I understand that hydraulic fracturing holds possibilities for many more jobs, tax revenue, and greater energy security. In a country that has had a terrible economy for years, it is reasonable for Americans to feel that fracking would be beneficial to them. Landowners and energy companies would make money from hydraulic fracturing. It would also create jobs for welders, drillers, chemists, and mechanics. New York could potentially drill four hundred wells per county and raise incomes by over $6-8 billion.
Massive quantities of oil and clean-burning natural gas would improve our countries energy security and our ability to generate electricity, power vehicles, and heat homes for years to come. Although fracking presents us with these benefits, I believe that the negative impacts outweighs the increase of resources and revenue. In order for fracking to be successful, millions of gallons of water are needed. The need for this much water is depleting our fresh water supply. Up to six hundred different chemicals are used in fracking, most of which are very toxic, including uranium, mercury, formaldehyde and ethylene.
A lot of this now toxic water stays underground and could potentially contaminate a necessary resource, our water supply. Some of the chemicals used have been known to cause infertility, autism, ADHD, diabetes and thyroid disorders. (“Fracking Air Pollution”) It is obvious that many other health risks may arise as a result of fracking. Fracturing fluid chemicals, contaminated wastewater, and radioactive material could leak or spill from well heads, flow lines, tanks, trucks, and pits and cause contamination.
The Essay on Hydraulic Fracking 2
... water, proppants and chemicals. We will also discuss new jobs, products and entire businesses being created because of the fracking process. Hydraulic Fracturing ... which help our embattled economy. Fracking offers the U. S. an independent source of energy free from the rest of ... the world’s influence. Fracking also creates ancillary jobs for ...
For example, there has been reports of possible groundwater contamination in Colorado as a result of fracking. (J. Colson) There are records of earthquakes that have caused property damage in Ohio due to the pressure levels in the wells. (John Upton) Areas of gas production have also noticed significant increases in smog caused by chemical compounds released during hydraulic fracturing. (“Fracking Air Pollution”) There is a lack of long-term research on the effects that fracking has on people and their environment. Fracking is a big guessing game.
People that claim to know that it will present us with all of these financially beneficial promises are not even sure how it is going to play out. There is no proof that it will raise incomes significantly. As far as increasing our countries energy security, do we even know how long energy from fracking will last? The harmful effect on the environment are not worth what may be false promises. We need to take the time to really understand what fracking could do instead of rushing into it because of its initial benefits.
Yes, Americans are struggling for work, but how could we justify the jobs that fracking would create when so much potential damage could be done. We need to decide whether having an abundance of fossil fuels for the next generation is worth contaminating the environment. It may be beneficial to examine an already existing hydraulic fracking site for a few decades in order to make better decisions about whether it is a good choice of New York State. With the information we have at this time, I feel that it is clear to vote against fracking.
