PA Punk Band The Gasholes Bring Important Message About Fracking

Pennsylvania punk band The Gasholes were in Rochester to play a private show on September 10. From the Williamsport area in the center of the state, they come with a message about Hydrofracking. "Fracking" is a process where water and chemicals are injected into the ground in order to extract natural gas. It is not a new technology, it has actually been around over 40 years during which it has been known to be harmful with long-term environmental consequences. What has changed is the legal environment. Former Vice President Dick Cheney was the champion of legislation exempting drilling companies from responsibility for harm done or cleanup costs. The legislation especially benefited Halliburton, a gas drilling company. Cheney was CEO of Halliburton before becoming Vice President. The company is based in Texas and the exemption is commonly referred to as the Halliburton Loophole.

Some may be familiar with a film Gashole, critical of the energy industry but more focused on petroleum and gasoline. Another film, Gasland by Josh Fox addresses hydrofracking and its harm. But the band did not get its name from the movie. "Gashole" is a derogatory term used to describe gas company workers. They come mostly from Texas, with big trucks and "cowboy mentality." They have a lot of money and drive up the prices of everything. Housing has become so scarce and expensive many locals in this formerly isolated rural area cannot afford rent anymore, and owners are forced to sell or lease their land to the gas companies. They describe it in their song This Ain't Fuckin' Texas

The white man's back and at it again they're snatchin' our land like we're Mexicans

This ain't fuckin' Texas

They bought you an ego and a brand new truck makin' top dollar from the land you fuck

"It's affecting everything." The heavy trucks and equipment are damaging the roads, and the companies aren't being taxed to pay for it. Fracking produces a million or more gallons of waste water a day. The people in the Susquehanna valley are lucky in that the companies built their own treatment plant. In other areas of the state waste water has been sent to municipal sewage treatment plants, overloading them. But the locals doubt the effectiveness of the private plant. "You wouldn't want to swim in the river there." There are frequent occurrences of chemical exposure to workers. Medical workers may be prohibited from treating these injuries so as not to expose the nature of the "secret" chemicals being used. The companies store toxic waste water in plastic lined holes in the ground. They are not required to report spills. How long is this plastic going to last before it starts leaking? What might happen in the event of a natural disaster like a hurricane, flood or earthquake? Quakes are not usually a concern in Pennsylvania. Unusual seismic activity has been reported in Texas and Arkansas where fracking has been conducted for some time. Some scientists believe fracking may have been a factor in the quake that recently shook Virginia. No one knows, and the companies are not required to report spills. By some estimates, fracking could continue in the area for 140 years.

When asked if the environmental movement was doing anything to counter fracking the answer was "no." "It lies on its back and takes it all" was one member's response. "They don't fix anything." "They cut down all the trees and leave concrete and equipment behind." "It's primarily the people who don't live in town who are pissed off."

A question that was not asked was answered by a band member. Without oil and gas, what are we going to do for our energy needs? Williamsport is the longtime home of the Piper Aircraft company. Band member Marcus remarked that the new Piper planes "look like they are glued together" meaning they do not have the traditional rivets holding them together. This improves speed and aerodynamics. The arms of a windmill use the same aerodynamics as the wings of an airplane. This engineering could be employed to improve the efficiency of power generating turbines. The wind is always blowing in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Why isn't this clean, non-polluting technology being implemented in central PA? Because once the equipment is built the energy companies can't control the price of the source, the wind. They are in it for the short term profits damn the consequences. This is the "cowboy attitude" that has left Texas the most polluted state in the nation. But as the Gasholes remind us, This Ain't Fuckin' Texas!