Hydrofracking = Demand for Hardwoods?

[Alex C]

Hey all, I read an article saying that the demand for Northeast hardwoods by hydrofracking sites in Pennsylvania is the reason firewood prices in New England are so high this year. Can anyone tell me why that is? I don't know as much about hydrofracking as I'd like to so I'd appreciate any input. Here is the article:

http://www.wmur.com/money/heating-oil-prices-down-firewood-costs-up-as-winter-approaches/36125802

 

[Wood Duck]

I think the article is probably agenda-driven BS, but the concept is that frac sites are muddy, so the drillers lay logs down over the mud and drive over the logs. They used to build roads this way in Alaska and called them corduroy roads. I am sure somebody somewhere has done this, but I have been around frac sites a little and never heard of this. Besides, why would PA drillers get logs from New England? We have lots of trees here too.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

I think the article is probably agenda-driven BS

No! Say it isn't so! Why, everything you read about the evils of fracking is absolutely true!

Or... maybe not....

Yale University, that bastion of Rush Limbaugh-driven anti-environmentalism, just released a report that says, after years of exhaustive study, they have found zero evidence of groundwater contamination from fracking. Those flaming faucets? Been that way since the 1800s, at least. Long before fracking started.

And that is all I'm going to say about that!

Around here they use timber mats for doing construction on sites where mud is a problem. 4x4 oak timbers on 4x6 stringers, it looks like, and they are pretty big. They bring them on a flatbed truck, lay them down with a forklift, and do their construction project. When they are done, they pick them up. Seems a lot more efficient than laying down logs. That just doesn't seem like a reasonable approach in this day.

 

[firefighterjake]

I think the article is probably agenda-driven BS, but the concept is that frac sites are muddy, so the drillers lay logs down over the mud and drive over the logs. They used to build roads this way in Alaska and called them corduroy roads. I am sure somebody somewhere has done this, but I have been around frac sites a little and never heard of this. Besides, why would PA drillers get logs from New England? We have lots of trees here too.

They build corduroy roads in New England as well . . . every once in a while there will be a road repair and someone excavating the old road will find evidence of the corduroy road.

 

[sportbikerider78]

I'm sure fracking could cause issues in certain water supplies. But to ban it in entire areas while people are sitting on top of gold mines..on their own property..that they pay taxes on... is totally criminal.
They banned it completely here in the peoples republic of NY. Typical NY bs. The stupidity never ends with this state.

How about instead of focusing on fracking, the government lower home heating oil taxes so everyone can keep their house toasty instead of tax-gouging them?

 

[LocustPocust]

They banned it completely here in the peoples republic of NY. Typical NY bs.

Yeah and the fracking regions of the State are the regions most in need of tax relief and jobs but thanks to New York City politics they''ll starve and the environment for any other business will remain poor. Oh but wait the Casinos are going to save the day right?

This State needs to split in two and fast.

 

[stanleyjohn]

around here seasoned firewood goes for around 225 a cord but i have seen it advertized this year for around 300! and its not even seasoned.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Guess our prices are a bit better above the border about $350 for 1 and 2/3 cords

 

[begreen]

Already under discussion here:
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-engand-fire-wood-prices-going-up.148386/