Ethanol industry still recovering from impacts of COVID
Friday, November 6, 2020
Ethanol production dropped to record lows in April when stay-at-home orders were put in place and the industry is still struggling, according to Farm and Dairy.
Ethanol production took a hit when people stopped driving and demand fell by half. A recent study conducted by economists from the University of Florida and Arizona State University found ethanol producers will experience an estimated $8 billion loss this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on world fuel markets.
Although production has slowly increased since the spring, 2020 production levels are still projected to be below 2019 levels.
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.