Denton city banned fracking in all areas within its borders. The northern city of Texas residents voted for the ban after associating it with the frequent earthquakes in the area. Their victory was fleeting after Governor Greg Abbot struck back with another ban. The ban prohibited all cities and towns in Texas from banning fracking. Fracking is like a timed bomb whose impact and time of explosion is unknown. Fracking should not be allowed until the link between it, and the earthquake is established.
In the past, serious disasters that would have been avoided or whose impact reduced occurred. They occurred because the relevant authorities ignored or dismissed the signs. The 2005 hurricane Katrina in New Orleans is one example. It is still fresh in the minds of many people. Three years earlier, the Times-Picayune, the city’s main newspaper had devoted several days to cover a special series, “Washing Away”. The city authorities ignored the warning and the hurricane killed many people.
Greg Abbot and his circles of politicians are interested in the revenue from the energy activities. They are aware of the danger posed by fracking. However, they decide to overlook the lurking danger.
Apart from the unknown magnitude of the potential earthquake, fracking has psychological effects. People are reluctant to invest in Denton for fear of a possible earthquake. As a result, the value of land in Denton is falling.
Fracking is an important source of energy that keeps the state and regions beyond in motion. The revenue generated goes into helping the same people who are against it. However, their lives are more precious than anything else.
The fight against fracking is founded on the wellbeing of the society. This is consistent with the state’s goal for its people. Consequently, the governor should collaborate with experts in the field of seismology to find whether or not fracking and earthquake are linked. Otherwise, before the real situation is established, the fracking should stop.