New energy rush is simply' snake oil'

Energy and our profligate use of it is the essence of the difficulties that have compounded to become climate change.

Richard heinbeg's new
 book, "Snake Oil".

Suddenly, those who capitalize on that want, have uncovered new technologies that have allowed them to drill horizontally into earth rock structures and then unleash gas and oil hidden there for millennia using hydraulic fracturing.

These developments have resulted in a new “rush” as those who see the potential scurry to raise the needed cash assemble the needed equipment and extract this newfound energy.

Promises and predictions surround this new “rush”, but the hollowness of those claims is explored by Richard Heinberg in his new book, “Snake Oil: How fracking’s false promise of plenty imperils our future”.

Writing at the beginning of his new book, Heinberg writes:

“Finally, and probably most importantly, this book is directed toward anyone who cares about the fate of our planet. The only realistic to avert catastrophic climate change is to dramatically and quickly reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. That project will pose economic and technical challenges. But politics may present the biggest obstacle of all.”

Heinberg slices through the hype and glib statements of those who believe in a promote fracking, illustrating, through undeniable facts, that the promises are really simply too good to believe.

He explains how the promised increases are little more than that and give us nothing more than temporarily increased production and ultimately do nought to ease our energy limitations.

Delving into the complexities of Energy Returned on Energy Investment (EROEI) and Heinberg ask his readers to consider the two equally true statements:

Hydrocarbons are so abundant that, if we burn a substantial portion of them, we risk a climate catastrophe beyond imagining.

 

There aren’t enough economically accessible, high-quality hydrocarbons to maintain economic growth for much longer.

 

Richard Heinberg.

He writes: “Here is a public relations nightmare: how to convey these seemingly contradictory messages to people without confusing he bejesus out of them. How can concepts like ‘energy return on energy invested’ to an audience that barely understands what energy is?  How can millions of half-somnolent television addicts be guided in understanding ‘fugitive methane emissions,’ ‘energy density’ and a dozen other essential terms and concepts?”

Heiberg says the answer lies in what he describes as “literally humanity’s project of the century.”

“It is an enormous challenge, but it is not optional.”

“We either break the addiction, or we suffer the consequences – which would impact not just on ourselves, but future generations as well,” he writes.

We face a choice, he says, jobs and economic growth on one hand, or climate protection on the other.

Heinberg’s book - “Snake Oil: How fracking’s false promise of plenty imperils our future” is worth reading.