A Field Day for Fracking

The US and EU initiated a new round of closed discussions on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a free trade agreement, with much of the content still kept top secret. However, the EU position on raw materials and energy was leaked in May, and the deal could eliminate restrictions on US exports of natural gas to Europe, reports Wenonah Hauter for Other Words. Concerns have emerged among environmentalist and others over environmental damages stemming from fracking technology, increased gas prices for US consumers and import dependency. “Largely unregulated energy commerce between the United States and EU would also be a frontal assault on the possibility for governments to impose a ‘public service obligation,’” reports Hauter. “It could bar mandates for utility companies to deliver natural gas at certain prices to consumers, for example.” – YaleGlobal