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John Pendleton

McLaughlin

English

11 March 2019

The Benefits Of Fracking

Fracking is a very controversial environmental issue today. Many times people only hear

about the negative impact of fracking. However, many people only hear about how fracking can

pollute waterways, destroy land, and invate private property. However, there are many benefits

of fracking that are commonly overlooked. Fracking is an excellent technique to gain

accessibility to natural gas and oil due to its low costs and advanced techniques, creating a more

energy independent society. fracking creates a ton of jobs, improves the environment and the

ecosystem, and makes the USA a more energy independent country.

What is fracking? Fracking or hydraulic fracking is technology used after the drilling of a

new fossil fuel well that significantly improves it’s productivity (Freeman). In other words, is the

process of injecting high pressure liquid into the earth that causes rocks to crack and split so the

oil or natural gas can be pulled out. The first ever hydraulic fracking took place in Duncan,

Oklahoma, in 1942. Fracking can supply the united states with its own source of fossil fuels.

There are, reasons why fracking is necessary, first, it is Cleaner for the environment and ozone.

By burning natural gas instead of coal, it can decrease the erosion of the ozone, making sure the

harmful rays of sun do peek through and harm humans. In some cases, burning coal can

negatively change the climate, causing smog and pollution rain. The chemicals in coal smoke

gather and mix with water to make smog, polluted fog. Pollution rain is the same thing as smog
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except it rains the polluted chemicals in the air instead of laying in low elevated areas (Barth). Is

cheaper to heat a whole house with natural gas rather than coal. Natural gas has no mess. Coal

must be shoveled in to a furnace additionally, fracking creates energy efficiency. “By fracking

and hydraulic fracking for natural gas and oil it will make our country more energy

independent,” (Winbey 18) the U.S. would have to import pay other countries for oil or gas or

the costs of transporting it back to the United States. If the U.S. becomes independent, it would

not be affected when prices are raised for oil or gas. Finally, fracking ensures there will always

be a constant supply of materials. The U.S. wouldn’t have to import oil. Lastly, fracking is very

good for the economy. “Fracking has already created 1.7 million jobs, that’s how many people

live in Arizona” (Barth). Fracking is predicted to make a jump from 1.7 to 3.5 million jobs by

2035. There can be over 1,000 people working on one rig alone at anytime. Clearly, people are

needed to fill these positions. (Barth)

There is a lot of controversy over whether fracking is good or bad for the environment.

The solution is pushed into the earth to crack the rocks up can leak into underground wells or

springs. Many people have experienced natural gas leaking into their water supply (Barth). After

the drilling of a hydraulic fracking well all the sediment, leftover solutions, and chemicals rise to

the top of the well and can evaporate into the air; humans could breathe it in. The leftover waist

can also leak into streams or waterways and harm whatever lives there or in it. Fracking and

hydraulic fracking takes a lot of space; sometimes the drilling companies go over their

boundaries and right into someone's private property.

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Fracking and hydraulic fracking have many benefits and should be used more often to

create energy independence. Fracking is misunderstood; it is time to change opinions and create

a more self sufficient country.

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​Works Cited

Barth, Amy. “The fight over fracking.” ​New York Times Upfront​, 20 Feb. 2017, p. 10+.

Opposing

Viewpoints in Context​, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A483930925/OVIC?u

=pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=bf2c74ff. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019.

Barth, Amy. “The fracking fight.” ​Junior Scholastic/Current Events​, 20 Feb. 2017, p. 12+.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,​ https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A484156755/OVIC?u

=pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=f9a3ca35. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019.

Usborne, David. “Fracking Is Turning the US into a Bigger Oil Producer than Saudi Arabia.”

Foreign Oil Dependence​, edited by Noah Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2016. At Issue.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,​

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010319250/OVIC?u=

pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=f4eb6b80. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019. Originally published in

Independent​, 11 Mar. 2014.

Freeman, Bill. “Fracking Is Not Harmful to the Environment.” ​The Environment​, edited by Lynn

M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints. ​Opposing Viewpoints in Context,​

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010132406/OVIC?

u=pl2127&sid=OVIC&xid=617212b5. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019. Originally published as

“Does Fracking Harm the Environment?”, 12 Feb. 2013.

Winbey, John. “Overview: the costs and benefits of fracking.” Fracking, edited by Anne

Cunningham, Greenhaven publishing, 2018, pp 18

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