Goal For The Green

For two months in a row, the jobs report has gotten better.  I don’t know about you, but I have been wondering what’s behind the sudden turn around?  Then it occurred to me a few days, after last months jobs announcement, that there seemed to be a NEW secret, that most of the rest of the nation didn’t know about. Energy can fuel the economy!

I saw this story on the news (NBC), about three days after last months jobs report. You may have thought that America’s shale oil and gas boom couldn’t get any bigger than the one made public in the Bakken formation, of North Dakota. If you haven’t heard of that, well, they have been Bringing Home the Bacon From The Bakken for about three years now.

But NOW, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates, there is a a newly-emerging shale deposit that most likely contains about 38 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas,  about 940 million barrels of oil, and nine million barrels of natural gas liquids such as, ethane and propane. It’s simply huge, and a very rich and shallow deposit.

It’s called the Utica Shale formation. The USGS, provided its first assessment of the Utica shale deposit, recently(about three weeks ago). It found the reserve, which lies underneath the Marcellus shale play, to potentially contain the deposits and massive reserves mentioned above. The fields are part of the Appalachian Basin, which the USGS  has said is the longest-producing petroleum play in the United States.

Rectangular joints in siltstone and black shale within the Utica Shale (Ordovician) near Fort Plain, New York. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Understanding our domestic oil and gas resource potential is important, which is why we assess emerging shale plays like the Utica, as well as areas that have been in production for some time,” Brenda Pierce, USGS energy resources program coordinator, said in a statement.

Anadarko Petroleum, one of the more active energy companies in Ohio, claims to have already delivered 9,500 barrels of crude oil and 12 million cubic feet of natural gas from one well in the Utica shale play.

DTE  Energy, a  Michigan utility company  signed a memorandum of understanding in September, with Canadian pipeline company Enbridge and natural gas infrastructure company Spectra Energy Corp. The agreement calls for the development of about 250 miles of pipeline meant to carry as much as 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas PER DAY, from the Utica  shale play in Ohio.  So, it seems that there will be jobs working on and building this pipeline.

As oil and gas drilling production in this newly found formation picks up speed, it could become the third-largest deposit in the United States.  The Marcellus and Utica shale deposits have the potential to greatly improve the economies of eight states, and set us on the path to energy independence within 15 years.

Massive oil and gas development

For investors, these areas are where energy companies are scrambling to get a piece of the action.  No, we haven’t really heard much on the topic, but this has been a relatively quiet secret for the last 2 1/2 years. During this time frame, the big oil and gas producers such as BP (NYSE: BP), Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) are already getting more involved in these areas, setting the stage and digging in their claws. All of this has been going on for about the same amount of time as the North Dakota boom.

But the most active driller currently in Ohio, is a Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK).

They are Utica Shale’s top energy stock holder. Over the last few years years, Chesapeake Energy, has quietly acquired more than one million acres in the Utica Shale deposit, with a total of 87 wells, in operation. That is more than any other energy company investment, at this time.  In Ohio, they are considered the No. 1 player that is currently in the  best position, to gain from the area’s growing Utica Shale exposure.

When I was a child, the common thing was to head West to find good paying jobs.  That is what my family did.  Now, if you need a job, head East! While there is a plus side to all of this, it has greatly changed many quiet rural farming communities. Fracking(breaking apart the shale to release the gases) is still part of the extraction process.  The best thing about the shale in these newer formations, is that it is much closer to the surface, than in the Bakken (Williston, N.D.) region. It is good to know we are moving and working toward better and greener tomorrows.

Related articles

• Utica shale, below the Marcellus, contains large gas, oil reserves, study shows

Did you know that 2 out of 3 Americans Are Concerned With Toxins Found in Common Household Products?
Seventh Generation and Breast Cancer Fund Joined Together recently, to Discuss the Importance of Removing Toxins From Our Lives. This post, is a continuation of the recent study and it’s findings.

Seventh Generation INC (Photo credit: stan)

Education Needed and Transparency Demanded on Ingredients in Common Products

The study indicates that half of all Americans (50%) are unaware that many personal care, household cleaning, laundry and baby care products contain petroleum-based ingredients otherwise known as petro-chemicals. When provided with a list of chemicals in these products, 61% reported that they are “likely” or “very likely” to seek bio-based products the next time they shop.

In addition, 58% of respondents indicated that they “feel personally responsible to change their daily habits and purchase practices to positively impact the environment.” In fact, 58% of the respondents reported that they are “actively searching for greener (more energy-efficient, natural, and sustainable, etc.) products these days.”

“It’s time that the consumer products companies lift the veil that has shrouded most ingredients in mystery, allaying unwarranted concern for some, and providing a sound basis for stronger consumer action on others,” said Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle. “There’s no reason they can’t. Seventh Generation has been providing products that supply peace of mind for 25 years.”

