Enclosed is an interesting article from MIT

Dr. Daniel Fine of MIT discusses how new technology in extracting gas will impact geopolitics and the environment

"... Returning to address some of the environmental concerns surroundingshale gas extraction, Dr. Fine (of the Mining and Minerals Resources Institute at MIT) said that, in light of the jobs that willbe created , and in light of the economic advantages of naturalgas—which is cheaper than either coal or nuclear power, and far lessexpensive than any current renewable technology—it will be politicallydifficult for any administration to challenge shale gas unless it can beconclusively shown to have adverse environmental effects that outweighthe benefits. Shale gas wells, Dr. Fine said, are only used when animpermeable rock layer surrounds them, so that none of the estimated 5.5million gallons of water used for extraction can seep into thegroundwater. In addition, most wells can recycle their water, andultimately, “use less water than an average golf course.”

http://fletcher.tufts.edu/news/2010/04/features/fine.shtml

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