Fracking An Alternative Solution - 841 Words

Hydraulic fracturing, or â€Å"fracking†, has been around since the 1940’s. This is the act of injecting fluid into rocks or rock formations underground that will ultimately release natural gasses and oils. In the U.S. there are over 500,000 natural gas wells. On top of the already existing wells, many states across the country are rescinding their ban on fracking. This is one of the more debated topics when it comes to alternative energy. There is a big split on this issue and it is understandable. There are many pros but there are also many cons to come along with it. There will come a day where the oil and gas in the world will become a scarce resource. In the scenario where this does happen, fracking will be an alternative solution to†¦show more content†¦On top of the cleaner air and fuel, the oil and gas industry in America employ 9.8million people or 5.6% of the countries’ employment (study from 2012). These jobs generated almost $600 billion in direct income which, in essence, is circulated back into the economy. Recently, fracking has hovered around 50% of the oil and natural gas output in the industry. As the field grows, the production number will also. Now, on the other hand, there are many negatives to come along with the positives. The amount of water that is used for each fracking job is astounding. For every fracking job, 1-8 million gallons of water will be used. In times where water is a scarcity for many states, this may be looked down upon. In 2014, one study shows that over 35 million gallons of water were taken from aquifers in Michigan for a local fracking job. This water was used on only one job, as you might have guessed, people were justifiably outraged. Along with drying up rivers and other bodies of water, hydraulic fracturing is also linked with contaminating the nearby water sources. The possibility of fracking polluting the local water has, along with many other activities, prompted the creation of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. Under this act, the EPA sets certain standards for the quality of the drinking water. In many cases, these fracking companies are exempt from the act. This enables the companies to change the chemicals they pump into the ground without any reporting or