And the only reason fracking is cool is because it jives with the "greenies are all nuts and flakes and what's good for big oil, big business, and Cheney/haliburton is good for America" mantra...
The process is inherently incredibly destructive, dangerous, and environmentally unsound. The product is all of that multiplied.
NTL, It will be part of the energy landscape for the near/medium term future.
There would not be such fierce opposition if it were done as safely and cleanly as possible.
It won't be.
It will be done as cheaply as possible.
Eventually, the taxpayers will pay to clean up the mess that is left behind, and everyone will deal with, and pay for, the resulting health issues.
Saying there aren't any is just more flat-earther style denial.
A comprehensive energy strategy is at least a national security issue, an environmental issue, a health issue, a climate change issue, (flat-earthers, go for it... You are still wrong... ) and an economic issue.
Petroleum does have its natural place, because of it's "bang for the buck, btu's per unit characteristics.
Other energy sources have their place too. A growing one, as the technology improves and costs come down.
Remember, you do not pay the fully accounted cost of gas at the pump. Your taxes also pay for the world's most expensive military presence to keep the oil flowing, and you subsidize secure transport of that oil for the entire world.
It has been forty years since the wake up call
There will be no "plan", as we do not live in a centrally planned economy. Not saying we should. It will he haphazard and there will be failures.
There will be successes.
There will be change.
This ain't Mayberry anymore.
Hopefully we stumble upon the right, or at least a sustainable, mix.
Off the climate change topic, xcpt as gas and oil use is concerned, but for both sides of the oil industry subsidy/tax break/expensing argument, ck this out...
http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/10/should-oil-and-naturalgas-tax.php