it would cost to keep the library open during construction. No one except the legislature wants the expensive, high-maintence new entrance or the coffee shop. Removing those two things from the plan would more than cover the extra cost of keeping the library open, except for a few weeks. The trustees had an economical, no frills plan three years ago to give the citizens of the county the space they need for library services. The legislature choose to delay in order to have a fancier, more costly building. They caused the higher price, not the people, who will be denied the use of the building for eighteen months. Shame on the legislature, who choose not to serve the people!
The plan hatched by the County Legislature to shut down the Central Library for the entire duration of the renovation project is foolish and irresponsible. Any competent team of architects and engineers could plan the project in stages so that interruptions of service would be brief (days or weeks). Once again, the legislature has produced an expensive and unworkable solution to the Library's needs. They obviously care little about the citizens of Schenectady.
Posted on June 14 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Rush,
Congratulations on your thoughtful article in today's Gazette. I share your concern about the environmental hazards associated with drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale. However, I do not agree with the notion of "leaving the gas in the ground".
Like many engineers and scientists, I am alarmed by the lack of a coherent and intelligent energy plan for our nation. Such a plan, if properly conceived and executed, would insure that all alternate forms and sources of energy are developed in a responsible way with proper precautions taken to protect our natural environment. As you pointed out, we are all endangered by the callous and uninformed policies laid down by the Bush administration under the leadership of VP Cheney.
What many Americans do not realize, but most knowledgable experts agree on, is that we have entered the age of declining worldwide oil production. This means that our current way of life cannot continue unless conserve our scarce petroleum reserves while developing alternate energy sources as quickly as possible. Natural gas is absolutely essential to our economy - not only for home heating, but also for a variety of industrial products and processes. According to most estimates, the Marcellus Shale formation is the largest remaining source of natural gas to be developed domestically. We need to do so, but we need to do it right.
I believe that we should "get our house in order" by establishing federal standards that will require the companies drilling for gas to divulge their methods (including the chemicals to be used for hydro-fracking) and laying down strict guidelines to protect the underground water sources. In short, we should eliminate the "Halliburton loophole" and get serious about protecting our water supplies. In this regard, I agree with you 100%.
As concerns our local water supply, the Great Flats aquifer, I don't think it is in danger from gas drilling. However, some of the other counties in NY that you mentioned, who overlie the Marcellus formation, may be more at risk. As I understand the nature of these shale formations, they are much different from the type of underground structures that comprise aquifers. I plan to consult with one of my friends who is a hydrologist, on this very subject.
Pat, thanks again for raising this important subject. It is essential that we ask the right questions before we allow the "drill and burn" crowd to put our critical water sources in jeopardy.
Gene Rowland
On Op-ed column: Leave gas in rocks