Fracking is causing a lot of divisiveness among Coloradans. Three cities recently voted to stop drilling. A Wall Street Journal reporter traces how the controversial technology exploded over the last decade. In his new book, “Frackers, The Outrageous Inside Story of the New Billionaire Wildcatters.” Gregory Zuckerman follows the people and the drama behind the revolution. He spoke with CPR’s Lesley McClurg.
It was the summer of 1998 and Mitchell Energy was sending huge amounts of natural gas each day from its Texas fields to a pipeline serving the city of Chicago. For decades, the arrangement had provided the company with steady profits, helping Mitchell become wealthy.
