By Brendalis Puig
Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, has caused one of the most heated debates in today’s energy industry. With such polarized opinions concerning balancing environmental and business rights, it is crucial to understand the fracking process and why it is a source of such controversy.
The fracking revolution in the United States has greatly increased the production of oil and natural gas, resulting in lowered gas and energy prices; it has also strengthened the country’s energy security. Additionally, it has created millions of job opportunities in various areas related to drilling, transportation, and processing. Having been around since the 1940s, fracking has dramatically grown with technological advancements and increased demand for energy.
However, individuals against fracking point out the environmental and public health concerns associated with this procedure as it generates enormous amounts of wastewater, releases greenhouse gases such as methane, and produces toxic air pollutants. Research shows that these gas and oil activities result in species extinction, land degradation, and loss of animal and plant habitats.
A lot of locations of fracking sites are close to areas with fewer resources, intensifying their overall burden of environmental inequalities and social injustices. Vulnerable communities are often affected by such industrial activities as they experience great danger to their health and well-being, which raises ethical questions about obtaining economic gain at the expense of local communities.
While hydraulic fracturing has potential benefits, it is difficult to evaluate these advantages when balanced against the significant disadvantages. For example, due to negligence, some water sources have already been contaminated, causing potential risks associated with the water consumed.
Senior in communication and media studies, Kaleb Telfer stated, “I think the idea of fracking made sense at the beginning, but now that you see that it’s destroying the land and the environment, I don’t think we should be fracking. I would suggest that we stop doing it or find other ways.”
Any location with natural gas can serve as a fracking site, resulting in a lot of activity across different communities; the process not only requires a large consumption of energy but also plenty of equipment. In 2019, the Natural Resources Defense Council revealed the equipment needed for fracking, including blenders for fracking fluids, high-pressure pumps, and storage tanks. Large trucks deliver this equipment to drill sites, contributing to increased traffic and adding burden to rural areas where fracking operations are commonly situated.
Fracking has become a significant talking point in the presidential election, mostly because of its implications for energy production and cost. Donald Trump has made lowering energy costs a major focus of his campaign as he advocates for increasing fossil fuel production, differing from Vice President Kamala Harris, who emphasizes clean energy transitions and stricter emissions regulations.
Previous comments by Harris in which she favored banning fracking have surged. However, her stance has changed, admitting in an August 2024 CNN interview that she now believes there is no need to ban fracking to grow a thriving energy economy. The possibility of a federal ban on fracking concerns many Pennsylvanians employed in the natural gas industry, as the state is one of the largest producers.
There are opposing opinions on fracking, as there are advocates for more regulation and supporters for more usage. Both carry heavy implications for consumer costs, making fracking a major election issue.
Sean Chin Loy, a senior in computer science with digital media and cybersecurity specializations, stated, “Fracking should be stopped altogether, but since that’s near impossible due to our dependence on it, the government should approach this issue by implementing laws to limit its usage and regulating how much fracking can occur per area.”
On the other hand, “fracking should not be banned, but we do need to pull back a little on fracking and start buying oil instead of taking over other people’s lands," explained Isaiah Tuck, a television and digital media senior.
"As the world lowers down on fracking, it will be better for the natural resources,” said Tuck.
Finding common ground on this issue requires the implementation of stricter regulations enforcing transparency and safety protocols. Some of the environmental problems related to fracking could be reduced by increasing the supervision of water sources. It is crucial to allow local communities to have a say in fracking operations to encourage environmental justice.
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