Fracking Concerns Are Legitimate: International Energy Chief

International Energy Agency chief Maria van der Hoeven urges transparency to ease public skepticism in the hydraulic fracking process.

August 21, 2012

WASHINGTON - Hydraulic fracturing??s impact on aquifers, land use and air pollution is a legitimate public concern, said the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fuel Fix reports.

Speaking at Rice University last week, IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said companies taking a "trust me" approach have fueled public skepticism.

"If people tell me, 'We know what we are doing,?? then they don??t know what they are doing," van der Hoeven said. "Companies have to realize that they need to take people??s concerns seriously. There??s a very real possibility that public opposition to drilling for shale gas will halt the unconventional gas revolution and fracking in its tracks."

Van der Hoeven urged natural gas producers to increase transparency of their hydraulic fracturing techniques, though she refused to call for the halt of shale gas production, saying it would have a negative impact on the environment and hinder progress toward energy security.

"Natural gas in the power sector has caused carbon emissions to fall rapidly. And it??s the shale gas revolution that made this possible," she said.

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