The answer is in.  Does fracking cause earthquakes: Sometimes!  According to Christopher “Chuck” Bailey, professor and chairman of the geology department at the College of William & Mary, there is NO WAY that last year’s quake in Virginia that damaged the Washington Monument was related in any way to fracking.  Finally an answer that should satisfy no one.

OF COURSE fracking, or more specifically the reinjection of post fracking fluids into the ground, causes earthquakes.  However, not all earthquakes (almost none) are caused by fracking and most wells (almost all) do not cause earthquakes.  Got it?

For those of you keeping score, that’s yes in Ohio, Britain, and Oklahoma, no on Virginia and basically everywhere else.

From now on, I assume that potential links between fracking and earthquakes will be approached with reason and a measured response.  Glad to have that cleared up.