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Little said the GE strategy ultimately comes down to looking at "minds and machines together." For example, they have devices that can literally be put down into a well to give people on the surface information about exactly what's happening a mile or two below ground. "We'll get more information than ever before," he said, and that can be used to help improve production and profits, and to monitor and reduce environmental impacts. One scientist said that the approach makes sense, and that there are past examples of success. Modern cars are "incomparably cleaner" than older ones, said Neil Donahue, a professor of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. "There are some real technical issues that these folks at GE might be able to make real progress on." But Donahue added that GE's research is separate from -- and can't address
-- the issue of how society should regulate fracking. He said it's likely that over time, GE will be able to look back and "say we've made it safer." "It's up to a different level of discussion, how do we deal with this as a society," he said of the benefits and risks that come with fracking. "It's less obvious that GE research will reduce" the many other contentious issues around fracking, such as whether it should be allowed at all in some communities.
[Associated
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