Interestingly, “renewable” energy developers are acquiring the mineral rights for land they’re buying and leasing for their projects. Hedging their bets, possibly? Because of the fracking ban (in part), many landowners sign away their rights without thinking much about it.
Fracking faces an uphill battle in some of these areas, where it’s resulted in real environmental damage in the past. But many of us are willing at least to to listen to the regulate-rather-than-ban approach and hear about newer technologies, as well as the experiences of communities on the other side of the NY/PA border. Personally I’m still reserving judgment, but I’d like to see the people in these regions more actively involved in making energy-related policy decisions rather than treated like peasants in a feudal system.
Early fracking was indeed an environmental nightmare, though a long way behind oilfields covered in beam-type nodding donkey pumps. Google image "Fracking Drill Sites in Wyoming, Pinedale Anticline and Jonah." Then came directional drilling that allowed one wellhead to exploit an area of a couple of square miles. Once the well is producing, the drilling rig moves to the next site and the residual surface footprint is minimal.
You're absolutely right that regulate rather than ban is the default human way of doing things. It's an unfortunate fact of life that deep pockets usually beat individual rights, so the state intervenes... and keeps on intervening...
Interestingly, “renewable” energy developers are acquiring the mineral rights for land they’re buying and leasing for their projects. Hedging their bets, possibly? Because of the fracking ban (in part), many landowners sign away their rights without thinking much about it.
Fracking faces an uphill battle in some of these areas, where it’s resulted in real environmental damage in the past. But many of us are willing at least to to listen to the regulate-rather-than-ban approach and hear about newer technologies, as well as the experiences of communities on the other side of the NY/PA border. Personally I’m still reserving judgment, but I’d like to see the people in these regions more actively involved in making energy-related policy decisions rather than treated like peasants in a feudal system.
Early fracking was indeed an environmental nightmare, though a long way behind oilfields covered in beam-type nodding donkey pumps. Google image "Fracking Drill Sites in Wyoming, Pinedale Anticline and Jonah." Then came directional drilling that allowed one wellhead to exploit an area of a couple of square miles. Once the well is producing, the drilling rig moves to the next site and the residual surface footprint is minimal.
You're absolutely right that regulate rather than ban is the default human way of doing things. It's an unfortunate fact of life that deep pockets usually beat individual rights, so the state intervenes... and keeps on intervening...
“where it’s resulted in real environmental damage in the past”? Where in particular?