China has ambitious targets to boost natural-gas consumption. It also sits on extensive deposits of shale gas that may be among the world’s largest. Put those two facts together and you might anticipate a repeat of the gas boom seen in the U.S., where fracking has transformed energy policy. (Forbes)
Coming soon to China: Flammable tap water?
I don’t know about you, but this scares the crap out of me. I wouldn’t call the U.S. a paragon of responsible environmental regulation, but it still does maintain some limits on private industry’s ability to fill the air, water and ground with toxic crap. China has come a long way in that regard, but its environmental challenges are legion.
If you’re familiar with fracking (check out this documentary, it’s frightening), you’ll know that despite all those years of environmental regulation, the United States has allowed its groundwater in many communities to become suffused with natural gas. Not only is some of it non-potable, but in some instances, it’s also flammable!
So I figure that with even less experience regulating this area and with insane energy demands, China is going to have some big-time problems from fracking. The thought alone sends chills down my spine.
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Post tags: fracking, natural gas
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