Look beyond fracking for better solutions
The Feb. 20 Brian O’Neill column “Taking the Shaky Middle Ground on Fracking” perpetuates the worn-out and unproductive narrative of “jobs vs. the environment.” This is a false dichotomy that oversimplifies the political complexities of heavily fracked areas in Pennsylvania, sows discord among voters and diverts our focus away from the need to create a sustainable economy.
Environmental health advocates have sympathy for workers who put their bodies on the line to drill gas that we all use. People whose livelihoods depend on the industry acknowledge that extractive activities harm public health. Both groups want politicians who will advocate for an economy that will endure rather than boom and bust.
For these reasons, Pennsylvania voters have conflicting feelings about fracking. The majority think that the potential environmental risks of fracking outweigh the potential economic benefits, according to a recent poll by Franklin & Marshall College.
Our region has experienced the downfall of coal already, which left many unemployed. And it’s no secret that in southwestern Pennsylvania, we breathe some of the worst air in the country. For both jobs and the environment, it’s time we look beyond the fracking boom toward longer-lasting solutions.
Pennsylvanians are able to maintain integrity in the face of complexity, environmental issues and economic hardships. I hope our elected officials can do the same and center the conversation around viable alternatives that will benefit all.
SHANNON SMITH Manager of Communications and Development Frac Tracker Alliance Millvale