Ashland University plays fracking facts “true or false?”

Conner, a junior, signs up to learn more about fracking and CFACT.

In response to unsubstantiated claims against fracking by various Ohio environmentalist groups, Collegians at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio decided to help inform their fellow students on the issue by playing a fracking “true or false” game. Students would answer a question, such as: “True or false: ‘Obama’s EPA found that fracking was not a threat to groundwater after a four year study'” which would spark a deeper conversation on the topic.

The answer to that particular question is, true! Even Obama’s liberal, activist EPA concluded that fracking was no threat to groundwater after studying the issue around the country for four years.

“I learned a lot about fracking I didn’t know before hand,” said Doug Martonik, a junior. “It was great talking with CFACT and I look forward to working with them more!”

Student Doug Martonik signs up to stay engaged with the energy conversation in Ohio.

For those unfamiliar with the process, hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” is a process by which a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is used to break up sandstone or other rock under the Earth’s surface to release natural gas and oil. It has lead to the natural gas revolution in the United States.

One particular environmentalist group claims “The use of horizontal fracking requires millions of gallons of fresh water, acres of land per well pad…” and “As this new wave of oil and gas development has ramped up nationwide, communities have seen a corresponding increase in harmful air emissions, spills and accidents leading to water contamination…”

Students Jason Berardo and Doug Martonik play the Fracking: True or False game on campus.

All of these claims of course, are completely bogus. 

Fracking for natural gas uses the LEAST amount of water and land out of any energy source, and has helped the USA become the world leader in CO2 emissions reduction. Also, see above the point of even Obama’s EPA finding it was no threat to groundwater.

Events like this one will start to change the conversation in Ohio so that the state doesn’t go the way of New York and ban the process. Banning fracking would be at the harm of countless landowners, tax payers and workers who rely on the process to keep energy prices and taxes low and keep their farms afloat with royalties from leasing their land.