A footnote on the radio news on July 30: North Dakota drillers are burning off $100 million of natural gas each month because they do not yet have the infrastructure to handle their booming production. It’s cheaper to burn it than to corral and refine it, the news stories said.

Ceres, a nonprofit organization that studies energy issues, said nearly one-third of gas extracted from shale fields in North Dakota is "flared" or burned off. News organizations explain that North Dakota’s energy boom is so recent that pipelines cannot be built fast enough to handle the huge output.

The burn-offs mean:

1. Loss of income to shareholders … estimated at $100 million a month, a figure that should induce those backing the energy companies to sit up, take notice and demand better results.

2. Emissions to the environment, possibly with long-term detrimental effects. It is said the flares are so huge they can be seen from outer space; and,

3. Waste … terrible waste...