What role does social responsibility play in your portfolio? Is your historical return what matters most, or do you refuse to invest in anything -- even if it might be wildly profitable -- if it harms the environment?
I can't answer that question myself, but a good rule of thumb is this: If thoughts about your investments -- whether from a financial, environmental, or any other type of perspective -- keep you up at night, you should examine the situation further.
Recently, I found myself losing some sleep about an article I wrote touting the promise of natural gas. A number of commenters (and my wife) were upset that I'd support an industry that relies so heavily on hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."
That led me to do my own research on the topic. While it can be difficult to get straight, unbiased answers from anyone on the matter, I've highlighted the four biggest things I think every amateur investor needs to know about the process.
1. The difference between fracking now and what fracking used to be
Many supporters of fracking are quick to point out that the process has been around for over 60 years. And while that's true, without any context this fact can be wildly misleading. Take a look at some of the key differences between what fracking looks like today versus its role in the past.
| Fracking in the Past | Fracking Today | |
|---|---|---|
| Use and frequency | Last ditch effort to squeeze oil out of wells | Primary method used to extract natural gas |
| Type of Drilling | Vertical | Vertical and horizontal |
| Water Use | Unknown, but far less than now | 4.5 million gallons per well |
| Pressure | Less than 10,000 psi | 13,500 psi |
Source: Chesapeake information page, Affirming Gasland.
If some of this is confusing to you, that's okay. The big takeaway is that if someone claims, "They've been doing it for years and it hasn't caused any harm," they're whitewashing the changes that have occurred over the years.
2. The 2005 change to the Safe Water Drinking Act
Although about 98% of the solution used to fracture the shale and release the gas is a combination of water and sand, the other 2% has been a source of great concern. Opponents fear that carcinogenic chemicals -- as well as natural gas itself -- could find its way into drinking water.
In 1974, the Safe Water Drinking Act was signed into law to protect the public's supply of potable water. As part of the program, the EPA was required to regulate any liquids being injected into wells. However, in 2005, Congress amended the act to exclude fracking from regulation.
Essentially, natural gas companies can claim that their solutions are "proprietary" and, therefore, trade secrets. Some companies -- like Chesapeake
3. A lack of certainty in causation
In the documentary Gasland, several residents of Weld County Colorado claimed fracking contaminated their water. When Colorado authorities investigated the situation, they found that in only one instance was this the case.
The key to this decision was the fact that authorities were measuring two different kinds of methane. Biogenic methane is naturally occurring. Thermogenic methane, on the other hand, is the type that's more commonly believed to be the result of drilling. When only biogenic methane is found, authorities consider it to be a result of natural processes. But when thermogenic methane is found in water, then gas companies are usually on the hook.
But the situation may be a bit more complicated than that. Opponents of fracking claim that though the biogenic methane is naturally occurring, the fissures caused in the fracking process accelerate its seepage into the water supply. As of yet, there's no conclusive way to test the veracity of such claims.
4. Danger in all forms of energy extraction
If you're looking for a 100% foolproof way to use energy without harmful consequences, you are going to be searching for a long time.
There have always been, and will always be, dangers associated with harvested energy.
| Cause for Concern | |
|---|---|
| Coal | Pollution of air, ground, water |
| Oil | Massive oil-spills and air pollution |
| Natural Gas | Contamination of water supply |
| Bio-Fuels | Ballooning costs of corn, switchgrass or other feedstocks |
| Nuclear | Meltdowns and radioactive waste |
| Solar | Energy-intensive production of solar cells |
| Wind | Negative ecological and aesthetic effect based on turbine size |
| Hydro-Electric | Fundamental changes in ecosystems of waterways |
What's a Fool to do?
My point is not that we're all doomed and that we should resign ourselves to environmental degradation. Nor is it that we should discontinue all alternative energy exploration because of possible negative side effects. Like just about everything in life, the answer lies in the middle.
Before making sweeping conclusions about the long-term viability of natural gas, we simply need more information. The biggest problem standing in the way of that is that exception granted to fracking companies by the 2005 amendment made to the Safe Water Drinking Act. If this were repealed, the EPA could quickly gather crucial data needed to determine how we should approach natural-gas extraction.
Clearly, there are serious questions that need to be answered. They effect shareholders in not only large natural-gas producers like EnCana
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