Trump’s order unlikely to stall natural gas-fired power plants
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Although President Donald Trump announced a new executive order to review the restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, the move isn’t likely to slow the shift toward generating power with natural gas, according to the Tribune-Review in Pittsburgh.
At the end of last month, Trump signed an order mandating a review of the Clean Power Plan — an Obama administration regulation that restricts greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants. The decision aligns with Trump’s promise to revive the coal industry.
However, the order is unlikely to change much as energy providers are driven by low natural gas prices.
Learn more: Tribune-Review > Energy companies still plan to shift away from coal
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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.