Archive for the ‘fracking’ Tag

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Oil Prices   Leave a comment

Oil pricesLink: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/01/19/579231506/therise-and-fall-and-rise-of-oil-prices

Summary: Oil prices have been fluctuating over the years, but when there is a price increase, many people may experience increases in the price of gas, heating, or a flight ticket back home as well. With the volatility of oil prices, what does this mean for determining future prices of oil and will these prices ever stabilize?

Original Air Date: January 19, 2018

Length: 7 minutes 4 seconds

Study finds that fracking contaminated a water supply   Leave a comment

Link: http://www.marketplace.org/2016/03/29/world/study-fracking-contaminated-water-supply

Summary:  Marketplace addresses the negative economic and health impacts fracking can have on a community, particularly those resulting from a lack of clean drinking water.

Original Air Date: March 29, 2016

Length: 3 minutes 20 seconds

The Boom-and-Bust Story of a Crop Called Guar   Leave a comment

guarLink: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/boom-and-bust-story-crop-called-guar

Summary: Guar is a small bean, and it had a recent rise and fall in the marketplace. Besides being an additive to thicken many foods, it’s also used in fracking. When fracking took off, the price of guar rose. As the price increased, Texas farmers started growing a lot of it, until Pakistan and India–which grow 98% of the guar combined–caught up to the demand. As a result, oil companies stopped hoarding it, and the prices dropped. The Texas farmers were left without buyers, and caused a chain reaction of bankruptcy.

Original Air Date: October 9, 2014

Length: 2 minutes 47 seconds