Fracking?! (Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville: appointed, cost, moving to)

[DChapman36]

We've been heavily leaning towards moving to North Carolina, specifically the Asheville area. But a friend just told me that fracking may start up there. I just looked, and sure enough.

Our moving plans just took a quick stop. There's no way I'd move somewhere that is going to frack.

Do you all think they will be successful with their plans?

I'm so disappointed.

[aus10]

As someone who grew up with oil & gas in their veins (Grandaddy was a wildcatter, Dad worked in petro refining, and hubby does the energy transportation systems now) while N.C. has approved fracking, if I was a betting person I'd bet no way in the mountains. Too cost prohibitive. With that being said... oil exploration and drilling isn't as "gasp" awful as you've probably read either. Yes, it needs to be watched as there are unscrupulous drillers/gas companies, but there are also ones that do it right. It needs to be a cooperative effort between the communities, the state regulatory commissions, and the gas companies themselves. I think N.C. is being smart in taking a pro-active role. Too many communities didn't.

[Above Average Bear]

Originally Posted by DChapman36

We've been heavily leaning towards moving to North Carolina, specifically the Asheville area. But a friend just told me that fracking may start up there. I just looked, and sure enough.

Our moving plans just took a quick stop. There's no way I'd move somewhere that is going to frack.

Do you all think they will be successful with their plans?

I'm so disappointed.

There are a number of threads referring to fracking in WNC. Use the search forum box.

[daveatgso]

For fracking to be viable there has to oil or gas. Have they found some in NC?

[aus10]

I think I read that they have found natural gas shale in a few counties daveatgso. But what I read it was between Charlotte and Raleigh. I just personally feel that it is not going to be feasible to get it out cost wise. You have to remember North Carolina doesn't have the infrastructure at all in order to get it out at a reasonable cost. Until the Bakken's, The Marcellus, and the Eagle Ford in Texas play out I can't imagine drilling on a large scale. I may be way off base, but I think the next big push will be in the midwest (specifically Southern IL and IN) where the wells are already proven, they've been pulling oil for the last 100 years and it will be much easier.

[tucler]

Don't let fracking in the Asheville area keep you from coming. There is nothing remotely appealing to oil and gas here. The Piedmont yes and when push comes to shove, the far west of the state, but not here. get your facts and then make a judgement.

[fracmeister]

Originally Posted by DChapman36

(snip)There's no way I'd move somewhere that is going to frack.

Do you all think they will be successful with their plans?

I'm so disappointed.

I think you need to learn more accurate facts....

[DChapman36]

Thank you all for your responses.

Originally Posted by fracmeister

I think you need to learn more accurate facts....

Please feel free to share them.

[Rayug]

There are no major or minor shale formations in WNC as far as I know, and the areas that might be viable for fracking are in the Piedmont and east. I would love to know the information your friend is privvy to so that he can say that fracking is coming to western NC.

Also, as with anything if you only listen to one side of the whole fracking issue, you are going to be sorely misinformed. The letters, news articles, etc provide the lunches at my work with many hours of laughable enjoyment. (due to some of the crazy stuff people or newspapers say when it comes to fracking)

[daveatgso]

IMO the current wastewater remediation process (highly polluted, radioactive wastewater injected under very high pressure into deep wells) is the most problematic thing about fracking and needs to be resolved.