Natural gas, touted for its environmental, economic, and
national security benefits, is often thought of as the fuel that
will "bridge"our transition from oil and coal to renewables. The
ability to extract natural gas from shale formations through a
method called hydraulic fracturing has unleashed vast, untapped
sources-by some estimates, the U.S. now sits on a 100-year supply.
But contamination from toxic chemicals used in the fracking process
has been the source of increasing health and environmental
concerns. Can natural gas be part of a clean energy solution, or is
it a dangerous roadblock to a fossil-free future?
For The Motion
Deborah Goldberg, Managing Attorney at
Earthjustice, the world's first and largest nonprofit environmental
Katherine Hudson, Watershed Program
Director at Riverkeeper, a watchdog organization dedicated to
defending the Hudson River and protecting the water supply for New
York City and Hudson Valley residents.
Against The Motion
Joe Nocera, Op-Ed Columnist, The New York
Sue Tierney, Managing Principal at Analysis
Group, where she specializes in the electric and gas