Hydraulic Fracturing
Gov. Martin O’Malley, who will make room for Gov.-elect Larry Hogan in January, said last week that he and his outgoing administration are willing to permit hydraulic fracturing in the western region of this state along the Marcellus Shale, a 380 million-year-old rock formation that spans from Ohio through New York.
According to the Geological Society of America, hydraulic fracturing — also known as “fracking” — is a method of obtaining gas and oil from deep underground rock formations by drilling past wells and water tables. After drilling a well, a mixture of water, sand and chemical additives is injected through the well under high pressure. The pressure creates small fractures in the rock, allowing oil or gas to be extracted from the rock and collected at the surface through the well.
Obviously, with such an invasive technique that concerns the earth and is close to water tables and wells, the fracking movement has gained a slew opponents. Those against fracking cite their main fear as water contamination from fracking fluid and methane that could seep out of the wells into water sources. There is the incident of tap water being set on fire in a Pennsylvania home in Josh Fox’s anti-drilling documentary, Gasland.
However, supporters of fracking say that if done correctly, fracking can lead to increased energy production in the U.S., which could wean the country off other global oil and energy providers as well as create jobs.
Even though there are divided lines of thinking toward fracking, next month O’Malley will suggest rules and regulations that would consist of the safest practices of fracking that can occur in this state.
While O’Malley’s decision to remain an active governor as he and his administration are about to leave office is commendable, it is concerning to see big changes that have the ability to affect this state greatly occurring during a gubernatorial shift.
Hogan expressed support for fracking, saying the energy harvesting opportunity would create jobs and benefit this state’s economy — the sole foundation of his winning platform. According to Stateline, a branch of Pew Charitable Trust, areas in the western region of this state are in poverty because they are disconnected from economic growth opportunities. Fracking could help this rural area and create jobs, tax revenue and economic prosperity in an otherwise desolate environment that is unable to benefit from an industrialized area.
Hogan has commented on O’Malley’s decision to green-light fracking by criticizing him on tackling controversial issues on his way out of office.
While the there is no major consensus on the pros and cons of fracking, it would be best for this state and the environment if O’Malley and his administration worked with Hogan to ensure that safe fracking occurs long after O’Malley is out of office.
Fracking is part of a divide that always appears in politics. Should a state be fiscally responsible and do everything in its power to create jobs and ensure economic prosperity? Or should a state protect the environment at all costs, potentially sacrificing the livelihood of its residents?
Whatever happens with O’Malley’s proposed fracking regulations after Hogan takes over as governor, this state should do everything possible to safeguard the health of its environment, while promoting economic growth.
