Shale gas, produced by "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking," could create as much as twice the greenhouse gasses as coal, according to a study soon to be published by Cornell University professors. [...]
"Natural gas is composed largely of methane, and 3.6% to 7.9% of the methane from shale-gas production escapes to the atmosphere in venting and leaks over the life-time of a well," a pre-publication version of the study (.pdf) -- obtained by The Hill -- said.
"These methane emissions are at least 30% more than and perhaps more than twice as great as those from conventional gas. The higher emissions from shale gas occur at the time wells are hydraulically fractured -- as methane escapes from flow-back return fluids -- and during drill out following the fracturing," the study added.
"The footprint for shale gas is greater than that for conventional gas or oil when viewed on any time horizon, but particularly so over 20 years. Compared to coal, the footprint of shale gas is at least 20% greater and perhaps more than twice as great on the 20-year horizon and is comparable when compared over 100 years."
I thought natural gas was clean? Ya' know, like "Clean Coal."
It's hard to see Fracking being outlawed at the federal level under any circumstances, as going against any form of energy is political suicide when gasoline is on pace to hit 4 dollars a gallon, but on the bright side, Harry Reid and President Obama were able to force John Boehner to remove most of the riders from the budget compromise. This would presumably include the rider to defang the EPA. The bad news is, the Republicans will probably try to re-insert it in the next budget.