During tonight’s national coverage fracking was a topic brought up on multiple occasions. Can someone explain what it is and the pros and cons of it? Need it because a google search did not help :/
In: Biology
It’s a wedge issue in Pennsylvania because the state has a LOT of natural gas sources, the largest of which is called the Marcellus Shale, which is the second largest (known) deposit of natural gas on the planet and the fracking industry employs a lot of people in PA and the companies are very happy to endorse any candidate who will pledge to support them.
To add to what the other answer didn’t provide: it’s also a divisive issue because fracking and natural gas extraction is extremely inefficient and leads to release of methane into the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas 80x more potent than carbon dioxide. It also releases toxic chemicals into groundwater, which can render drinking water in the surrounding communities undrinkable (and occasionally flammable).
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