In today’s debate offshore oil drilling and fracking are a huge controversial issue, whether it is worth the risks and damages it is causing our planet. When off shore oil drilling takes place it is the process of drilling for oil out in the middle of the ocean, and collecting the oil in oil rigs. The fracking process that oil and gas companies use to extract natural gas and oil by using large quantities of water mixed with toxic chemicals, and injected underground to crack dense rock and release the oil and gas (“Fracking is Harmful”). Off Shore oil drilling and fracking are keeping the economy thriving however, it is destroying our ecosystem, physical wellbeing, and nature, therefore, drilling and fracking should be banned and be forced to …show more content…
Skye mentions, “Every year, power plants in the US alone put more than 2.5 million tons of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Fossil fuels are also responsible for a significant amount of land, water, and air pollution beyond their CO2 production” (Skye 1). The United States moving towards using renewable energy resources we can reduce pollution, decrease global warming emissions, create new job opportunities, and make strides to clean up our planet. The government has already started putting programs in place to help the United States move towards using renewable energy resources. In the article, “Status of Renewable Energy Systems in the United States,” describes one of the programs put into place such as, “A renewable portfolio standard (RPS) is a policy that requires electricity retailers to provide a minimum percentage or quantity of their electricity supplies from renewable energy sources and provides U.S. states with a mechanism to increase renewable energy generation” (Peterson 3). With the help of the RPS policy more states are moving towards renewable energy. Twenty-nine states are using the RPS policy and seven states are making non-mandatory renewable energy goals. Another way the government is offering incentives to help generate interest in renewable resources …show more content…
So at $50 per barrel the benefits of producing 10 billion barrels of offshore oil would be $323 billion greater than its costs” (Bailey 1). These numbers say it all, they directly suggest that the costs of oil drilling and fracking and the amount of revenue it is bringing our economy it outweighs any risks and
In today's global economy, energy is one of the most crucial and sought after commodities. Who supplies it and how much they supply determines how much influence they have over other countries as well as the global economy. This is why hydraulic fracturing is currently such an important and controversial topic in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as "fracking" or hydrofracturing, is the process of using pressurized liquids to fracture rocks and release hydrocarbons such as shale gas, which burns more efficiently than coal. This booming process of energy production provides a much needed economic boost, creating jobs and providing gas energy for Americans. The efficiently burning shale gas reduces carbon emission from electricity production plants, reducing carbon footprints on the environment. However, the process of hydraulic fracturing uses millions of gallons of pressurized liquid, which contains toxic chemicals, and some of this water is left over undealt with. The air near fracking sites is often also polluted and unsafe for nearby community residents. Injecting millions of gallons of water laced with toxic chemicals into the rock thousands of feet deep can cause earthquakes, causing a safety hazards for all nearby areas. Hydraulic Fracturing makes rare natural gases easily attainable, boosting the economy and reducing carbon emissions. However, the negative side effects such as contaminated water and air, make hydraulic fracturing a process that may not be worth the benefits.
Fracking can cause harm to people, animals, and nature. When they drill into the ground they are pumping chemicals to extract the gas and oil, and this contaminates the water sources around it. “An editorial on gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale in the Post-Star, a newspaper in Glens Falls, New York, contends, “New York state simply can’t take the risk. There are plenty of places to find fuel. It’s not so easy to find a new water supply for 17 million people.”” (Hydrofracking
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is a widespread practice in the United States. Fracking is a method used to extract oil and natural gas. Scientists and citizens report detrimental side effects of hydraulic drilling. New York and Vermont have banned fracking statewide. Maryland has set a two year moratorium on fracking, so that more research can be done to show the impacts of fracking on the environment. Nationwide, many other cities and counties have banned fracking as well. All states should look into finding alternative sources of energy, instead of using devastating practices like fracking to extract non-renewable resources.
increasing the supply of renewable energy would allow us to replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce U.S. global warming emissions… a 25 percent by 2025 national renewable electricity standard would lower power plant CO2 emissions 277 million metric tons annually by 2025—the equivalent of the annual output from 70 typical (600 MW) new coal plants (“Benefits of Renewable Energy
Before one can see the devastating effects of fracking, one must first understand how fracking works. As previously stated, the main intent of hydro-fracking is to access and harvest natural gas that lies below the surface of the Earth. Having formed over 400 million years ago by the collision of tectonic plates (Marsa 3), the Marcellus Shale plays host to a gold mine of natural gas, which is currently at the center of the fracking debate in the Northeastern region of the United States. Unfortunately, access...
Fracking should not be allowed anywhere in the United States. It causes damage to our environment and that should not be destroyed just because of profit. We should not take our environment for granted because we need to save it for our future generations that will live on earth. We should take steps to make sure we keep the earth suitable for living things to have life.
If Somebody asks should fracking be banned I say yes, It’s because fracking is dangerous and toxic to the wildlife of the national forests and the national parks. For example the national forests and national parks are going to be destroyed by fracking to conclude wellpads, waste pit, compressors, pipelines, noisy machinery, and thousands of truck trips to every location in America from fracking progress.
