Why Anti-Fracking Environmentalists Are Holding Back the U.S.

Reason ^ | March 13, 2013 | John Stossel

[neverdem]

The real story on fracking, say scientists, is that the risks are small and the rewards immense.

Celebrities are now upset about fracking, the injection of chemicals into the ground to crack rocks to release oil and gas. With everyone saying they want alternatives to foreign oil, I'd think celebrities would love fracking.

I'd be wrong. Lady Gaga, Yoko Ono and their group, Artists Against Fracking, don't feel the love. Yoko sang, "Don't frack me!" on TV.

Stopping fracking is the latest cause of the silly people. They succeeded in getting scientifically ignorant politicians to ban fracking in New York, Maryland and Vermont.

Hollywood gave an Oscar to "Gasland," a documentary that suggests fracking will shove gas into some people's drinking water, so the water will burn. It's true that some water contains so much natural gas that you can light it.

But another documentary, "FrackNation," shows that gas got into plumbing long before fracking came. There's gas in the earth. That's why it's called "natural gas." Some gets into well water. Environmental officials investigated the flames shown in "Gasland" and concluded that the pollution had nothing to do with fracking.

"FrackNation" director Phelim McAleer tried to confront "Gasland" director Josh Fox about this, but Fox wouldn't answer his questions. Instead, he demanded to know whom McAleer works for. He also turned down my invitations to publicly debate fracking. Many activists don't like to answer questions that don't fit their narrative.

Even some homeowners who filed a lawsuit claiming that their water was poisoned by fracking weren't happy to learn that their water is safe. I'd think they would be delighted, but "FrackNation" shows a couple reacting with outrage when environmental officials test their water and find it clean.

The real story on fracking, say scientists, is that the risks are small and the rewards immense. Fracking lowered the price of natural gas so much that Americans heat our homes for less, and manufacturing that once left America has returned. For those concerned about global warming, burning gas instead of oil or coal reduces CO2 emissions.

"Skeptical Environmentalist" author Bjorn Lomborg points out that "green" Europe promised to reduce emissions, but "only managed to cut half of what you guys accidentally happened to do when you stumbled on fracking."

Still, the process sounds dangerous. It requires chemicals and explosions. So fracking is now scapegoated for the usual litany of things that peasants feared when threatened with curses centuries ago: livestock dying, bad crop yields, children born with deformities.

None of it is backed by scientific evidence. Even environmentalists who usually are too cautious (by my standards) see little danger. President Obama's first EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, told Congress that the EPA cannot show "that the fracking process has caused chemicals to enter groundwater."

One of the more outlandish fears is that fracking will cause earthquakes. Silly people at MSNBC say fracking creates "a skyrocketing number of earthquakes." Yes, cracking rocks does cause vibrations. But then, so does construction with dynamite or jackhammers -- not to mention trucks on the highway.

Time and again, as humans make a good-faith effort to find new, cleaner ways to produce the energy a growing population needs, environmentalists find a reason -- often very small or non-existent -- that makes the new method unacceptable.

They say coal is dirty and normal oil production might overheat the planet. Hydroelectric dams kill fish. Nuclear plants could suffer meltdowns. Windmills kill birds.

Some won't be happy unless we go back to what we did before industrialization: burn lots of trees and die young.

Nothing is completely risk-free. Companies make mistakes. Chemical spills happen.

But those risks are manageable. They are also far preferable to the risk of paying more for energy -- thereby killing opportunities for the poor.

So far, most regulators outside New York, Maryland and Vermont have ignored the silly people. So thanks to fracking, Americans pay less for heat (and everything else), the economy is helped, new jobs get created, we create less greenhouse gas, and for the first time since the 19th century, America may become a net exporter of energy.

Good things happen if the silly people can't convince all politicians to ban progress.

[neverdem]

Chemicals? Since when is water a chemical? That’s what they pump into the ground during a fracking operation. The water contains a small percentage of methanol and sand.

Water is one of the best chemical solvents on God's green earth. But I digress.

Most of the fracking fluids being used have proprietary chemical compositions. Some have included benzene, a carcinogen. Various levels of gubmint are trying to demand disclosure of fracking fluid ingredients.

Corrections are always appreciated.

[wastedyears]

I would not frack mother earth Ono with someone else’s drill rig.

LOL!

[factoryrat]

It’s all about control, and those who employ and exploit useful idiots to gain and maintain control.

