A hot topic in recent years, fracking has been the spark of many a heated debate amongst politicians and citizens alike. And, like other environmental issues before it, the populous cannot seem to come to a general consensus on whether or not this process is beneficial. However, after doing some research and seeing both sides of the argument, I have come to a personal decision, and wanted to share it along with the reasons behind why I came to that decision. Before we start any of that however, we first need to understand what exactly fracking is. So, let's dive into it, and learn about the energy phenomenon that has been taking the U.S. by storm.
What is Fracking?
In its most essential form, fracking is another method of recovering/sourcing oil and gas from the ground. This is done by first drilling down to the area where oil/gas is expected to be, drilling horizontally to accommodate multiple wells, then injecting a mixture of water, sand, and other chemicals into rocks to release said oil and gas. Typically, this process is done on shale rock, a sedimentary rock that works best for the process. After the water creates the initial fracture in the rock, the sand injected with it holds the fracture open, allowing the oil and gas to flow out. The oil and gas taken by the process are then used to generate energy, which as we all know powers many aspects of our lives.
Now, this is a very brief, concise description of fracking. If you want to learn more about the details, check out this article by the BBC. It gives some great information on the process, much more than I am able to provide here.
The Good
So now that we know what fracking is, why is it so controversial? Well, the reason lies mainly in the fact that there are benefits AND downsides to the process. However, like many other causes of environmental issues, the benefits end up being mostly economical, so take that as you will. Here are a few of the ways that fracking "helps" us:
It's more efficient and effective- as opposed to straight drilling, fracking as a process is much quicker and easier. It allows us to reach gas/oil that drilling can't, and extracts that gas/oil much easier. This is turn allows more gas and oil to be taken, resulting in more profit.
It boosts the economy/lowers gas prices- because fracking allows companies to reach farther and source gas and oil easier, it means that there is more supply for the consumer. And with more supply comes cheaper prices. So, not only do countries that use fracking benefit economically, but gas prices become lower for consumers too.
Better alternative to burning coal- it is said that fracking is a better means of sourcing energy than coal in terms of their effect on the environment. While in some cases it may be, as I will be discussing later this is not always the case, however this argument is still being debated.
And essentially, that was all I was able to find in terms of benefits for fracking. Some could argue that fracking gives countries more power, as does any economic endeavor, but aside from that fracking is just a more efficient way to get oil and gas. But as we will soon see, the cons may outweigh the pros.
The Bad
Now that we've talked briefly about the benefits, it's time for the detriments. And even after just a few simple google searches, there are many, many of them. Here are a few of the most pressing and important:
Fracking causes earthquakes- according to the EPA, the state of Oklahoma, between 1990 and 2008, experienced only three earthquakes per year that were over 3.0 on the Richter scale. In 2013, after the installation of fracking operations, they experienced 109 of these earthquakes, and 238 of them in 2014. According to rsn.org, "EPA seismologists acknowledge a very clear correlation between fracking and earthquakes, saying the quakes would stop as soon as wells were turned off." The process of fracking has been directly linked to earthquakes around the world, and continues to cause them.
Fracking pollutes water and the ground- the chemical water used in the fracking process has
to go somewhere, and often it stays in the ground, damaging the ecosystems that rely on fresh soil. On average, only about 30-50% of this contaminated water is reclaimed, and where does it go? Typically into giant, thousand feet long vats where they sit, unable to be disposed of, and in many cases even leak back out into the ground. In some cases, it can actually affect the drinking water around it, and consuming this water has been shown to cause respiratory, neurological, and sensory issues.
Fracking pollutes the air- much of the waste water talked about before, when stored in vats, ends up evaporating into the air. This allows it to travel over extremely long distances, crafting contaminated atmospheres, acid rain, and terrible conditions for the surrounding populous. Breathing in air contaminated with these chemicals can cause severe and even fatal health problems. And once those chemicals have evaporated into the air, they can go anywhere.
Fracking hurts poor communities- most often, fracking operations are built near or around poor areas, largely because of the populous' inability to hinder the operations. This results in poor communities, who are already suffering, having to also endure the chemicals and poor drinking water from these operations.
It's not more "environmentally friendly" than coal- a common occurrence during the process of fracking is the leaking of methane gas. This gas in particular is one of the largest contributors to climate change, and remains one of the worst gasses to release into the atmosphere. Scientists estimate that, whenever this methane is released, fracking is no better than burning coal. And because this gas is released so often, one has to wonder if it really is the alternative to coal we have been looking for.
And the list goes on. If you still aren't convinced of the problems of fracking, or just want to learn more about them, I highly suggest you check out this website and this website for more detailed, fact-based information.
My Opinion
So, if you read the whole article, then you likely already know my opinion. Fracking is a terrible operation. It masquerades under the idea that it's more environmentally friendly and profitable than the burning of coal, but this couldn't be farther from the truth. In reality, fracking can be just as bad as coal, and neither should be used if we as a species hope to survive in the coming years. It's a short term, fake "solution" for a problem that needs to be solved.
And we as a species cannot afford to focus on the short term any longer. The future is coming, and its coming fast, whether we like it or not. So while big businesses would like to have us believe that fracking is the better option, it's merely a tool to allow them to continue making money while simultaneously taking advantage of the Earth and its inhabitants. Sure it might be better for the economy NOW, but in the future we can't have a better economy if there is no economy at all.
Conclusion
So, fracking, while providing economic gain in the short term, remains a process that needs to be stopped if we as humans hope to survive in the long term. It causes more problems than it solves, and we simply cannot allow it to continue if we hope to undo the damage that has already been caused by industries before it. But, if this isn't the alternative we need, than what is? There must be some other option, some other way of getting our energy in an environmentally friendly, economical, and easy way, right? Well, there is, actually there are many different options for the responsible sourcing of energy, and that is exactly what I am going to be talking about next week. Down with fracking, up with alternative energies!
All credit for information used in this post goes to:
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/26367-9-good-reasons-to-ban-fracking-immediately
https://www.alternet.org/environment/8-dangerous-side-effects-fracking-industry-doesnt-want-you-hear-about
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401
http://www.what-is-fracking.com/what-is-hydraulic-fracturing/
Images:
https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2015/02/02/in-fracking-hot-spots-police-and-gas-industry-share-intelligence-on-activists/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/09/fracking-chemicals-epa_n_5297273.html
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefanie-penn-spear/fracking-fracking-and-more-fracking_b_3492120.html
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/alaska-fracking_n_3977606.html
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https://www.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/hold-on-america-fracking-causes-earthquakes-2-20920
https://maven2379.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/fracking-is-bad-but-is-it-the-cause-of-the-strange-sounds-heard-all-around-the-world/
https://slowdownfracking.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/production-of-fracking-chemicals/
https://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/earthmatters/2010/11/19/gasland-brings-sickening-reality-fracking-home
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http://themerkle.com/how-coinbase-sees-the-future-of-bitcoin-and-digital-currency/
https://elawspotlight.wordpress.com/tag/renewable-energy/
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