The F Word: A Fracking Update

Josh Fox brought Oscar-nominated Gasland to Telluride in 2010, and Mountainfilm audiences learned about fracking in natural gas extraction and the negative impacts the process has on communities across the nation. His film was compared by the gas geologist for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and a member of the Pennsylvania governor’s administration to Nazi propaganda (which was defended by Fox).

From contaminated drinking water to earthquakes, fracking is now recognized as a serious environmental risk. Recently, two scientists at Cornell added another mark against fracking to the list — methane emissions. The timing for this news couldn’t be better: New York is a current battleground for drilling, and fracking advocates claim any bans would be the “kiss of death” for the shale-gas boom. Indeed. What happens in New York may influence other states across the nation.

Meanwhile, a recent NPR story discussed the glut of natural gas in the market, which begs the question: If natural gas is being overproduced, why are people fighting so hard to drill more at the expense of the environment and our citizen’s health?