As the youngsters would scream, "DUH!"
The increasingly common practice of isdposing of oil and gas drilling wastewater by injecting it underground can trigger earthquakes, according to federal scientists who studied quakes since 1970 in Colorado and neighboring states.
Colorado authorities on Monday said they are aware of concerns about the earthquakes but questioned the U.S. Geological Survey study, saying more research needs to be done. Nonetheless, Colorado officials have been reviewing company permits to assess seismic risk since a 5.3-magnitude earthquake near Trinidad last year.
Some 330 fracking wastewater disposal wells have been drilled around Colorado. Drilling companies inject huge volumes of the brine water and chemical waste generated by hydraulic fracturing.
"This is a societal risk you need to be considering," said U.S. Geological Survey scientist Justin Rubinstein, co-author of a report to be presented this week at an American Geophysical Union gathering.
Why would we doubt USGS scientists? Because Republicans and Conservatives hate science. (Not only earth sciences, but economics, political science, biology, constitutional law, etc....)
Why do we need more time to study this? Because that will give the energy industry a further free pass on extraction activities before they are finally held responsible for their actions.
Who can we most likely thank for this timid, anti-progress policy of our state officials? John Frackenlooper and other Democrats who entertain the conservative strategy of delay, deny and obstruction on common sense policies.
Here's some info on the outstanding solar project at the People's Socialist Republic of the Air Force Academy:
The Air Force Academy officially kicked off its decade-long drive to get its power from renewable energy resources Monday, with a "switch flippin'" ceremony for a new solar array.
"This is just the tip of the energy iceberg," Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, superintendent of the academy, told a large group of local stakeholders at the dedication ceremony.
(Ok, that probably wasn't the best analogy. - z)
Gould said the solar panels, which cover 30 acres, represent the academy's first step toward a goal of getting 100 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. The academy gets more than 11 percent of its electricity from the array, and that percentage likely will increase as the academy decreases its reliance on traditional energy sources.
The solar array could power more than 1,200 homes, said Russell Hume, the academy's energy program manager. The array will save the academy more than $1 million per year in energy costs.
No mention of earthquakes or ground water contamination.
What would Colorado's officials say about that? |
