Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process of cracking a rock formation to enhance natural gas recovery. It has opened up huge gas reserves that would otherwise be inaccessible, but all that new energy comes at a price. The fluid that gets pumped underground includes a stew of toxic chemicals and people who live near fracking sites have complained of contaminated well water and clouds of noxious gasses settling over their properties. Today Terra Informa digs into the debate over this contentious technology.

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Contaminated tap water explodes into flame. Photo courtesy of Gasland.

Environmental News

In Ontario, the McGuinty Government has announced an immediate moratorium on all offshore wind power development in the province.

The Star, The Globe & Mail, Toronto Insider

Atlantis Resources Corporation has been chosen to test one of their underwater turbines in the Bay of Fundy. The device is among the world’s largest, and is able to produce a megawatt of power – enough energy for 1000 homes.

CBC ,Digby County Courier, The Chronicle Herald, Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE)

The Qubec provincial government continues to block requests for information to be made public concerning the Mercier waste lagoons, which were a site for highly toxic liquid petrochemical waste disposal in the 1960s and 70s

Montreal Gazette(1) , Montreal Gazette (2), McGill

Enbridge has offered a package worth hundreds of millions of dollars to first nations communities affected by a proposed pipeline from Alberta to the BC coast.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Chief Jackie Thomas of the Saik’uz First Nation

Statoil faces 19 charges in relation to breaches of environmental regulations in 2008 and 2009. The court document, filed last week, alleges that water was diverted from lakes and rivers illegally for use in in situ bitumen extraction operations

Edmonton Journal, Reuters (1), Reuters (2)

Eco Babble: Hydraulic Fracturing aka Fracking

This week’s show is all about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.  If when you hear that word, the only thing that comes to mind is Battlestar Galactica, you’re not alone.  Fortunately Andy Read and Rebecca Rooney are here to explain what it all means, with this week’s Eco Babble.