Shale Gas in New Brunswick: Promise, Threat, or Opportunity?
Abstract
A petroleum industry has existed in New Brunswick for over 150 years but recent exploration for shale gas has unleashed an unprecedented wave of protest and opposition. This opposition is an international phenomenon that has followed the relatively new shale gas extraction industry from its origins in Texas, across North America and Europe. On the one hand, the extraction of natural gas from shale has increased reserves to the point where North America could become self-sufficient; on the other hand, opponents point to completely new hazards associated with this form of gas production. New Brunswick has the opportunity to devise a regulatory (and enforcement) regime that could minimize risk and maximize the benefits of a shale gas extraction industry. Public engagement in establishing this regime is essential, but the details, as this essay will illustrate, must be based on a rational and factual assessment of risk.
RésuméL’industrie pétrolière existe au Nouveau-Brunswick depuis plus de 150 ans, mais la récente exploration du gaz de schiste a déchaîné une vague de protestation et d’opposition sans précédent. Cette opposition est un phénomène international qui a poursuivi l’industrie relativement nouvelle de l’extraction du gaz de schiste, depuis son origine au Texas, dans toute l’Amérique du Nord et jusqu’en Europe. D’un côté, l’extraction du gaz naturel à partir du schiste a accru les réserves au point que l’Amérique du Nord pourrait devenir autosuffisante; d’autre part, les opposants dénoncent des risques entièrement nouveaux liés à cette forme de production de gaz. Le Nouveau-Brunswick a l’occasion de mettre au point un régime de réglementation (et de mise en œuvre) qui pourrait réduire le risque et maximiser les avantages d’une industrie de l’extraction du gaz de schiste. La participation du public pour mettre ce régime en place est essentielle, mais les détails, comme cet article le démontrera, doivent être fondés sur une évaluation rationnelle et factuelle des risques.
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