Comments on: Geothermal energy developers plan to pump 24 million gallons of water into a dormant volcano in Oregon this summer to demonstrate a new way to generate electricity.

By: Kelly Starks

Kelly Starks — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:14:43 +0000

In reply to Jim. > .. fracking uses chemical-laden fluids, and creates huge fractures.” One has chemicals, > some of them carcinogens.. Well all geothermal water sources are rich with carcinogenic chemicals that leach out of the rock, so no big plus there.

By: Walter Walkie

Walter Walkie — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:46:29 +0000

I’m not sure but “creates huge fractures” is vague , I wonder what the actual difference in size of fractures are they are talking about . Also hydro-fracking doesn’t always use bad chemicals . i would be interested to learn more about the difference between this shearing and fracking

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:49:24 +0000

There is a line in the article that tells you the difference:
“Hydroshearing is similar to the process known as hydraulic fracturing, used to free natural gas from shale formations. But fracking uses chemical-laden fluids, and creates huge fractures.”
One has chemicals, some of them carcinogens, and the other is just water.