By Ed Marroni

We have been programmed to look for lower prices (and why not) in our society. Our search for low prices sparks the economy because we are inclined to make more purchases. However, in most cases this pursuit of the lowest price is costly in ways we are not aware of–people having to work for less than a living wage, poorer quality products, and abuse of our Earth.

Fracking is one of many examples. Fracking is a recently developed method used by the natural gas and oil industries to extract these fossil fuels from the Earth. Millions of gallons of fluid, typically water mixed with chemicals (including ones known to cause cancer) are injected underground at high pressure to fracture the rock and shale, releasing the gas and oil. This process provides the market with an abundance of gas, which lowers the price and pleases consumers and jobs are created. Sounds great until one researches the effects of fracking.

The drilling of wells and the extraction process along with the distribution of the natural gas result in methane leakage which can trap 25 times more heat in our atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 100 year period. Often the jobs provided are short term for workers already in the energy industry, not jobs for local people in the community where fracking occurs. The chemicals used are credited with having a negative effect on the surrounding communities and the risk of water and air pollution is likely.

The next times you realize you are following the program of seeking cheaper, less expensive products and services remember someone or something IS paying the cost!