5.

Why fracking cannot solve Europe’s energy crisis. (n.d.). The Economist. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/10/04/why-fracking-cannot-solve-europes-energy-crisis

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With Europe in an energy crisis and decreased imports from Russia, England is left in a bad position where it is using more gas than it is producing.  Because of this the prime minister Liz Truss turns to fracking to pick up the lack.  But even though it looks like it works well in America, the result in Europe would be much more lackluster as a result of higher population density, less shale reserves, as well as a probable low approval rate from nearby residents.

This relates to environmental science as It shows how other countries with different geographical strengths might not have the same benefits from practices like fracking which would ultimately result in a poor tradeoff for europe.  I wonder how these countries will respond to these environmental concerns as well as the potential pushback from local communities.

Feds back-pedal on California fracking leases. (n.d.). Www.courthouse news.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023, from https://www.courthousenews.com/feds-back-pedal-on-california-fracking-leases/

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Further attempts to exploit land in California for oil and gas sparks a lawsuit that was started by conservationists to fight the Bureau of Land Management.  The conservationists argue that the Bureau was overlooking complaints and disregarding the effect it has on local communities.  This article says that areas nearby experience 80% more low birth weight.  In the end the conservationists won and no more drilling can be on those lands.

This article shows again how conservationists in California are taking action to keep the local communities safe and healthy as well as the land. This gives me hope for California and maybe other states can follow our example. 

‘3.

Mindock, C. (2023, January 26). Oil companies ask SCOTUS to review court’s injunction on California offshore fracking. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/oil-companies-ask-scotus-review-courts-injunction-california-offshore-fracking-2023-01-26/

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Oil companies such as ExxonMobil, The American Petroleum institute and refinery in california ask the supreme court to review a decision that effectively banned offshore fracking in california.  These companies were shot down due to the damage fracking can cause to sea life as 10 different chemicals that are waste from fracking can kill marine animals.

This article shows how oil companies are trying to push back the progress made towards clean energy in california.  My response to this article was that I am glad to live in a place where lawmakers are swift in their denial of something that would harm the environment.  Kristen Monsell said, ”Fracking is dangerous to whales, sea otters, and other marine wildlife, and this dirty, harmful technique has no place in our ocean.”

Georgiou, A. (2022, June 3). How does fracking affect the environment? Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/how-does-fracking-affect-environment-1712093

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There are many issues with fracking from its efficiency to its environmental and human impacts.  Fracking from an economical standpoint makes little sense as it takes more energy to get the same amount of gas as a conventional extraction method.  Not only is it inefficient but it also pollutes the atmosphere with methane and nitrous oxide which add to global warming.  It also pollutes the water with the chemicals used such as benzene, xylene, toluene, and ethylbenzene.  Many fracking operations are nearby to a town or city and the pollutants can cause many health issues for the residents.  Some health issues associated with fracking are headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness,  stomach and intestinal irritations, liver damage, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, watery eyes, bloody noses, rashes, coughs, chest pain, asthma, and numerous forms of cancer.

This article shows some of the human impacts and how specifically fracking can hurt local communities and ecosystems, as well as how it is not doing enough good to make it worth it.  My reaction to this article was that I couldn’t believe that corporations would effectively debilitate to some extent a town for their whole lives.  Just to produce an ok amount of gas while using much more energy.

Herrick, A. (2023, January 27). Politics, Fracking, and the Future of Energy Policy. SMERCONISH. https://www.smerconish.com/exclusive-content/politics-fracking-and-the-future-of-energy-policy/

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Gas prices have increased dramatically all over the world and the public has more than noticed.   This makes increasing fracking and other methods of extracting natural gas and crude oil very appealing as it would likely reduce prices.  However despite fracking becoming a bigger and bigger part of the global Natural gas and crude oil production, there are concerns over the environmental and health impact it creates.  One example of this was in Dimock whose residents have not had clean drinking water for  a decade as a result of fracking polluting their water pipe lines.

This article shows a connection between the economic wants of the public as well as the environmental impact that it has on nearby communities.  It is astonishing that there are towns that haven’t had clean water for decades and yet the headlines only ever read that Gas prices are high.   This also shows the true interests of those in power who would rather have cheap gas than have healthy citizens.