Friday, April 6, 2012

EU Parliament Nears Recommending Shale Gas & Prof. Howarth Strikes Out

The EU Parliament has a report and a motion from its Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy to move forward with shale gas development, in a manner that reduces venting and flaring and emphasizes strong regulatory oversight and use of best practices. http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/eu-shale-gas-report.

The Committee's report before the Parliament states that shale gas can reduce global warming pollution in some countries like Poland where 93% of electricity is generated with coal.  It notes that gas can back up wind and other intermittent renewable sources of energy.  The report also states that shale gas reserves can improve energy security in Europe, which imports significant gas from Russia, and where natural gas costs about $10 for a thousand cubic feet, or 4 to 5 times more than current US prices.

By moving forward with shale gas and finding that it can reduce global warming pollution in Europe, that already has a lower carbon footprint than the USA, the EU report apparently rejects the input of Prof. Howarth who traveled to Europe and participated in proceedings there.  Professor Howarth argues for banning shale gas development, but his 2011 study has been refuted by a series of other studies from Carnegie Mellon University, Worldwatch Institute, National Energy Technology Laboratory, and other professors at Cornell University.

1 comment:

  1. Concerned ScientistApril 6, 2012 at 8:41 AM

    "move forward with shale gas development, in a manner that reduces venting and flaring and emphasizes strong regulatory oversight and use of best practices."

    Sounds exactly right to me

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