Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has toured a North Dakota fracking site to learn about the community that relies on the industry.
The tech billionaire was shown round an unconventional rig set-up in Williston, North Dakota, as part of plans to visit all the US states.
Zuckerberg is a well known champion for tackling climate change but said that he wanted to learn about the energy industry ” even if it’s controversial”.
In A Facebook post, he listed some of the thing he found interesting from the trip such as the gender imbalance brought about by an influx of men to fracking boom towns.
He also detailed how the population shrinks and grows on the back of fluctuating oil prices.
Finally, the tech guru, said he found that the energy industry is at the center of politics.
He said: “When the Dakota Access Pipeline was approved, that removed $6-7 per barrel of cost from producing oil in the region, which brought more investment and jobs here.
“A number of people told me they had felt their livelihood was blocked by the government, but when Trump approved the pipeline they felt a sense of hope again.
“That word “hope” came up many times around this. One person told me the night the pipeline was approved, people lit fireworks and rode trucks with American flags down Main Street to celebrate.
“It’s interesting to see this perspective when science overwhelmingly suggests fossil fuels contribute to climate change, which is one of the great challenges our generation will have to deal with. ”
He added: “I believe we’re closer to powering our society by renewables if we work at it, and doing so is extremely important for our future. For our part, Facebook has committed that every new data center we build will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
“There’s a lot more to say here, but overall I’m grateful for the opportunity to see a community with such unique social dynamics. It puts the stability most of our communities enjoy in perspective. — in Williston, North Dakota.”