(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher makes the following statement expressing her opposition to the Ban Fracking Act that was introduced in Congress today: 

“Today, some of my colleagues introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) nationwide.  This legislation is misguided.  I do not support this bill or any similar proposal to ban fracking.  As a representative for the energy capital of the world, I am committed to working with my constituents and my colleagues in Congress to develop smart policy for our energy future that addresses the concerns for our environment and our communities, the reality and urgency of climate change, and the need for clean, reliable energy at home and around the world. 

“Fracking is well completion technology that has been in use since the 1940s.  Over the last decade, use of this technology in new ways has been a critical contributor to an energy renaissance that has made the United States the global leader in energy production.  And the resulting increased use of natural gas in power generation has led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in that sector. 

“The ban proposed in today’s bill would negatively impact our national economy, our energy costs, our environment, and our efforts to meet energy demand with cleaner, more responsible development in the United States.  It would also increase our dependence on foreign energy sources.  I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the energy challenges and opportunities before us with thoughtful policies that address our challenges and reflect our shared values for a cleaner energy future.”