Faircrest Memorial Middle School Canton, Ohio
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- Agriculture is the most important industry in Ohio, accounting for almost three billion dollars in exports each year.
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- Energy companies have discovered massive amounts of natural gas in eastern Ohio that can only be extracted by hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
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- The gas is trapped in shale more than a mile below the surface, and fracking causes explosions that break the shale to release the gas.
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- Jobs will be created in the area because the gas must be transported to a refinery for processing.
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- The major refinery in Canton is Marathon Ashland Oil, which will employ more people due to the increase in gas production.
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- Profit and tax revenue will increase when the gas from these storage containers is sold to trucking and shipping companies.
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- UPS is a major shipping company that could use the abundant cleaner burning natural gas to transport more goods throughout the United States.
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- The increased supply of natural gas could be used to power the farm equipment at a lower cost to farmers, which would boost profit and production.
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- Fracking causes cracks in the shale that could release harmful chemicals into the ground.
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- The harmful chemicals can pollute local water sources, which could have a negative impact on our economy.
It is really interesting how gas can be used to power farm equipment so farmers can save money and make a larger profit. I also think it is interesting that gas can make new jobs in refineries.
Your project was very interesting and has both positive and negative facts about oil. In Scarsdale, there aren’t any oil rigs or refineries, but everyone uses oil and harms the environment so this is definitely a topic that affects Scarsdale. This project can inspire someone to become more eco-friendly and decrease their use of oil.
Dear Students at Faircrest Memorial Middle School, From your project I learned that hydraulic fracturing can release gasses that can affect the water you drink and is a serious subject. I think that clean water is a big issue, but jobs and energy are also important. Which do you think is more important to you — clean water or jobs and energy? Do you really think a shipping and farming boost is worth messing up clean water? Your work has showed me how important water, energy, and jobs are, but that sometimes one can be more important than another.
Peyton M, Scarsdale MIddle School, NY, USA
I like that you took pictures of the environment and the oil refineries, showing the negative and positive effects of oil. Even though oil is harmful to the environment, it’s important to think about the jobs people have in refineries and transporting the oil. There aren’t any oil refineries in Scarsdale, but we use buses as cars as a main source of transportation. Do you know how much gas is released into the air from a bus?
Fracking must be a huge issue in a farming county like yours, but in New York we do not face these problems because we live in a city while this may happen in upstate New York. How long does it take the ground to release the chemicals that are put into it by fracking?
I like your project alot and I think that you did a great job taking the pictures. I would like to know does your one of your family members own this farm, and how often do you see a farm like this?
I didn’t know that harmful chemicals can pollute local water sources and it also goes into the ground.
How bad is the pollution in Ohio?
Dear Faircrest MIddle School, I had never heard of fracking before I read this. It seems to have a huge benefit to the community. It could provide clean natural gas which would be great for your agriculture which you said is a very important industry in Ohio. However, water is very important. It might be more important then having clean natural gases. I don’t think the positives of fracking outweigh the negatives. If fracking can be improved and not allow harmful gases to seep into the ground or water then it will be able to solve the many problems the world faces.
Jonathan S., Scarsdale Middle School, NY, USA
How terrible is the pollution in Ohio?
It’s not that bad.
Dear Christian B,
None of our families own these farms. They are mostly pictures we took to write the story, but these kinds of farms are common in our community. Ttwo of my neighbors even have crops and have huge tractors.
Dear Peyton M,
I see your point, which is polluted water or more jobs? That’s a big point and I would have to say that the jobs would be more important because some of that water is recovered and cleaned to be made usable again.
Dear J Doligan,
Fracking is not a very huge issue at the moment in our city, but in other cities in our county fracking is on the rise. Just recently the issue has started to be discussed on radio stations.
Dear IG and Alexis S:
The pollution is not that bad, but is starting to take a effect on our state. Oil companies are targeting two big counties right now and a company even has contracts with two properties my dad owns. When they go after a county they have a huge map showing all the property they have asked and who they are targeting. So, this is definitely starting to take an effect though.
Ohio’s power plants emit more smog-forming pollution than power plants in 46 other states, according to the new Environment Ohio report, Dirty Energy’s Assault on Our Health: Ozone Pollution. The report found that power plants in Ohio emitted 95,811 tons for smog-forming pollution in 2009.Ohio Power Plants Emit 4th Most Smog-Forming Pollution Nationally.
Kyle R. Faircrest Memorial Middle School Canton, Ohio
This was so interesting. Fracking must be good, but also bad for the world.
Love your project. You brought up a really interesting issue. I’m wondering whether we should really choose our own benefit over the environment.
WOW! This is really interesting because it’s cool that the natural gas is good for the environment, and it also creates more jobs. Then, it’s also a bad thing because it’s harming water sources.This made me think about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico because all the water got polluted and animals were killed. If the gas polluted the water then the animals in the water or the animals that drink it could die like some of the anilmals in the Gulf of Mexico.
Well, pollution in Ohio isnt terrible, but it could definitely be better and we’re working to do that.
Doris-
Yes, almost everything has a positive and negative. We now just have to worry about which negative would cause less issues for the human population.
Your topic is very interesting! After reading it, we know that the fracking process can pollute the water. Is there an effective way to prevent water pollution?
After explaining, what is the proper solution that can resolve this problem?
I like how you guys presented the project. I like how you explained the issue with good and bad facts about it. Nice work!
I am surprised that there is a lot of pollution there. How did it get polluted?
Is the pollution bad in Ohio and is it getting better? How does Ohio relate with the rest of the world in population?
I like you guys’ project. Your picture were very detailed.
I thought electricity was better than gas. I think every one should use electric vehicles insted of cars that use gas.
This project is very interesting and I learned a lot. I never knew that gas can be used to power farm equipment so don’t have to spend a lot of money.
This is an amazing project. You have brought up a interesting issue with great supporting facts on the good and bad sides to this issue.
That is awesome that you are realizing the issues with natural gases. If the drinking water is polluted then the animals could die. I am wondering what other things are affected by natural gases?
Is that an oil truck there? Because I noticed how much pollution is there.
I think its cool that gas really is what makes jobs and makes money. Your pictures really have an effect on your writing.
I can’t believe how you guys take advantage of junk and turn it into valuable stuff to sell. I was really surprised of that.
It was interesting to learn about the oil in your state. Also I liked learning about the farms.
I didn’t know there was a lot of open space in Ohio! Do you have a lot of farms there?
I heard about the tsunami and it’s really sad!!!
This is soooo sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bet it’s really hot out there at times from looking at those pictures!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!
