Fracking costs outweigh benefits for Germany and Europe, study says

(EurActiv, 20 Mar 2015) For only a ten year supply of energy, fracking in Europe would contaminate drinking water, cause severe environmental damage and create vast industrial landscapes, says a study on fracking, as the German government pushes to legalise the controversial extraction method.

The environmental impact of shale gas extraction in Germany and Europe are in no way proportionate to the raw materials gained using this method of drilling, a new study argues.

“We should not compare the conditions in Germany with those in the United States,” said Werner Zittel, the author of the study released by the NGO Energy Watch Group.

For one thing, Germany is much more densely populated, he said, increasing the risk for people and the environment near extraction sites.

To date, few scientifically sound analyses are available on the effects of fracking on people and the environment. But severe environmental damage can be observed in the United States, where fracking is already widespread.

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EurActiv, 20 Mar 2015: Fracking costs outweigh benefits for Germany and Europe, study says