Insight

Can a Pencil Change Hydraulic Fracturing?

Nobel-ignorer Bob Dylan sang: “Now, a very great man once said. That some people rob you with a fountain pen.”  That very great man was, of course, Woody Guthrie. The adage “the pen is mightier than the sword” reminds us that writing—and the thinking behind it—can have more influence on the world than the use of force.

OK.  Pens are powerful.

Dangerous.

Even, sometimes, agents of change.

How about pencils?

I’ve learned a few things about natural gas development in my too-brief time as secretary of both of Pennsylvania’s environmental agencies, as well as in my consulting practice.

One of the lessons I’ve learned is that a sharp pencil may be the best tool to apply to the urgent task of more responsible and sustainable production of natural gas.

If you’d like to find out what I mean by that, please join me for my public lecture: The Business Case for Sustainable Hydraulic Fracturing on Monday, November 7 at 5:30 PM at the Kleinman Center.

John Quigley

Director, Center for Environment, Energy & Economy
is the founding director of the Center for Environment, Energy & Economy and Lecturer in Sustainability at the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and a member of the Kleinman Center’s Advisory Board.