[hosepipe]

I have ceased debating with liberals about anything. They’re not liberals they are Progressives and Progressives are communists and communists should be taking dirt naps.

---

Exactely.......

[hosepipe]

I have ceased debating with liberals about anything. They’re not liberals they are Progressives and Progressives are communists and communists should be taking dirt naps.

---

Exactely.......

[huldah1776]

Debating a progressive (post-modernist) is impossible because there is no truth.

[TangoLimaSierra]

He thought that the fracking was forcing the sand and water deposits in between opposing faults, making it easier for the faults to slip against each other, thereby causing the tremors.

Which would be a good thing. Rather than letting the forces build up to a major quake. They should be thanking the frackers.

[thackney]

If anything, Fracking will constrict supply and raise prices

How do you figure a process that produces MORE natural gas or oil per well than when not used, constricts supply?

[MrB]

Don’t you realize how DANGEROUS Dihydrogen Monoxide is?
http://www.dhmo.org/

[MrB]

Arguing with a liberal is like playing chess with a pigeon.
No matter how well you play chess,
the pigeon just knocks over the pieces,
craps on the board,
utters unintelligible, vaguely obscene sounds,
and struts around like he won.

[thackney]

Most of the fracking fluids being used have proprietary chemical compositions.

It has become common for companies to publicly list their chemicals. Exact ratios are left proprietary. But the chemicals themselves are available online:

Searchable database, still growing
http://fracfocus.org/

Some companies list their chemicals directly online, sorted by area.
Halliburton Fracturing Fluid Disclosure
http://www.halliburton.com/public/projects/pubsdata/hydraulic_fracturing/fluids_disclosure.html

Some have included benzene

Would you please point to claim of benzene being used?

Some companies like Haliburton make Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids from ingredients sourced entirely from the food industry.

CleanStim Formulation
http://www.halliburton.com/public/projects/pubsdata/hydraulic_fracturing/CleanSuite_Technologies.html

Various levels of gubmint are trying to demand disclosure of fracking fluid ingredients.

It is already state law in Texas to disclose. It hasn't slowed us down. Others have followed.

Why the Texas Disclosure Law Really Does Work - Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidblackmon/2013/02/04/why-the-texas-disclosure-law-really-does-work/

It was always required to have on site the Material Safety Data Sheets on site for all chemicals used, so it was available before, but not convenient to find.

[marktwain]

Thank you for your cogent reply.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

They're not liberals they are Progressives and Progressives are communists and communists should be taking dirt naps.

The Constitution is a progressive document. It explicitly envisions “the progress of science and the useful arts.”

[neverdem]

benzene fracking hydraulic fracturing

It was always required to have on site the Material Safety Data Sheets on site for all chemicals used, so it was available before, but not convenient to find.

Thanks for the info and reminder.

[dfwgator]

Chemicals? Since when is water a chemical?

Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division

[thackney]

That is just claims by non-participants in hydraulic fracturing that they might be using benzene. Showing results in a google search is hardly a reliable source of data.

example search Bigfoot came from a UFO

They are not using benzene in hydraulic fracturing. It doesn't serve a purpose in hydraulic fracturing.

A typical fracture treatment will use very low concentrations of between 3 and 12 additive chemicals, depending on the characteristics of the water and the shale formation being fractured. Each component serves a specific, engineered purpose.

For example, the predominant fluids currently being used for fracture treatments in the gas shale plays are water‐based fracturing fluids mixed with friction‐reducing additives (called slickwater). The addition of friction reducers allows fracturing fluids and sand, or other solid materials called proppants, to be pumped to the target zone at a higher rate and reduced pressure than if water alone were used.

In addition to friction reducers, other additives include: biocides to prevent microorganism growth and to reduce biofouling of the fractures; oxygen scavengers and other stabilizers to prevent corrosion of metal pipes; and acids that are used to remove drilling mud damage within the near‐wellbore area.

[neverdem]

They will seize on the probability of benzene in petroleum distillates even if the concentration is less than one part per billion. We’re talking about moonbats.

[thackney]

I still have to laugh at the drink-ability of hydraulic fracturing fluid injected into a petroleum reservoir. I guarantee you wouldn’t like what is already in the ground at this level. Octane/butane mixers anyone?

[TigersEye]

Are you trying to be funny or are you deliberately trying to confuse the language of the Constitution with the communist-born Progressive Movement?