In a surprise move this week, Vermont officials decided to listen to their citizens. Governor Peter Shumlin signed a hydraulic fracturing (fracking) ban into law on Wednesday. This makes Vermont the first state to ban the popular (with oil companies) method of obtaining natural gas. Hopefully, it won’t be the last.
Fracking, for those who don’t know, is a method used to gain access to gas deposits that are difficult to reach otherwise. By shattering rock layers that surround the gas, it is set free and becomes easier to tap. The gas also tends to move, along with the hazardous chemicals used in the process, into ground water tables, which is the biggest problem. There is some evidence that fracking is linked to small earthquakes that occur in areas where the process occurs.
Oil companies deny that hydraulic fracturing is anything but helpful to the world. I believe that next they’ll be claiming it creates puppies and cartoons…
Politicians Are Poody Heads 