We foresee a softening of new commercial construction, a reduction in cosmetic renovations of existing stock, an increase in renovations focused on improving the net operating income including a strong focus on heat pumps displacing gas furnaces and existing air conditioning and an increased shift to distribution-center business models.
Washington, D.C.—Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) applauded the first legislative proposal for a nationwide ban on fracking for natural gas and related operations, including extraction, processing, transport and export.
Pleasantly called natural gas and sold to many as a better solution, a good transition fuel, natural gas has been dominating new US electricity capacity alongside renewable energy. Yet, hydraulic fracking absolutely takes the “natural” out of it. Originally, natural gas was successfully sold as a cleaner transition fuel. Who knew there were not even laws on the books to address the hidden pollutants, and that there would be much information lacking about the truth of the acid stimulation, hydraulic fracturing, and other new extraction technologies?
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a halt to all new fracking permits pending a review by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Environmental groups cheered while industry groups predicted dire consequences.
Is the shale oil boom made possible by fracking coming to an end? Bankruptcies are up, employment is down, and investors have turned off the flow of money needed to sustain the industry.
If the sage grouse goes down, it’s taking the leading — and bleeding — natural gas fracking company Chesapeake Energy along for the ride.
The UK has imposed a moratorium on shale gas fracking in the country effective immediately, dealing a stunning blow to the shale gas industry.
Researchers at Cornell are able to prove that much of the increased methane in the atmosphere comes from fracking operations. Now that we know, what will we do about it?
To hear officials in the Trump administration tell it, fracking is a fantastic gift to the American people because it allows the US to be the largest oil and gas producer in the known universe. The US is pumping so much of the stuff, it now has what is being called “energy security.” Apparently no one in government has tumbled to the fact that renewable energy also provides that elusive “energy security” as well.
When a wind power discussion comes up, Texas is often mentioned. It’s not just that Texas has a lot of wind power. (It does.) It’s not just that Texas has a big, very isolated grid. (It does.*) There’s the oft-forgotten fact that when Texas started adopting wind power, it went from almost zero to the national leader in wind power in just 6 years!
