What is fracking? Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of drilling into the earth to extract oil and gas by blasting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into shale rock. It has allowed for an exponential increase in natural resource extraction over the past few years. However, there are controversies about whether this process should be used on public lands because it can contaminate groundwater supplies. The EPA released a report on impacts that shows that fracking might have negative effects on air quality. Not surprisingly then, many people are asking, “what is fracking in politics?”
The process is banned in some countries because of the dangers it poses to the environment. Others have embraced it as a way to increase energy independence.
In the U.S., it is an important issue in many states and localities because of its impact on air and water quality and energy independence. Fracking can also cause negative effects for wildlife populations that rely on clean groundwater to survive, such as birds, frogs, fish, and insects.
This has led to a lot of disagreement about whether fracking should be done in populated areas with high levels of pollution or children who drink from wells with contaminated water supplies. Because so many people are concerned about the potential impacts, “what is fracking politics?” will likely continue being relevant around the world until we find cleaner ways to produce oil and gas.
After a long debate about fracking, a controversial technique for extracting natural gas from the ground, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden finally announced that he would back it.
Advantages of Fracking
- No need for coal or oil.
- Cheap energy source.
- Reduces carbon emissions in the atmosphere over time.
- It creates jobs and increases tax revenue to help support infrastructure development (roads, schools, etc.).
Disadvantages of fracking
The chemicals used in fracking can contaminate drinking water.
There is also concern that the wells may cause earthquakes or other damage to buildings and roads, not only from the drilling but because of a massive increase in truck traffic to service thousands of new oil and gas wells across North America. These trucks travel long distances on small-town roads at dangerous speeds, raising collisions with cars and people while generating noise pollution as well as air pollution from diesel exhausts. In some areas near shale developments, there have been cases where methane has leaked out into residential communities due to faulty construction or poor maintenance of pipelines carrying natural gas back up through production plants.
Joe Biden On Fracking
In an interview with Katie Couric on Yahoo! News last week, Biden said: “I’m not going to second-guess our state department experts as to what procedure we should follow.” It means that there is no need for hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” of shale deposits to obtain natural gas and oil if his political advisors were against it. On Monday morning (19/01), after leaving office at the end of January 2017th, His successor took over this job under President Donald Trump’s administration. The new leader has repeatedly stated his support for fracking.
Fracking in Pennsylvania
Fracking in Pennsylvania is a hot topic and the cause of much debate. It is not that fracking itself is bad; it’s what we do with the gas that matters. A natural gas well produces methane, ethane, propane, butanes (up to ten), pentanes plus (about five percent), and some other hydrocarbons such as benzene or MTBE, which make up less than one percent by volume each. When these gases are separated from all those liquids, they become known as “natural gas liquid” – LNG for short.
Fracking in Pennsylvania has caused many issues and problems around certain areas, including earthquakes and water contamination.
Fracking in Texas
It is a controversial but profitable method of extracting natural gas.
Most fracking wells are located in Texas. Some environmentalists are worried about the chemicals that are put in the ground when oil is drilled. They say these chemicals could hurt people when they drink water that has them in it. It could happen because of benzene or formaldehyde. There has been no proof that fracking contaminates groundwater sources so far. However, methane levels in some people’s well water near drilling areas have been elevated by researchers.
Last Words
Fracking is a controversial but profitable method of extracting natural gas. Environmentalists say the chemicals pumped into the ground during the process could contaminate drinking water supplies with toxic substances like benzene or formaldehyde. There has been no proof that fracking contaminates groundwater sources so far. In 2012, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a bill that would require the disclosure of chemicals used for fracking. More than 16 million Americans live within one mile of an oil or gas well. Many residents in these areas say they have experienced health problems like nosebleeds, headaches, and respiratory issues since drilling began near them.
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