Air is key oxygen for fracking debate

By Noah Brenner

 30 March 2012 01:09 GMT

AS THE US oil industry ramps up efforts to convince the public that hydraulic fracturing is a safe way to unlock needed domestic energy, it risks being blind-sided by a more damaging issue above the ground — air quality.

Fracturing has been the concern of many local populations, but that is shifting.

The fracking debate has largely been fuelled by emotion, as there is little science to show that fracturing affects groundwater.

Study after study is finding no evidence of fracturing fluids in aquifers, and trying to link the methane that has been found in water wells directly to drilling has proven very difficult.

Air quality offers drilling opponents a bigger target.

It is easier to study than something happening underground, and there are emissions associated with energy production.

The air quality debate will also…

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