Russell Gold of the Wall Street Journal at Saint Joseph's University - April 23, 2014

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of injecting fluid into the ground at extremely high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks and release the oil and natural gas inside. It has been the subject of three major films, countless news articles, and has become a hotly contested topic both for its environmental impact and its positive effect on the economy and job creation. Pennsylvanians are most interested in its effects, as fracking has been the subject of much debate in the state’s Marcellus shale region.

Russell Gold, Senior Energy Reporter from the Wall Street Journal, offered his insights into the energy industry and will discuss the fascinating history of how this major new source is changing the way we use energy. Gold’s recently-published book, "The Boom," examines both sides of the arguments and illuminates aspects of this frequently misunderstood technology.