Regional Energy Play Creates Potential Global Impact

Abstract

Energy has always been the essential, life-sustaining medium of exchange, in contrast to the notion that symbols of a monetary system, the effectiveness of influence peddling or even the application of force truly impact and direct social development. Starting with muscle power, which was used in earlier times and relied upon completely to provide for the essentials of life, we have slowly but continuously multiplied our efforts through the use of externally applied energy and thus have accelerated advancements in our social and technical make-up along with our abilities to enhance personal survival. As with any mature process though, there are ways of doing business that can become so ingrained that making a change becomes a major and heavily resisted effort. For example, in the case of the energy industry it has been assumed that the least expensive and most easily acquired form of energy is liquid based which primarily comes from very localized portions of the globe. The reality is that even the energy industry recognizes that change is necessary. Developing countries are requiring more energy and the producers’ ability to sustain that increasing demand is becoming harder to maintain. More importantly the consequences of going offshore to receive energy, which is a major portion of the economy, has created a vulnerable situation for all regions and countries, both economically and diplomatically. On the home front the reliance on foreign energy producers has weakened the local economies and allowed the population to practice a false sense of security in a product that is fundamental to the very survival of its citizens. Fortunately, there is at least a short-term remedy to this situation and the energy producers and suppliers are moving very quickly to capitalize on the opportunity. The development of two technologies, horizontal drilling and hydro fracturing, plus the realization that energy reserves in the form of a gas, methane, are plentiful in almost every region of the world, has initiated a new look at energy, how we get it and how we use it. What was, and is needed, is a place to start the effort to reorganize and redirect our energy efforts to best utilize those technologies and the resulting energy reserves. That location was self-identified over the past few years as the northeastern portion of the United States, which has become a driving force in the recapitalization and restructuring of the affected region, soon the entire country and, as the technologies become monetized, the entire globe. This paper is a brief look at the potential impact of these two technologies along with the regional impact of the resulting activities and products, and the potential global needs and future consequences of these efforts that are just now being realized and understood.