Pros
There are many pros to hydraulic fracturing, most relating to the economy. Already more than 2,000 jobs have been created, in construction, along with oil and gas field service workers, truck drivers, engineers, architects, and environmental technicians. Also, hundreds of farmers have become overnight millionaires, by selling their land for about $5,000 per acre! And most important, in 2014, fracking is projected to bring to Ohio: 65,680 jobs, 3.3 billion in wages, 6.4 billion in spending, and 434 million in state and local taxes.
Cons
There are also many downsides to fracking, relating to the environment. For example, fracking increases truck traffic, damage to roads, dust, and noise. Also, air quality may be affected from diesel engines and gas flaring once the well is drilled. Another con is that water is needed quickly and rapidly, potentially causing a drawdown in rivers, lakes, and streams. Fracking demands about 5 million to 7 million gallons for EACH well. Geologists also believe earthquakes can be related to injecting wastewater from fracking back underground to be stored. Small towns also say that there have been more crimes in the area due to all of the people moving to their area for jobs and drilling. Although fracking can cause much damage, some companies are willing to pay to repair the damage they have caused that is fixable.
My Opinion
In my opinion, fracking is very dangerous to the environment, and should not be done to this extent. If there were to be fracking wells in my area, I would be very worried about the damage it could cause. Although there are many economical benefits to fracking, the cons are much more serious, and can be permanent. The downsides can also affect an entire town. I think we can find better ways to find the resources we need, instead of harming our planet and the people who live on it.