Clinton and Sanders both oppose fracking
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Citing a lack of regulations for fracking in some areas, Democratic Party presidential candidate nomination Hillary Clinton says she opposes fracking. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the other Democratic presidential candidate, also opposes the practice.
At a debate held in Flint, Michigan, March 6, Clinton and Sanders addressed their views on fracking, UPI reports. Flint has experienced lead-contaminated water since the city’s water supply was switched from the Great Lakes to the Flint River in 2014. Corrosive pipes leached lead into the water supply.
Vermont was the first state to ban fracking, and New York banned fracking in 2014.
Read more: UPI > Clinton, Sanders both say they’re wary of fracking
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.