1
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. J. Soeder, Fracking and the Environment,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59121-2_1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Hydraulic fracturing to recover oil and gas is contentious and controversial in the
United States and around the world. Strident disagreements, pitched arguments,
strong vitriol, and deep distrust are hallmarks of the fracking issue, muddling the
facts. Civic meetings on fracking are often far from civil, devolving into contentious
affairs with dramatic statements, raw emotions, and raised voices. It makes for wonderful television. The news media dutifully record all this drama and forward it to
the broader American public, who can only conclude that we are facing either an
environmental calamity if we allow fracking or an economic collapse if we don’t.
Both sides are wrong. Fracking is less of a risk than opponents believe, but neither is it as safe as proponents claim. Both groups need to step back and take a
deep breath.
Opposition to fossil fuels and especially fracking has become a de-facto requirement for membership in many environmental organizations these days, and arguments to the contrary are not welcome. Some environmentalists have flat-out stated
that they don’t care what the facts show, they are against fracking and will remain
opposed to it no matter what. A number of Hollywood celebrities, TV news personalities, prominent physicians, and famous attorneys have gone on the record as
being opposed to fracking. Without ever having done the math, various politicians
have promised to ban the practice, and lead the nation to a utopian future of stable
climates with abundant, inexpensive, renewable energy. Most of these people know
almost nothing technical about fracking (or renewable energy, for that matter). Just
as scientists shouldn’t act in movies, and engineers shouldn’t defend suspects in a
court of law, actors and attorneys have no business commenting on technical issues
they don’t understand. Some sensationalized warnings from celebrity activists about
supposed fracking “risks” were bogus, and only served to divert attention away
from the real risks.
An entire mythology (and industry) has been constructed around the supposed
dangers of fracking from the “Gasland” movies and related literature. Touchstones
include flaming kitchen faucets (Fig. 1.1), exploded well vaults, and jugs of
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. J. Soeder, Fracking and the Environment,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59121-2_1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Hydraulic fracturing to recover oil and gas is contentious and controversial in the
United States and around the world. Strident disagreements, pitched arguments,
strong vitriol, and deep distrust are hallmarks of the fracking issue, muddling the
facts. Civic meetings on fracking are often far from civil, devolving into contentious
affairs with dramatic statements, raw emotions, and raised voices. It makes for wonderful television. The news media dutifully record all this drama and forward it to
the broader American public, who can only conclude that we are facing either an
environmental calamity if we allow fracking or an economic collapse if we don’t.
Both sides are wrong. Fracking is less of a risk than opponents believe, but neither is it as safe as proponents claim. Both groups need to step back and take a
deep breath.
Opposition to fossil fuels and especially fracking has become a de-facto requirement for membership in many environmental organizations these days, and arguments to the contrary are not welcome. Some environmentalists have flat-out stated
that they don’t care what the facts show, they are against fracking and will remain
opposed to it no matter what. A number of Hollywood celebrities, TV news personalities, prominent physicians, and famous attorneys have gone on the record as
being opposed to fracking. Without ever having done the math, various politicians
have promised to ban the practice, and lead the nation to a utopian future of stable
climates with abundant, inexpensive, renewable energy. Most of these people know
almost nothing technical about fracking (or renewable energy, for that matter). Just
as scientists shouldn’t act in movies, and engineers shouldn’t defend suspects in a
court of law, actors and attorneys have no business commenting on technical issues
they don’t understand. Some sensationalized warnings from celebrity activists about
supposed fracking “risks” were bogus, and only served to divert attention away
from the real risks.
An entire mythology (and industry) has been constructed around the supposed
dangers of fracking from the “Gasland” movies and related literature. Touchstones
include flaming kitchen faucets (Fig. 1.1), exploded well vaults, and jugs of