Alternative to Fracking?

A little while ago a fellow environmental campaigner sent me this thought-provoking and highly topical message:

Just want to clear up something for myself; I won't support fracking but I don't know enough about it (so generally I stay away from discussing it). However, all the renewable energy sources I know of (wind turbines etc.) are to provide electricity...not gas. So is there a renewable equivalent to gas, or is the aim to move away from gas and convert all gas powered equipment to electricity?

I told him that I intend to provide a comprehensive response asap, not least because it will help clear things up in my own mind too! This just a 'holding entry' to indicate that I haven't forgotten...

Meanwhile, see The Renewable Gas Mandate blog entry and plenty of further reading on renewable gas in Jo Abbess' blog.

Backwards Reasoning - or: Could fracking prevent climate change denial?

Good article by George Monbiot at http://www.monbiot.com/2013/08/30/backwards-reasoning/
Shame he still hasn't learned the nuclear lesson though.

The Myth of “Saudi America”

I only just read the excellent article at http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/02/u_s_shale_oil_are_we_headed_to_a_new_era_of_oil_abundance.single.html, which an American colleague who works in the oil industry sent me some time ago.

Quote:
It will be hard to muster the resources to develop replacements for fossil fuel energy if we wait until both the economy and climate are in ruins. We are in for a hard landing if we don't use our current prosperity to pave the way for a secure energy and climate future.