With all due respect to the owners of All Good Bakers in Albany ("Food for thought on hydrofracking," April 11), natural gas is far from an unsustainable or short-term energy source.
Natural gas became viable for commercial use in the 1820s, in western New York incidentally. Following World War II, America began converting to widespread home use of natural gas as pipeline construction became affordable. Today, natural gas is the preferred heating and cooling fuel in all new commercial and home construction throughout America.
The federal government estimates there are enough shale gas reserves to sustain America for the next 100 years. And, regardless of what some zealots will claim, natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels and it is partly responsible for bringing carbon dioxide emissions to a 20-year low, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
It's unfortunate and troubling the drumbeat of falsehoods has had such a negative impact on the natural gas discussion, and on public opinion. It has even driven those who rely on it to earn a living (such as bakers) to demean it.
Robert Miller
East Greenbush