Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you to oppose H.R. 26 The Protecting American Energy Production Act, an attempt to make it unlawful to oppose or block hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in our nation.
Fracking, as you know is frequently cited by people like Congressman Pfluger [the bill’s author] as a solution for energy independence. To start with, it’s not economically sound, and will not reduce energy prices for consumers. We ought to be instead invessting as quickly as possible in renewable energy sources.
Pfluger himself ignores the fact that many studies have shown that fracking can lead to water contamination, air pollution, and soil degradation. In addition, the increased seismic activity linked to fracking, such as earthquakes, raises serious concerns about the safety of this practice, particularly in regions near populated areas.
Fracking also contributes to climate change by releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. The companies engaged in this practice routinely misrepresent how much methane is released, and how much groundwater is being poisoned.
Beyond environmental concerns, fracking disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Indigenous communities, rural residents, and low-income neighborhoods are often the first to bear the brunt of the adverse impacts. These communities almost always lack the political power to protect themselves and are left with contaminated water supplies, health issues, and diminished quality of life for themselves and their families.
For all these reasons, and especially the human cost, I urge you to oppose H.R. 26 and similar bills.
Thank you and your staff for your attention to this matter.
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