Much Ado about Fracking

Once again, there is debate over a revolutionary change facing the United States, and once again, cooperation is the best way to reach a compromise-however challenging that may be.

The debate this time is about hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, a process of fracturing rock deep below the earth’s surface with pressurized liquid to extract natural gas and oil. Many supporters of fracking believe its expansion in the U.S. will boost the economy, add domestic jobs and lessen our dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Opponents, meanwhile, find that fracking will destroy our environment, decimate our fresh water and only create tension in the Middle East.

So who is right? As with most debates, both sides have valid arguments. But with cooperation, there is a way to produce incredible amounts of natural gas and domestic oil while not ignoring the environmental aspect.

The U.S. runs on energy. While this statement is not revolutionary, it is important to remember in the fracking debate. Before opponents eliminate fracking completely because it has potential negative effects, we need to remember that, as of today, natural gas is still a vital part of our infrastructure. As such, until there is a 100 percent efficient, sustainable energy source, the U.S. still depends on drilling and extracting gas.