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HarryM

(109 posts)
Fri Aug 30, 2024, 03:26 PM Aug 30

Fracking.

In a recent CNN interview, Ms. Harris has stated that she will not ban fracking. Someone needs to educate her about the hazards of fracking.
As a long time student of geology, I can state that fracking is a time bomb that can and has polluted deep underground water supplies. This is because there is no telling where cracks between impervious and permeable will occur when using current methods of fracking. It is quite simple. There are naturally occurring faults between layers of rock that cannot be mapped.When layers of earth are fracked, the liquid, which contains toxic chemicals can seep into these unmapped faults, and make their way to permeable layers, and other faults up to the water table. These toxic liquids have caused irreparable pollution to water supplies in areas in parts of Pennsylvania.
There is also the issue of earthquakes being triggered by the same means. In this case, faults are lubricated by the fracking liquid, thus causing upper layers to slip, and cause earthquakes in several areas in the US. Texas and Oklahoma come to mind.
This is not a criticism, it is merely stating that our candidate needs more information before forming an opinion on this topic.
I believe that these are some of the reasons why fracking is banned in my old home state of New York. I testified, both in person and in writing to the Department of Environmental Conservation, when hearings were held. I believe it helped officials make the right decision for all of the people.
There are so many sources of alternative energy. We should be investing in these renewable sources of energy, and get off the fossil fuel dead end as soon as possible.

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Fiendish Thingy

(17,327 posts)
4. No amount of education is going to change her position during the campaign
Fri Aug 30, 2024, 03:34 PM
Aug 30

We can only hope that, like Joe Biden, she will be a more progressive president than she campaigned as a presidential candidate.

Klarkashton

(1,053 posts)
6. It's a republican gotcha trap. Say you are against fracking
Fri Aug 30, 2024, 03:37 PM
Aug 30

And say hello to president trump.

Amy Goodman recited the whole litany of grievances about Harris this AM. Sure, get trump and it's going to be the fracking and no more renewables.

hunter

(38,707 posts)
7. Practical politics. Most U.S. Americans are not ready to face that reality yet...
Fri Aug 30, 2024, 06:56 PM
Aug 30

... including a great many who claim to be "environmentalists."

The "light" version of climate change denial predominates, this idea that wind turbines, solar panels, magical batteries, electric cars, and maybe even fusion power (someday), will save our world.

The first order of business is to get Kamala Harris elected. If we don't do that then we turn our government over to those who believe fracking and burning fossil fuels has no negative consequences, at least not for them and the billionaires that own them.

RandomNumbers

(18,059 posts)
12. The "light" version you speak of, could also be called over-population denialism.
Sat Aug 31, 2024, 12:24 PM
Aug 31

Which unfortunately seems VERY prevalent among "environmentalists".

ETA: voting Trump = voting for forced reproduction, that is forced birth-rate increase of their idea of "desirable" babies (i.e. white)

HarryM

(109 posts)
10. As much as I can
Sat Aug 31, 2024, 03:31 AM
Aug 31

And I do realize that there are some things that are residual, and I have no control over.
What I have done:
Our electric provider is mostly renewable
Our car is a hybrid (just too expensive for other alternatives)
Here in the Netherlands we ride our bikes for most local transport.
For public transportation, our trains are all run by electricity generated from wind.
We are starting to see electric busses in some areas.
Eating more foods with fewer pesticides/fertilizers in them.
Buying less stuff in general, while doing what we can to avoid plastics.
So no I am by no means perfect, but I have been working in it.

hunter

(38,707 posts)
11. Netherlands is a large importer of fracked natural gas from the U.S.A.
Sat Aug 31, 2024, 12:23 PM
Aug 31

Like much of Western Europe they'd bought into the myth that they could live happily ever after on solar power, wind power, and imported Russian natural gas.

With Russian natural gas supplies to Western Europe restricted, Imports of fracked natural gas from the U.S.A. are essential to maintaining political stability there.

If Kamala Harris waved a magic wand and banned fracking in the U.S.A then all sorts of hell would break loose, both here in the U.S.A. and abroad.

When the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing, Nederlands burns coal and natural gas or imports electricity from neighbors.

https://app.electricitymaps.com/zone/NL (click on yearly data)

Now that we've got actual operating experience with huge gigawatt scale wind power, solar power, and energy storage systems, it's pretty clear that the only energy resource capable of displacing fossil fuels entirely is nuclear power.





HarryM

(109 posts)
13. Paehaps I forgot to mention
Sun Sep 1, 2024, 03:51 AM
Sep 1

That we have opted for a power supplier who uses as much green energy as possible.
In my 5.5 years here in the Netherlands, I cannot remember one day when the wind was not blowing.
Perhaps that gas is for the industrial sector here.

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