Group Says Fracking Would Be A Boost To The Economy

While an environmental group is calling for a complete ban on high-volume fracking in this state, the American Petroleum Institute says increasing production and export of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) through increased use of fracking could mean thousands of jobs and over two billion dollars more for Michigan’s economy.

Kyle Isakower, Vice-President for Regulatory and Economic Policy at API, says a report has found that Michigan could generate 12, 600 more jobs and add up to $2.1 billion to an already $15 billion industry if the undeveloped natural gas is liquefied and exported. He argues the practice of fracking has been environmentally safe in the past, and will continue to be monitored for potential cross-contamination of groundwater.

Isakower says the Energy Information Administration at the U-S Energy Department projects that natural gas production will grow from 70-billion-cubic-feet-per-day to more than 100-cubic-feet-per-day by the year 2040, and most of that will come as the result of fracking.

However, the Michigan Sierra Club argues that fracking is an environmental and health hazard, and should be banned, citing thousands of wells in Pennsylvania and Colorado that endanger air, water and public health.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has called for more exploration of natural gas, and touted the state’s positive track record for hydraulic fracturing.