The Fracking Boom

Fracking for oil and natural gas is transforming the way America powers its economy. The flood of low-priced natural gas has undercut new nuclear plants and nudged utilities to pull the plug on old ones. Cheap gas also has stolen market share from coal and also hit renewable sources of power such as wind and solar. Now the fracking bonanza is spreading to China and beyond. With the US poised to become the world’s largest petroleum producer in a few years the world’s new energy equation could undermine OPEC and profoundly alter the geopolitical balance of power.

Russell Gold’s new book The Boom illustrates Texas oilmen and Oklahoma wildcatters who developed and perfected hydraulic fracturing technology that ushered in a new era of American industry. Trevor Houser’s new book Fueling Up examines the economics of fracking. Join us for a conversation about the most powerful force in today’s energy economy.

Russell Gold, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Author, The Boom: How Fracking Ignited the American Energy Revolution and Changed the World
Trevor Houser, Partner, Rhodium Group; Co-Author, Fueling Up: The Economic Implications of America’s Oil and Gas Boom

Date: Tuesday, April 1
Location: The Commonwealth Club, SF Club Office, 595 Market Street, Second Floor, San Francisco
Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, 12 p.m. program, 1 p.m. networking reception
Cost: $20 non-member, $12 members, $7 students

Also know: The speakers and audience will be videotaped for future broadcast on the Climate One TV show on KRCB TV 22 on Comcast and DirecTV.