Fracking Vermont

MONTPELIER — Tonight there’s a “Don’t Frack Vermont” forum scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.

The forum is organized by Vermont Natural Resources Council, along with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and 350 Vermont, as a panel discussion about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Fracking is a technique used for the extraction of natural gas and oil. It involves injecting millions of gallons of a chemical fluid into a well hole to fracture rock deep in the Earth in order release the gas or petroleum being sought. 

Environmental organizations, like VNRC, are critical of the process because it is believed to contaminate water and cause other environmental damage. 

France has banned the process. Other countries and some states in the US have put a moratorium on fracking.

The concern for Vermont is that there are natural gas deposits in the Northwestern region of the state. And while there’s an anti-fracking bill wending its way through the Vermont Legislature, there are still hurdles it must clear before it can pass, the VNRC news release says.

At the forum, folks can learn more about the legislation and how to get involved.