the case for coal seam gas

In the USA, a remarkable transformation is taking place.

America, is becoming competitive again with the rest of the world in manufacturing.

The USA stockmarket has reached the same heights as it had pre GFC.

The USA has hit a 20 year low for carbon emissions.

The connection to all 3 remarkable facts?
The rise and surge in exploration and production of unconventional shale gas.

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7350#tabs_co2emissions-1

According to Forbes,
"The U.S. achieved approximately 70% of the CO2 emissions reductions targeted under Kyoto (as compared to the 1998 EIA CO2 forecast). That’s substantial progress. A major factor in CO2 emission reduction is shale gas, which, with the continued displacement/retirement of coal plants, has the potential to provide even more CO2 reduction benefits in the future."
http://blogs-images.forbes.com/energysource/files/2012/12/U.S.-c02-emissions.png


The electric sector is the largest single source of GHG emissions in the United States.
In 2010 it made up 33 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions, and about 40 percent of all carbon pollution from the combustion of fossil fuels.
This sector also represents the single biggest opportunity for emissions reductions using existing legal and regulatory tools.
source:www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources/electricity.html
What could be better and more practical than the use of natural gas in place of coal?

Another 30% of Green House Gas emissions in the USA is from transport.
There is a growing push in the USA to convert trucks and ships to LNG because of its cost and its reduction in GHG emissions.



Australia needs to face the reality.

The reality is that coal seam methane has been mined with much less incidents and harm to the environment or water supply than Australian farming activities.
Queensland and NSW households have been using csg for up to 10 years now.
The biggest environmental issue is the disposal of coal seam gas waste water.
However, treatments have now developed to the point that even the waste water can be used to help the environment rather than harm it. source:www.pollutionsolutions-online.com/news/water-wastewater/17/csg_enviro_services_pty_ltd/queensland_companies_partner_to_tackle_coal_seam_gas_waste/24340/

Without it's resource of gas and minerals, the Australian economy would be in free fall and more than likely in recession.
Manufacturing has come to a standstill and the strength of the Australian Dollar is encouraging australians to spend their money overseas, either in travel or in purchasing imported products.
Get jobs back to the rural areas by developing rural resources.Reserve some of the gas at cheap prices for rural manufacturers and incentivise industry to move back to the rural areas where housing is affordable and labour costs can be made efficient and competitive.
Land prices won't be devalued, if anything they will rise.
With cheap power and plenty of jobs,and a revigorated township living with less GHG emissions, the only people who could possibly be threathened and object to this must either be stoned,or a hermit or an extreme leftist vigilante.
They definitely cannot claim to be a environmentalist