When considering whether or not to lease upstate land for hydro-fracking, stakeholders need to see the benefits of the method in order to allow such use of their land. Although some individuals have environmental issues concerning the idea, the amount we can benefit from hydro-fracking is phenomenal. The industry has the potential to make the U.S. self-sufficient when it comes to energy sources.
The first case for hydro-fracking regards the constant need we have for sources of energy. The sources of natural gas accessed by hydro-fracking are a largely untapped well of such energy. As time goes on, we require more and more energy to be productive and live our lives. According to the article, sources of fuels already being used will diminish in the coming decades while the demand for these resources will increase. Experts say that renewable resources are years away from perfection so we need some sort of energy source to get us over until then. It is only logical that new sources of energy must be employed to meet this rising demand. Hydro-fracking sources are good providers of such energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) calculates that the total recoverable resources of conventional gas are about 400 trillion cubic meters. This would be equivalent of 120 years of a steady source of energy.
There are a lot of reports that state the dangers of hydro-fracking to the surrounding communities. This article puts some of these claims to rest. For example, people had fears that earthquakes caused by the process could cause massive damage. Experts say that the strongest tremors caused by hydro-fracking (the UK is being used as the example) only measured around 2.4 magnitude and did not cause any structural damage to buildings in the area. The strength of possible earthquakes all has to do with the strength of the rock below the earth’s surface. As long as fracking companies use discretion and responsible testing, large-scale earthquakes should not occur. The key to keeping hydro-fracking as safe as possible is the precautions and care by the people doing it. As stakeholders in the land to be used for hydro-fracking, precautions can be made to only employ firms with a proven track record in safety. The article also suggested that chemicals contaminating water is an issue that might be overplayed. It says that the amount of chemicals leaked is only a few liters in a million. More contaminants are introduced by other factors at the surface than by hydro-fracking down below.
Overall, this article served as a source that stated the various benefits to be had from hydro-fracking as well as putting to rest a lot of claims that hydro-fracking does more damage than good. For an pro-development upstate stakeholder, this serves as a good example of why they should go through with allowing hydro-fracking to take place on their land.
Source: “On Shaky Ground.” Geographical (Geographical Magazine Ltd.) 84.4 (2012): 32-39.
