Congressman Jeff Duncan Fights to Save the Oil and Gas Industry’s Fracking Capabilities

September 22, 2020

This week, the U.S. House Rules Committee met to formulate a rule on the sweeping clean energy package pushed by Democrats. H.R.4447 is a measure being brought to a floor vote that Democrats argue is their response to fighting climate change. At least 100 amendments were proposed. and one by Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) is fighting to preserve the oil and gas industry’s fracking method.

Oklahoma Energy Today reports:

In July, Rep. Duncan introduced his Protecting American Energy Production Act or H.R. 7400.

“There has been an aggressive push by left-wing environmentalists to ban hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Instead of focusing on furthering the American Energy Renaissance, they are determined to implement unrealistic, progressive policies like the Green New Deal,” he said in introducing the measure.

“This bill prohibits future Presidents from using their executive powers to declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing, unless authorized by an Act of Congress. It further expresses that States have the authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on State and privately-owned lands,” added the congressman.

The hydraulic fracturing method, known as “fracking”, has provided reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy to local communities.

Power the Future recently wrote a blog on how industry-led innovations have helped states, like Colorado, create new technologies to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. In fact, according to the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA), Colorado’s oil and natural gas industry saw a near 50% reduction in emissions between 2011 and 2017.

Colorado’s oil and gas industry supports an estimated 232,900 jobs that keep the lights on for families across my district and the state. These are good-paying jobs, resulting in $23.1 billion in wages. The industry also contributes approximately $1 billion in tax revenue annually, including $600 million that goes to K-12 public education.

Colorado is just one example of a state that benefits dramatically from the industry and how a government overhaul on regulations for the industry would reap negative consequences. The prosperous industry that supports 10 million jobs nationwide in energy-dependent communities deserves to be protected and regulated by the state governments who represent the constituents that would be negatively affected by these policies.

Power the Future supports Rep. Jeff Duncan’s proposal to provide checks and balances to the executive branch’s power and allow states the authority to regulate fracking on state and privately-owned lands.