Setback Limits Of Fracking

Should The Setback Limits For Fracking Be increased?

One of the latest debated topics, not only in Colorado but all around the nation, is hydraulic fracturing. According to Earth Justice, Colorado sits on a rich source of natural gas called Niobrara Shale. They also say that from the years 2000 to 2010, the number of active oil wells rose from 22,228 to 43,354.
The Brookings Institution has recorded that natural gas prices has dropped 47 percent since 2013 due to fracking. They go on to say that gas bills have dropped an average of $200 each year for gas-consuming households. This adds up to $13 billion per year. 
According to the Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development (CRED), the natural gas unlocked by fracking has allowed small businesses to cut their energy costs, which allows them to hire more employees. Colorado’s small businesses make up more than 99% of Colorado’s employers. In another article, the CRED go on to say that “Colorado is one of the largest natural gas producers in the U.S. and a global leader in energy production.”
According to the Denver Post, the deadly Firestone house explosion was caused by “an odorless gas leak from a cut gas flow pipeline.” After the investigation was completed, Governor John Hickenlooper ordered all oil and gas companies to inspect their unused flow lines within 1,000 feet of all occupied buildings including homes. In another post, the Denver Post states that Anadarko Petroleum, the company faulted for the deadly explosion, has finished all inspections and returned half of their vertical oil wells back to service a year after the explosion.
There are a lot of pros and cons from fracking. There are definitely a lot of opinions and people who want to share them. Fracking seems like a hot button topic that deserves a fair and informative debate. After my research, I started wondering what other benefits and downfalls there are from fracking and look forward to getting all the facts before forming a position on this topic.

Sources:
https://www.cred.org/fracking-powers-colorado/
https://www.cred.org/fracking-benefits-colorados-small-businesses/
https://earthjustice.org/features/colorado-and-fracking
https://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/02/firestone-explosion-cause-cut-gas-line/

Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 7, 2018 at 10:11 AM

    Hello there seems we both have chosen the same topic I have learned a lot researching oil and gas and it has raised many questions of my own to me being my biggest worry is about health and how it can effect people in close range to the oil sites.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJuly 7, 2018 at 3:21 PM

    You've brought up a LOT of issues related to fracking, but which narrow sub-issue will you focus on for your research in this class?

    The Firestone explosion, though, brings up the debate about setback limits and whether oil and gas drilling should be allowed so close to residential areas and schools, and that seems to be your title of the blog, so perhaps your main goal is to research that specific debates?

    Also, what questions do you sources raise for you?

    ReplyDelete

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