The Human and Environmental Cost of Fracking in the United States¶
The extraction of natural gas by oil and gas companies using the process of hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" in at least 24 states of the United States of America has been a disaster for the human race. They may have lowered natural gas prices domestically by not having to rely on imports, but have contaminated the drinking water supplies of far too many Americans. The primary reason why groundwater has been made unfit for consumption for rural Americans has been the failure to disclose conflicts of interest by members on the committees of environmental regulatory agencies.
Any God-fearing, rational, contributing member of society not driven by greed and not employed in the pursuit of surrogate activities will position themselves on the side of anti-fracking. If not for the sake of personal morals, then at the very least out of respect for our environment and the responsibility we have for preserving it. Disregarding the human cost of fracking is not only disrespectful towards rural Americans directly impacted by having carcinogens mixed in their water supplies but it is also a neglect of the issue of freshwater scarcity.
The US is heavily reliant on imports. The United States' total imports in 2024 were valued at $3.36 trillion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. After China, the US is the largest consumer of fossil fuels. China is also the largest importer of coal and crude oil and the fifth largest importer of natural gas. Countries that have large fossil fuel consumption are typically not able to sustain energy demands through domestic production alone. Using China as an example, it's not unheard of to import fossil fuel. However, bureaucrats would much rather line their pockets by pushing pro-drilling agendas, leaving the average American unable to use their water well.
This innate greed has caused irreversible damage to water wells across the country. Not to mention that the process itself requires anywhere from 1.5 million to 16 million gallons of water per well. Since 2008, the so-called “shale revolution” has helped maintain gas prices in the US—but only at the cost of lasting economic and ecological damage.