Ekonomické a ekologické dopady těžby břidlicového plynu na příkladu USA

This bachelor thesis pursues the issue of shale gas extraction on the territory of the United States of America. The goal of the thesis is a simple comparison of positives and negatives of the extraction, mainly from the economic and environmental point of view. Since the quantification of the expenses and revenues is difficult, simple method of comparison and maximal listing of positives and negatives is used. First chapter is informative, it sheds light on the basic terms of shale gas extraction, its world supplies and on the situation on the US natural gas market. Next two chapters describe benefits (energy self-sufficiency of the US, higher employment etc.) and disadvantages (irrecoverable contamination of underground supplies of drinking water, environmental pollution) of the shale gas extraction. The final chapter concerns geopolitical point of view on the issue, it examines impacts which would potential energy self-sufficiency of the US have on the world course of events.