New study examines the potential environmental impacts of shale gas and wind development across the entire Marcellus shale play
A recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE touts itself as "the first one to examine the potential environmental impacts of shale gas and wind development across the entire Marcellus shale play," according to a news release from The Nature Conservancy, which undertook the study. Findings indicate that the most significant impact from energy development in the Central Appalachians involves a decrease in watershed conditions. The study said that "36 percent of the predicted energy expansion in the study area is expected to occur in watersheds that are among the top 25 percent nationally in terms of water importance." With 106,004 new gas wells and 10,798 new wind turbines predicted for the area, an area larger than the state of Delaware will be subjected to industrial surface development. The study's authors advise the hydraulic fracturing industry to take advantage of the flexibility horizontal drilling allows regarding the location of infrastructure so as to minimize the impacts to natural habits. For more, read the full study and news release.