Focus on ingredients in everyday household cleaners and personal care products, has increased significantly in recent years. In fact, just last month (September), Johnson and Johnson announced plans to remove carcinogens and other toxic chemicals from its personal care products by 2015.

Just recently, the American Cleaning Institute(R) launched a Cleaning Product Ingredient Inventory, that catalogs 900+ ingredients used in the U.S. cleaning products market (including soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings).

The study has a margin of error of 3%.

On September 19th,  Green-living guru Sara Snow, moderated a session on Livestream with Deepak Chopra, Seventh Generation and Breast Cancer Fund Individuals interested in learning more about this topic.

These experts  discussed the findings of the new study, and explored the significance of the USDA Certified Bio-based label, as a credible way for consumers to make conscious choices about the products they bring into their homes.

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation, is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal care products for your living home. Our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home — and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation, also offers baby products that are safe for your children and the planet. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” Every time you use a Seventh Generation product, you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and making the world a better place for this and the next seven generations.

For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products,  or to find store locations that carry their products, and explore the company’s website visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Did you know that 2 out of 3 Americans Are Concerned With Toxins Found in Common Household Products?
Seventh Generation and Breast Cancer Fund Joined Together to Discuss the Importance of Removing Toxins From Our Lives.  I want to share this news in light of the fact that October is Brest Cancer Awareness Month, and this is news you should know.

I'm getting plants - yah to less toxins and bad EMF! (Photo credit: Tricia Wang 王圣捷)

According to a recent study, with findings released in BURLINGTON, VT by Marketwire – on September 19, 2012 – Nearly two-thirds of all Americans (64%) say they are “concerned” or “very concerned” about potentially harmful chemicals and petroleum-based ingredients found in everyday personal care, household cleaning, laundry and baby care products, according to the study.

Top concerns of petroleum-based products are “long term health effects” (75%) and “absorption through the skin” (71%). Concerns were similar across age, gender and other demographic categories.
Commissioned by Seventh Generation, a leading maker of renewable household and personal  care products, the study questioned 1,000 Americans to gauge awareness, attitudes and concerns about ingredients found in products they use daily, for themselves and for children.

“The level of concern voiced by the American public represents a mandate for immediate, sweeping systemic change,” said Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle. “It’s a big issue with consumers. And, it’s getting bigger.”

Full results of the study were unveiled recently during a news conference and panel discussion featuring Deepak Chopra, Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle, and Breast Cancer Fund CEO, Jeanne Rizzo.

According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., a recognized expert in the field of wellness and sustainability, the study suggests Americans are undermining their wellness through daily exposure to toxins, found in products that we use daily. “The elimination of toxins awakens the capacity for renewal,” said Chopra.

So, how do we go about eliminating toxins from our lives?

Study Findings Show Toxic Concerns are High,and Biobased Awareness is Low.
The Study questioned respondents on an array of issues, including awareness of “biobased” products. These products are defined as “products made with renewable agricultural content such as plant, animal, marine or forestry materials.” The respondents were questioned about their attitudes toward the use of petroleum-based products, and petro-chemicals, found in many common consumer products.

According to the study, Americans are concerned about potentially harmful chemicals in their household cleaning (66%) and personal care products (65%), as well as laundry (63%) and baby care products (60%).  In this study, it is noted that percentages combine “concerned” and “very concerned” responses. Notice by the percentages, that more than half of the people questioned are quite concerned.

When asked specifically about petro-chemicals in personal care, home cleaning, laundry and baby care products, top concerns of “long-term health risks” (75%) and “absorption through the skin” (71%) were followed by “potential skin irritation” (69%), “inhaling toxins” and “negative impact on the environment” (both 60%). This also poses  health concerns that can no longer be overlooked.

In fact, more than half (54%) went so far as to agree that “brands should be required to post warning labels on their packages if their products contain petro-chemicals.” Nearly two-thirds (60%) reported that they are “likely” or “very likely” to seek bio-based products the next time they shop.

“This study shows that people understand what science is telling us — that exposure to toxic chemicals in our everyday products increases risk for many diseases, including breast cancer,” said Jeanne Rizzo, president and CEO, The Breast Cancer Fund. “As more and more people begin to connect the dots between toxic exposures and disease, they say, ‘Enough! No more toxic trespass! We want safer products!'”

This has become a critical issue, that many of us have not been aware of.  So, begin reading the labels on your soaps, shampoos and laundry detergents. It’s a matter of our health, our children’s health, and the health of our environment, for generations to come. Together we are working toward a better, safer and “greener” future for us all.