We must tell the truth about fracking

With Trump winning the election, many things about U.S. energy policy will change, and most likely fracking rates will increase. Fracking is a process that involves injecting high-pressure fluid, usually a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals, deep underground to release oil or gas.

While this process fuels economic growth, it also creates many environmental risks. Some risks include air and water pollution, seismic activity, and the contamination of the local ecosystem. These dangers don’t affect all communities equally. Fracking disproportionately harms marginalized communities. From Indigenous peoples to low-income neighborhoods, the social and environmental costs of fracking fall heaviest on those who are already vulnerable. 

Connecticut’s energy policy has been focused on reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy. However, natural gas still plays a significant role in the state’s energy mix, providing a large portion of electricity generation. Even though fracking is illegal in Connecticut, Connecticut still benefits from fracking done in other states. Connecticut imports natural gas through pipelines from regions like the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. As a result, natural gas used in Connecticut homes, businesses, and power plants is often sourced from fracked wells in those areas.

This pipeline was said to produce many jobs for the states it ran through, but it created much less. Its developers promised 120,000 jobs, but the pipeline has created only 16,800. Many of these jobs are temporary or filled by out-of-state workers, leaving little long-term economic benefit for local communities.

The environmental costs of fracking have been a bigger problem. Factors including water contamination, methane leaks, and air pollution continue to be a major concern for residents in areas near drilling sites.

Marginalized communities are affected the worst. People of color, rural populations, and low-income households often live in the proximity of fracking grounds. Nowhere is the environmental racism of fracking more evident than in the treatment of Indigenous communities. These groups are more likely to suffer from health problems linked to fracking because they lack the power to fight the act of fracking in their neighborhoods.

For example, in Texas, Black and Latino communities often live in close proximity to fracking operations. The resulting exposure to toxic pollutants increases the incidence of asthma, heart disease, and other health conditions in these communities. Environmental regulations are often lax or poorly enforced in these areas, leaving vulnerable communities to bear the worst of fracking harm. 

The fight against fracking is a fight for human rights. A transition to green energy can not only focus on harms done to the environment but must prioritize the voices of those most impacted by the fossil fuel industry. This means not only halting fracking operations but also ensuring that the communities most affected receive reparations in the form of healthcare, clean water, and economic opportunities that do not depend on toxic industries.

Environmental organizations must adopt an approach that recognizes the connection of race, class, and environmental justice. In many cases, the communities suffering the worst impacts of fracking are also those least responsible for climate change. Yet, they are often left out of conversations about the future of energy and the need for a green transition. We cannot build a fair and sustainable future without acknowledging these historic inequalities.

Policy reforms, public pressure, and investment in alternative energy can gradually reduce this practice and its harmful effects. People have to put pressure on local and state governments to cause change. This can be done through protesting and creating public awareness and advocacy. The more people that know about these harms, the more that can help cause change.

The truth is that fracking is not a sustainable solution. It’s a temporary fix that creates short-term jobs at the expense of long-term health, environmental integrity, and economic resilience. As we look toward the future, we must move away from destructive practices like fracking and invest in industries that prioritize both people and the planet.

Francisco Moreira a junior physics and environmental studies double major at Connecticut College.