When thinking about unbelievable science experiments, experiments such as a flashlight that runs body heat comes to mind. How about a science experiment that makes it so people are able to set fire to water? People in parts of the United States, are able conduct this experiment at any given moment. How is this possible? Simple, local fracking. Fracking is technique being used in the industry to be able to release and harvest natural gas with the Earth. As global climate change continues to be a head line in the news, fossil fuels, such as natural gas which comes from fracking, will also continue to be a point of controversy. Though fracking does have this negative connotation around it due to things like the fire water, the effects of fracking cannot all be negative. And as part of this continuous exposure in the news, my friends and I presented on the rhetoric surrounding global climate change, which went pretty well. Though this presentation probably went well since we used the help of Jon Oliver to help explain it, but none the less global climate change has become a point of interest due to it. Along with this, seeing a YouTube clip a few years back about being able to set fire to water was something
Every day the world we live in dies a little more. By this I mean the physical world is gradually being damaged by the way we treat it. We need to start looking at the kind of environment we are creating and decide if it is a place that we want our children and the future generations to have to suffer though. If your answer to the previous scenario is no then you should really consider what we can do to make the future a better place. One of the best ways that I can think of is by focusing on the advancements of green energy resources. By doing this we will not only reduce pollution produced by burring fossil fuels but mainly we will be able to reduce the amount of pollution produced from the gathering of them though means like fracking.
Hydraulic Fracking, the method of getting natural gas from the ground, has caused a number of negative affects on not only people but the earth. Numerous amounts of health problems are being noticed, air pollution is rising and the waste being dumped has caused issues for people in the area. Many people don’t quite understand what Hydraulic Fracking is doing to us and it is an issue that needs to be recognized..
Hydraulic Fracking is a process to extract fluids that are trapped beneath the Earth’s surface. While this technique has allowed for an efficient and cost-effective way to tap into natural gas reserves, there are considerable environmental and health risks that have arisen. Over 596 chemicals are involved in the fracking process itself and many of these have been suspected of posing a significant risk to human physiology. There have also been several reports of physical disorders occurring in animals and people living around fracking well sites. Water from nearby areas has shown to display anti-estrogenic and androgenic properties that can impact endocrine function. Direct exposure of some of these fracking liquids to workers caused gastrointestinal, dermatological and neurological problems. Moreover, there are a host of environmental issues such as noise and air pollution and an increase in seismic activities. Certain countries have gone as far as to temporarily ban or suspend the use of this method. In my investigation, I will attempt to analyse the exact risks that are posed by fracking and what aspect of the technique contributes most to these problems. One of the goals of my research is to expand on the current knowledge on the toxicity of the chemicals and provide suggestions to the regulatory practices governing the operation. Through enhanced monitoring practices and proper disclosure of all the chemicals involved in fracking, there is potential for improving the safety of the process.
With new diesel technology in today’s world, I think people should consider trying or using new diesel cars and trucks as well as the use of clean diesel.
Fracking is a highly controversial practice that utilizes the injection of water, chemicals and abrasives to extract relatively inaccessible pockets of natural resources. Although fracking has the potential to benefit the economy, it may also pose a significant impact on the environment, the ecosystem and safety.
Fracking is a pressurized, chemically treated mixture of water and sand to release and extract natural gas and petroleum from shale rock. There are many articles, studies being done, and organizations fighting for what they think is right. Environmentalist want the technique of fracking banned because it plays a part in global warming, affects our water, and causes human health problems. If fracking cannot be banned because of its necessity then it should be made safe and eco-friendly. The process involves a well being drilled vertically to the desired depth, then turns ninety degrees and continues horizontally for thousands of feet into the shale believed to contain the trapped natural gas. A mix of water, sand, and various chemicals is pumped into the well at high pressure in order to create fissures in the shale through which the gas can escape. Natural gas escapes through the fissures and is drawn back up the well to the surface, where it is processed, refined, and shipped to market. Flowback returns to the surface after the
Our planet is suffering from severe pollution, which ranges from contaminated air, water and soil as well. Humans are doing nothing to reduce the amount of pollution that is harming our earth. To understand how pollution works first you must understand that there are different types of pollution. The most common types of pollution and the ones that I will be focusing on which are the ones doing the most harm to our planet are air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination and littering. In order to help out and reduce pollution in our planet people need to be more aware of what these problems are and about the severe damages that they are causing our planet. Before industrialization really jumped into place and had an effect on large cities, nature had its own way of cleaning up its own air and itself. Wind scattered gases, rain washed many substances and the rest dissolved into the ground; while plants absorbed carbon dioxide and made it into oxygen. With big cities growing more every time and with more towns that were becoming more industrialized a lot of more waste began to be released into the environment and the atmosphere and soon this was more than enough for nature to handle. In order to stop and reduce pollution people need to understand the damage that it is causing our environment and our planet as well. People need to be more aware of how they can help out and do their part in reducing these problems that are causing our planet to die slowly with people not even noticing it.