"We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries - we must claim its promise."
-President Obama, 2nd Inaugural Address, January 21, 2013
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/22/169989679/in-second-inaugural-obama-makes-climate-a-priority
"... the White House plans to ... focus on what it can do administratively to reduce emissions from power plants, increase the efficiency of home appliances and have the federal government itself produce less carbon pollution."
Berman Strikes Again:
explodes the myth of shale oil
Arthur Berman, petroleum geologist and energy consultant based in Houston, says the promise of America's shale oil revolution is "magical thin-
king." RDA would like to ask Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's " Energenie" mascot if he or it ( the Energenie looks a lot like a Smurf), concurs. See the easy to read graphs and simple, short explanation of Berman's thesis: "There tends to be a huge gap between the estimated amount recoverable and what actually ends up getting recovered... Resources are not reserves and, reserves are not supply". Unless you have a genie and at least one wish left.
http://www.businessinsider.com/arthur-berman-shale-is-magical-thinking-2013-1?op=1#ixzz2IdTlJJvd
Who's a Luddite?
Fracking of shallow horizontal wells
If anyone was in the audience or 20 or so at Hughesville High School in early January of 2011, did they also hear PSU's Dr. Terry Engelder state, as I remember it, "Those people in Ithaca are right to be acting like Luddites (about shale gas development in their area) because of the shallow depth of the Marcellus around there." He went on to explain how there would not be enough "hydrostatic pressure" above the fracked shale to keep the fluids forced into it from migrating if horizontal drilling and high pressure fracking was done at a depth of a half mile or less.
Will Dr. Engelder now step up to the plate and come out against fracking horizontal wells at shallow depths as outlined in the article below or did I mishear him in Hughesville? RDA will email him and ask. We'll let you know what he says (and it may not be next week!). - Ralph Kisberg, RDA founding member.
Drillers explore 'groundbreaking' fracking technique by Timothy Puko, Pittsburgh Tribune 1/21/13:
Help Wanted:
A walk-on part in the war
If you can get to State College on Sunday, February 17th and have $25, you can join the NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION & SIERRA CLUB MOSHANNON GROUP, in an important rally in Washington DC. If you don't have $25 or a way to Centre County, conjure up a carpool or contact us at RDA and we'll help you put one together.
WHO: Calling all climate change activists and concerned citizens of all ages
WHAT: One day bus trip to Washington DC to protest the Keystone Pipeline and pressure the president to make tackling climate change a priority for his administration
WHEN: February 17. Bus will leave State College early morning and get back late that same day (details to follow)
WHERE: Location to be determined - but it will be somewhere in State College
WHY: For the first time since 2009, when we almost passed a climate bill, we have a target! The president will be making a decision on the Keystone pipeline that will bring some of the dirtiest oil on the planet from Canada, into US ports in Texas. NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen says "...it's game over" for the planet if we start burning tar sands oil. But this is not just about the Pipeline. This is really about what direction our country needs to go, and it is not in the direction of more drilling and digging for fossil fuels.
Organizers are planning on 25,000+ people to flood Washington, making this the largest climate change protest ever. BE PART OF HISTORY!!!
The National Wildlife Federation and the Moshannon Group of the Sierra Club are working together to make this bus trip possible. The Moshannon Group has generously agreed to subsidize the cost of the bus so that the fare can be reduced to $25.00 per person.
To reserve your spot on the bus, please make your $25.00 check ($25.00 for each person), payable to Ed Perry, and send to:
Ed Perry
440 Brush Valley Road
Boalsburg PA 16827
Please sign up by emailing me (bearknob@verizon.net ) ASAP. Then please reserve your spot as soon as possible by sending a check. Reservations cannot be accepted after February 1st.
LETS SHOW THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS WE WANT ACTION
