I see the confusion and misinformation about hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” isn’t unique to North Carolina. According to the AP,
Critics of fracking often raise alarms about groundwater pollution, air pollution, and cancer risks, and there are still many uncertainties. But some of the claims have little — or nothing— to back them.
For example, reports that breast cancer rates rose in a region with heavy gas drilling are false, researchers told The Associated Press.
Fears that natural radioactivity in drilling waste could contaminate drinking water aren’t being confirmed by monitoring, either.
And concerns about air pollution from the industry often don’t acknowledge that natural gas is a far cleaner burning fuel than coal.
That’s why we’ve consistently argued that, with no evidence that hydraulic fracturing is dangerous and with the great potential for job creation that it brings, North Carolina should allow the process. Senate Bill 76 would do just that.