When Karen Shafer read an article in the newspaper about the Board of Supervisors considering lifting the ban of gas drilling in Washington County, she knew she had to take action.

 

Karen immediately decided to spread the word in her community about the danger of hydro-fracking and to let other property owners know their rights. She connected with Virginia Organizing’s Brian Johns and she lent her passion and expertise to the local chapter’s work on gas drilling.

 

Karen and other residents in Washington County were outraged at the Board of Supervisors for considering jeopardizing the local water supply for short-term monetary gain. They set up forums to address the decision to allow gas drilling. Karen spoke out at a recent forum on the risk posed from drilling and shared her concerns about possible contamination of the spring on her property that is her family’s sole water supply. She also shared her concerns about how the gas industry treats landowners by giving them abysmal leasing rates and no means for recourse if anything goes wrong.

 

“I believe the future holds safer ways of harnessing energy and thoughtless drilling today will only lead to regret tomorrow. The natural gas ‘bridge’ leads to nowhere—we all need to see beyond the money.”