Natural Gas Ain't all It's Fracked Up To Be.

       Natural gas is far less of a pollutant than coal. Nobody can dispute that claim. It's less than half compared to coal. That's good for the environment. Fewer greenhouse gases in the air that are causing global warming. So when electric is generated by coal, the pollution is greater than when it's generated by gas. Solar and wind are much better, but gas is still a preferred fuel compared to coal.
       In order to get sufficient quantities of gas extracted from it's resting place a mile or so beneath the surface to meet the demands, extraordinary efforts and technology must be taken. What that means, in todays technological capabilities, is that Hydraulic Fracturing must be used. By doing so, we can release most of the gas trapped there.
       But here's the problem we're facing with this process. When these fluids, mostly water, are forced down into these formations holding the gas, under extreme high pressure, it is somehow causing methane, a gas which is a very powerful greenhouse gas of severe consequence, to rise to the surface along or near the drill pipe. The attempts to eliminate this risk by sealing the pipe with special concrete have so far been spotty at best.
       Now, to be fair, methane appears naturally above the surface from a variety of causes. But it's not the naturally appearing methane that's causing the big stir, it's the added methane that seems to be upsetting the balance. And when this is factored into the measurements of harm to the environment, then this natural gas is about on a par with coal. And that's the disheartening part of the situation.
       Also in fairness, the natural gas industry has improved the procedures, cements, concretes and pipes over time. But they haven't eliminated the problems, and until they do, there's little reason to continue to allow them to "drill baby drill." So long as they're allowed to drill as fast as they want, there's no real pressure to solve the problem. Obviously the gas industry is working to solve this problem and eliminate the concern, however they'd work a lot faster and harder if they were on hold. A carrot and stick works better than a permission to proceed order when it comes to finding a means to control this escaping methane.