Can hydrofracking—using fluids to break open underground rock formations and recover trapped natural gas—be done safely? This is a question I am often asked by friends who read stories linking shale gas production to incidents of water pollution. While fracking is frequently blamed for contaminating groundwater, studies indicate that pollution may actually stem from more basic issues like faulty well construction and design or improper wastewater disposal.
No matter the cause of the pollution, people should not be forced to trade their children’s health or quality of life for cheap energy. Serious questions about the environmental and public-health impact of natural-gas drilling need to be addressed (see “Drilling for Shale Gas.”)
While the burden of proof is on industry and regulators to show that shale gas development can be done without polluting the water and air or damaging our climate, one needs to be clear-eyed on the issue. Like any industrial activity, natural-gas development has risks, which can be reduced in a variety of ways. But with thousands of gas producers and service companies supporting them, there is no way the good intentions of a few in industry are going to win the day without help. There is no substitute for strong regulation and vigilant enforcement.
Don’t settle for half the story.
Get paywall-free access to technology news for the here and now.