Town where fracking was perfected votes to ban fracking

Town where fracking was perfected votes to ban fracking
(Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

The city of Denton, Texas sits on top of the Barnett Shale, where the oil and gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking") was honed to resource-releasing, industry-enriching perfection. On Tuesday, Denton's citizens voted to ban fracking within city limits.

The fracking ban passed by a wide margin, 59 percent to 41 percent. Supporters of the moratorium were frustrated by Denton officials' inability to stop fracking wells being drilled near residential areas, schools and hospitals; there are some 270 wells in Denton proper.

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Mike Barry

Mike Barry is the senior editor of audience development and outreach at TheWeek.com. He was previously a contributing editor at The Huffington Post. Prior to that, he was best known for interrupting a college chemistry class.