Heated argument from environmental activists and concerned citizens has caused the energy firm to rethink its stance on occupational/enviromental-hazard. AlbertaSuncor Energy has turned its first oil-sand production field back to its original environment. They have taken steps to rehabilitate the environments they produce in, but the movement has been tough. they are making a proactive and necessary change to help the environment.
After reading this article I thought about the documentary "Gasland", a process known as hydro-fracturing for natural gas has caused some of the same environmental consequences. Hydro-fracturing is the process of blasting rock, once again, with chemicals to extract natural gas reserves. The water that is produced from this is contaminated, and not properly disposed usually ending up either in the regions water supply or worse actual well-water systems for actual human consumption. During the documentary deposits of gas expel through the pumps in people's houses, in effect creating flammable gas coming through clean water pipes. Watching and reading both of these sources helped me to understand why the 'green movement' has made so much headway in the past years.
These methods are harmful and dangerous, but the fact is there is a cost for every benefit. The old cliche, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." We want affordable energy. It has to rain to see a rainbow.
- Timothy D. Vallario
Source: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 - Vol. CCLVI No. 76, B7A "Suncor Turns Oil Waste to Wetland" By Edward Welsch.
This was an interesting article. Runoff is a very terrible effect of this method of oil extraction, devastating fragile aquatic ecosystems and also endangering humans that rely on the water supply. While we do want affordable energy, I do not believe this is technically affordable. This is due to the additional cost of harming the environment. Yes, while this is lower cost, the costs of cleaning up the damage of this method is very high.
ReplyDelete-Rianna Das