There are a few societal costs to the development of shale gas. Potential contamination of groundwater, complications in treating and recycling water used in fracking. Then there’s air pollution from leaking methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and from the diesel-powered rigs and trucks involved in drilling.
Despite the consumption of groundwater, despite the release of methane, an exponentially more potent greenhouse gas than CO2, Forbes concludes shale gas is worth the cost. - JO
