We would all welcome the use of drilling technology that did no harm and left fossil fuels in the ground while tapping the always-on heat stored in Earth’s core. But, even if we aren’t fracking, and we don’t intend to produce gas or oil, I’m skeptical that we are capable of punching holes through the aquifer without creating paths for nasty stuff to migrate. Though I’m less sanguine than the authors, here is the hopeful article.
Once fracking chemicals are mixed with water the well flow back or used fracking liquid, the water is permanently destroyed and can never be filtered, chemically treated, distilled to be rendered safe for human, animal or plants. It permanently toxic and usable. The chemicals used are protected by law from being revealed to anybody as being “proprietary,” not even medical or health professionals can be told what they are and how much of each chemical in the fracking fluid is present. They are toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. Renewable energy with just wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and solar energy can meet our energy needs. All we lack is the political will to do so because the profit addicted, fossil, nuclear and investor owned electric utilities have bought the votes of our elected leaders from both political parties by their unlimited, anonymous, secret campaign donations. They want no taxes and no regulations to block their continued extraction and pollution from their operations. All they care about is the quick, fast buck and the environment be damned.