Separating the wheat from the chaff in the energy world

One of the most difficult things to do at the Chamber’s Energy Council is finding facts.  You know, real information from credible sources instead of innuendo, gossip, biased studies, anecdotes based on fear, etc.

I share this with you because the cacophony of crapola is growing when it comes to the dangers of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling — two techniques responsible for the major increase in natural gas production in the U.S. during the past few years.

This article by Associated Press reporter Kevin Begos is an attempt to look at groups putting out biased or false information in an effort to advance their agenda.  This is nothing new, I’m sure the Romans did it when they took over countries two thousand years ago (“really, being a slave to Nero isn’t all that bad!”).

However, good information is critical to making good policy.  So you have to separate the wheat (what’s important) from the chaff (what’s not). When you see information for or against fracking (or any kind of energy), I implore you to check the source and spend a bit of time figuring out the bias.  Both sides have them.  Hell, I have them!  But ultimately I know that we have some tough decisions to make when it comes to future energy policy and listening to half-truths, watching biased documentaries or spreading unfounded rumors to scare people just makes the job that much harder.

No energy is perfect.  Each carries a risk and a reward.  A challenge and an opportunity.  Let’s lay the cards on the table as we know them and try to make the best decisions possible.  Is that asking too much?