Pros and Cons of Fracking

If you are in the US, there is one hot topic that is being debated at all levels from social media to mainstream media as well as by policy makers in Congress. There are several pros and cons of fracking and depending upon where you stand in the economy or who you are, you take your stand on whether it should continue or it should stop.

This article will talk first about various positive aspects of fracking and elaborate some points. For instance, it is essential to talk about the much more available natural gas in places that employ fracking, most notably the United States. If this enormous source of energy is not used now then when it should be used is a moot question.

If the US starts using fracking, it can produce a huge supply of natural gas which helps in lowering the prices. The US which depends a lot on the import of natural gas would no longer be dependent. The first transformation would be in the geopolitics of the US as it will be much more peaceful world. The US often focuses on its energy requirements and if it is met domestically, it won’t do it anymore.

Important for Energy Security of the US

It will also be good for local businesses as a lot of them are importing natural gas; however, if fracking increases production, it will reduce dependency and make the US energy independent and give a lot of energy security. In fact, when natural gas is being substituted for coal, which is a net win on all sorts of pollutants, including carbon dioxide, it can definitely be the right choice.

When we are discussing pros and cons of fracking, it is important to discuss that there is a lot of pollution due to coal based energy generation. Think of nasty stuff from coal burning -- sulfur dioxides, mercury, radioactive emissions, etc. There is no such thing when natural gas is used for the purpose and the use of coal is eliminated thereafter.

It is also important to write about some negative aspects when discussing the pros and cons of fracking. For instance, it is important to note that fracking has negative impacts on various regions of the US and several studies have come up showing their concern. Also, as companies blast and strip-mine fields and ridges, a lot of farmland is being lost to them.