Identify positive and negative outcomes for hydraulic fracturing. Cite the paragraphs you used as evidence. Fracking is a way of pulling oil and gas from shale rock. It has produced a flood of new energy in the U. S. and Canada, lowering fuel prices. Fracking has also created jobs for a lot of people. Having more oil and gas also helps the two countries use less coal. Coal is a fossil fuel just like oil and gas, but it causes much more pollution. Burning fossil fuels is one of the main causes of global warming. The oil and gas gained from fracking also means the U. S. and Canada don't have to get as much energy from other countries.
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At the same time, fracking is linked to earthquakes, greenhouse gases that hurt the environment, and water and air pollution. Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the harm it causes?
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Fracking was first used by a business in 1949 in Oklahoma. Fracking involves forcing water mixed with sand and chemicals into a well to make cracks in shale rock. Oil or gas trapped inside escapes through the cracks. A newer type of fracking involves horizontal drilling. It started in the early 1980s. This drilling reaches thin layers of shale deep underground.
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Fracking supporters say it allows U. S. power plants to stop using coal. They can use natural gas instead. Using less coal reduces carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are released into the air when things like cars and factories burn fossil fuels. Carbon emissions have been linked to global warming. Supporters also say fracking decreases the country's need to get energy from other countries.
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Those in favor of fracking argue that risks can be reduced. For example, operators can avoid some leaks of the greenhouse gas methane with tests and repairs. Wells can also be sealed with cement. This will help lower the amount of water pollution from fracking. Frackers can also recycle wastewater to use less freshwater.
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Fracking supporters also say the risks of small earthquakes can be lessened. Frackers can map rocks and avoiding areas where small earthquakes could happen, they said.
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Those against fracking say it is too harmful. These opponents say methane gas leaks might be even worse for global warming than carbon emissions. They say strong rules are needed to make operators spend money to protect the environment from fracking. But, they think the oil and gas companies are strong enough to block these rules.
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Opponents also say that all the fossil fuels that fracking produces will actually be a bad thing. More oil and gas means people won't try as hard to develop renewable energy like solar and wind power. That would hurt efforts to slow global warming.