Policy

New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joseph Martens has rejected a call to conduct an independent review of the public health impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and instead asked the New York State Health commissioner to assess DEC’s health impact analysis to determine whether to permit fracking in the state.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said it would “review and consider” an industry report’s claims that the agency has significantly overestimated methane emissions from natural gas well operations, particularly from unconventional wells using hydraulic fracturing. It contends, however, that its emissions estimates are based on the best data available.

A recent study that showed the percentage of wells in Pennsylvania with pollution events has declined, thanks at least in part to the state’s regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), contained “significant errors and distortions” that undermine its conclusions, according to an analysis released by the Public Accountability Initiative (PAI), a nonprofit research organization based in Buffalo, NY.

U.S energy policy is on the “wrong track” and has been for several years, said American Petroleum Institute (API) President Jack Gerard last week. He called for the government to make a “course correction” by opening more public onshore and offshore lands to producers, which he said would significantly bolster employment and increase revenues to the federal government.

U.S energy policy is on the “wrong track” and has been for several years, said American Petroleum Institute (API) President Jack Gerard on Wednesday. He called for the government to make a “course correction” by opening more public onshore and offshore lands to producers, which he said would significantly bolster employment and increase revenues to the federal government.

Canadian producers are riding shale gas technology imported from the United States to complete an about-face in drilling targets next year by switching over to tight oil formations.

The backers of multiple U.S. projects to liquefy and export domestic gas have all pointed to robust production coming from shale plays as the reason for their plans. The latest proposal by Cheniere Energy Inc. singles out the Eagle Ford Shale as a source of gas to be liquefied.

Natural gas has been and will continue to be a major California energy supply source, according to a preliminary draft of the state’s Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR). Nevertheless, gas applications are not without uncertainties and fallout from stepped-up pipeline regulatory scrutiny in the wake of last year’s San Bruno pipeline explosion.

Natural gas has been and will continue to be a major California energy supply source, according to a preliminary draft of the state’s Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR). Nevertheless, gas applications are not without uncertainties and fallout from stepped-up pipeline regulatory scrutiny in the wake of last year’s San Bruno pipeline explosion.