NREL research looking to make fuels from fracking-released methane

In Colorado, NREL researchers are leading a project exploring the use of microbes for producing liquid diesel fuel from the methane released during fracking. The flares from fracking wells in North Dakota shine just as bright on nighttime maps as Minneapolis and Chicago. The energy equivalent of 2,000 barrels of oil, but gas, are flared across the US every day. Researchers say the $4.8 million ARPA-E funded project is making progress to achieve the reality of fuel production from captured methane.