Frac Sand Mines Could Mean Thousands of Jobs

Wisconsin’s burgeoning frac sand mining industry is expected to create more than 2,000 new jobs. A study conducted by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, which is a partner with Wisconsin Public Radio, estimates that 2,700 jobs will be created when all 106 frac sand mines and processing facilities are operational.

In Barron County, Superior Silica Sands, a Texas based mining company, is building what will be the second largest frac sand processing plant in North America. County Administrator Jeff French says this one company plans to hire 100 people from the region. “That’s a big impact on our county, and in fact the latest numbers that I have from Superior Silica Sands is they had over 600 people attend their open house looking for work.”

According to French, it is too early to see the full economic impact of the frac sand industry since it is still growing, but there are some indicators. He says, “We can see it somewhat directly in our sales tax in Barron County because we’re up about $42,000 over last year.”

Toby Madden is an Economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. He says frac sand mining is part of a domestic energy boom affecting more than just those working in the industry. “The benefit is to everybody that heats their home with gas or cooks with gas or gets electricity from gas generated power plants or gets gasoline for their cars, because they get it a little cheaper than they would otherwise from having to import that product.”

Frac sand mining is still a very controversial issue in Wisconsin. Opponents are concerned about dangerous silica dust from mines, environmental impacts, road damage and decreasing property values around frac sand sites.