It is very common to hear in media reports and through activist groups about how dangerous and bad fracking is in California. However, the reality of it is that this process may not be anywhere near as horrible as everyone has been led to believe. Fracking is the name used for hydraulic fracturing, the process of injecting high-pressure liquid into the ground in order to remove fossil fuels. According to Forbes, research and studies have shown over and over that the suggested risks of fracking are non-existent.
Common claims by those who oppose fracking include it contaminates the air and water and disturbs people with noise. However, these claims are not backed up by any concrete proof and have been shown to be false by the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the industry is highly regulated at the federal, state and local levels, so there are many watchdogs making sure practices are as safe as possible. Regardless of what the evidence has shown, though, local governments and even state governments have banned fracking.
The banning of this practice is detrimental. While the negative aspects have not been proven, the benefits of the process have been. It can help to boost the economy through providing jobs and contributed to affordable energy costs.
Furthermore, as noted by the Santa Cruz Sentinel, natural gas, the energy source obtained through fracking, is the most environmentally-friendly, non-renewable fuel source. Its CO2 emissions are almost half that of coal. This has led to a push for people to choose natural gas over other energy sources, which, in turn, has helped to increase the use and lower the use of other fossil fuels. The result has been a great reduction in carbon emissions. However, if fracking is banned everywhere, the chances are pretty good that natural gas usage will decline and these environmental benefits will be lost.