How Fracking Bans Protect Communities and the Environment

Fracking’s Impact in Pennsylvania

Over the last decade, Pennsylvania has become the second-largest fracked gas producer in the United States, following Texas, producing 7.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2022 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). As of 2023, more natural gas was produced in the Appalachian region than in any other U.S. region, accounting for 29 percent of gross natural gas production. As a result, the state has also become emblematic of the controversies surrounding fracking.

The Case of Dimock, Pennsylvania

Dimock, Pennsylvania, has become one of the most infamous examples of the impacts of fracking. The small town in northeastern Pennsylvania gained national attention after residents experienced severe water contamination linked to fracking activities by Cabot Oil and Gas, now Coterra Energy. This incident was featured in the 2010 documentary “Gasland,” where residents showed their tap water igniting due to high methane levels.

The contamination issues began in 2008 when residents started reporting problems with their water supplies, which they attributed to nearby fracking operations. Investigations revealed that fracking activities had indeed caused methane to seep into the groundwater, contaminating the water source for numerous households. This led to a prolonged legal battle, culminating in a historic settlement in 2022 where Coterra Energy was required to pay $16.3 million to build new water infrastructure and provide clean water to affected residents for the next 75 years.

Dimock Township is a small town located in Susquehanna County, a county in northeastern Pennsylvania with extensive fracking development. Photo by Erica Jackson, FracTracker Alliance, March 2022.

Despite the historic settlement, the situation in Dimock remains contentious. The planned public water system is still in the early stages of development and faces numerous logistical challenges. The target completion date is set for 2027, but residents like Victoria Switzer are skeptical, calling the planned water line “imaginary” and doubting the project’s feasibility given the dense concentration of gas wells and infrastructure in the region.

Meanwhile, in a highly controversial move, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) quietly lifted a 12-year ban on fracking in the area in 2023, giving Coterra Energy Inc. permission from the state environmental regulators to drill new gas wells underneath the township. While some see the return of fracking as a boon for economic development and so-called energy independence, others fear a repeat of the environmental disaster that initially led to the fracking ban in Dimock. Their concerns are also compounded by new threats from fracking: wastewater discharge.

Fracking Ban in New York

Only 120 miles from Dimock, Pennsylvania, New York state has taken a very different approach to the issue. Rather than expanding fracking, New York implemented a statewide ban on fracking in 2014 following public outcry over concerns about water contamination, air pollution, and public health risks. The ban was solidified in 2020, making New York one of the states with the strongest anti-fracking policies in the country.

Opponents of the ban argue that New York has missed out on economic benefits from natural gas extraction, contending that responsible fracking could have provided sustainable economic growth. However, data indicates that the state has taken a more strategic approach to its energy economy. Since the ban, New York has made significant investments in renewable energy, aiming to generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The state has also committed to installing 6,000 MW of solar capacity and 9,000 MW of offshore wind by 2035.

Driven by the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York has committed more than $170 million to training initiatives that prioritize underserved communities and preparing workers for the evolving energy market. Consequently, the renewable energy sector is projected to create thousands of jobs. According to the 2023 New York Clean Energy Industry Report, there were a record-breaking total of 171,000 clean energy jobs across New York in 2022.

FracTracker Alliance’s Karen Edelstein has contributed to the movement to ban fracking in New York since December 2011. This timelapse shows the growth in solar capacity in the state before and after fracking was banned in 2014. Graphic by Karen Edelstein, FracTracker Alliance, 2022.

Boon or Boondoggle?

A side-by-side comparison of Pennsylvania and New York shows the actual long-term impacts of the fracking boondoggle on communities and the environment. While Pennsylvania residents grapple with environmental contamination and other adverse effects directly attributable to fracking, New York’s approach has focused on preventing these risks by banning fracking entirely.

In contrast to Pennsylvania, New York state’s investment in renewable energy has been a boon for the state; the state’s strategy has not only mitigated potential fracking-related damage but also positioned New York as a leader in the clean energy transition. New York’s ambitious approach to transitioning their energy sector has provided a stable foundation for economic development, offering long-term benefits without the drawbacks associated with fracking.

Conclusion

The severe environmental and public health impacts of fracking demand immediate action. Ultimately, banning fracking is the most comprehensive solution to its pervasive impacts. As of 2024, only five states have banned fracking, including Vermont (2012), New York (2020), Maryland (2017), Washington (2019), and California (2024). 

For states with a high level of oil and gas production, such as Texas and Pennsylvania, there are many other stopgap measures that could help prevent environmental damage and protect communities from the adverse impacts of fracking. In the absence of other long-term solutions, one strategy for mitigating risk is to adopt public health setbacks, which mandate minimum distances between fracking operations and homes, schools, and water sources. For states with extensive oil and gas development, implementing public health setbacks would help safeguard vulnerable populations and ensure a basic level of protection while more permanent solutions are developed.

Regulators and elected officials are key players in holding the industry accountable for its impacts, though policy makers often lack the political will to regulate industry, even at the expense of their constituents. For example, this has been demonstrated by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s inconsistent record on fracking. As Attorney General, he investigated and indicted a major natural gas company in 2021 for environmental violations. However, as Governor, Shapiro has been criticized for not implementing stricter regulations to protect communities like Dimock, which continue to suffer from fracking-related contamination and health issues for the sake of the state’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy.

Transitioning towards a safer and more sustainable energy future requires a wide range of strategies and stakeholders. However, states like New York provide a blueprint for balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability, demonstrating how proactive policies can protect public health and the environment while supporting economic growth.

Learn More

• See FracTracker’s latest analysis on oil and gas trends in Pennsylvania as of July 2024. Read more
• Read a July 24, 2024, press release from FracTracker Alliance and Center for Coalfield Justice on how policies in Pennsylvania have impacted residents of heavily fracked areas of the state. Read more
• Analysis from Ohio River Valley Institute shows Appalachia’s fracking counties continue their economic spiral as the region’s gas output begins to plateau. Read more