In his recent piece, which appeared in The New Hampshire Union Leader, Deroy Murdock hits all the right notes with a very convincing argument on why everyone regardless, or even despite their political leanings - should think very carefully about the benefits the US could derive from tapping its natural gas supplies as well as about the overstated risks.
Murdock asks, Imagine an energy source that reduces greenhouse gases, conserves water, and preserves natural habitat. It also creates manufacturing jobs, reduces income equality, and defunds sexists and homophobes. Liberals would scream for this fuel, right?
Yet, this is obviously not the case. He adds, "I don't see any place for fracking," Mayor Bill de Blasio, D, New York City, declared last week. Activist Yoko Ono claims: "Fracking kills."
But this is not borne out even by members of the Obama administration.
Murdock says: "In no case have we made a definitive determination that the fracking process has caused chemicals to enter groundwater," Obama's former EPA chief Lisa Jackson told Fox News Channel on April 27, 2012.
And: "I still have not seen any evidence of fracking per se contaminating groundwater," Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz told journalists last August.
ACSH s Dr. Josh Bloom notes that Those opposed to fracking seem to focus exclusively on the real or perceived risks of the process itself rather than what you get at the other end the cleanest burning fuel possible, other than hydrogen. No soot. No fumes. No hydrocarbon exhaust.
He suggests (but does not recommend) that you can try the following illustrative experiment: Seal up all of your windows and vents and try burning the following in a metal trash can in your living room: 1) coal 2) wood 3) gasoline. You will not be terribly pleased. Alternatively, leave your gas oven on for four hours roasting a turkey. Need I say more?
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