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Fracking the Debate: Frame Shifts and Boundary Work in Dutch Decision Making on Shale Gas

2014; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 19; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/1523908x.2014.941462

1523-908X

Tamara Metze,

Political Influence and Corporate Strategies

AbstractThe meaning of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas is contested worldwide: is it an energy game changer, a transition fuel, or a technology that poses severe environmental problems? In the Netherlands, a policy controversy developed in which fracturing was reframed from 'business as usual' to a potential environmental risk. This article theoretically and empirically describes this shift by arguing that the technology of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas is a boundary object that created a sphere of engagement for all sorts of actors. In this sphere, they negotiated a common but soft meaning of this technology. These negotiations consisted of frame contests. As part of those contests, the discursive strategies of framing and boundary work enabled opponents to create uncertainty about economic benefits and environmental impact. The shift in meaning transformed the issue from an economic one with standard governmental rules and regulations into a planning issue that needs more precaution.Key Words: Shale gashydraulic fracturingboundary objectboundary workframing AcknowledgmentsThe author is very grateful to the anonymous reviewers and to Jennifer Dodge for their suggestions. The author also would like to thank Leon van den Dool and especially Sabine van Zuydam for their collaboration in the analysis.Notes1 Hydraulic fracturing for shale gas is a relatively new technique that injects water and chemicals under high pressure to 'frack' deep shale layers, enabling extraction of previously inaccessible gas resources.2 'Wordle' (wordle.com) is an online software that constructs the word clouds. In the analysis of the word clouds, I ignored the word 'shale gas' and 'gas', or 'shale', as these were the key words I used to search the articles. Also, I ignored other words in common use, such as 'alone' or 'but' because these distorted the visual of the most frequently used words.3 http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/macro-economie/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2012/2012-3735-wm.htm accessed February 20, 2014.4 Previously, there were no EIA required. When all permits are in place, companies have to submit a 'drilling plan' to the SSOM and notify the Ministry of Economic Affairs about the environmental impact. In autumn 2013, a European directive commanded companies to submit an EIA before test drillings can start.5 This is a study from Duke University (Osborn, Vengosh, Warner, & Jackson, Citation2011).6 This is the study of Howarth and Ingraffea (Citation2011).7 In 2012, this is still uncertain; estimates of TNO and EBN are that there is about 200–500 billion cubic meter of gas (Zijp, Citation2012).8 This is a study by Jiang et al. (Citation2011). Howarth and others were later on also contested by Cathles, Brown, Taam, and Hunter (Citation2012).9 This refers to the studies of Howarth and Ingraffea (Citation2011) and Howarth (Citation2011). A more recent study is Howarth, Santora, and Ingraffea (Citation2012).10 http://www.gnmf.nl/upload/documenten/GNMF-presentatie_schaliegas_5_sept._2013.pdf, accessed February 2, 2014.11 https://www.boxtel.nl/fileadmin/Bestuur/Gemeenteraad/2013/20131022/Moties_INbox.pdf, accessed February 22, 2013 and http://www.brabant.nl/actueel/nieuws/2013/september/-/media/1C9CFC6D02CD417C97B43954E8958F6B.pdf, accessed February 22, 2013 https://www.boxtel.nl/fileadmin/Bestuur/Gemeenteraad/2013/20131022/Moties_INbox.pdf accessed February 22, 2013.12 http://www.binnenlandsbestuur.nl/ruimte-en-milieu/nieuws/opzet-onderzoek-schaliegas-deugt-niet.8859731.lynkx, accessed February 22, 2013.Additional informationFundingThis research has partly been financed by the Rathenau Institute and partly been financed by the local Audit Chamber in Boxtel.