As opponents of responsible natural gas development move into a new phase of attack against the essential tool (hydraulic fracturing) that makes such development possible, Americans outside our nation’s capital are taking notice. Slowly but surely, they’re starting to arrive at the fact that, without this critical, 60-year-old technology, abundant reserves of clean-burning, American-made resources would immediately become inaccessible, resulting in massive job loss, higher energy costs, and greater dependence on foreign nations for the lifeblood of our economy.

Oklahomans have been producing natural gas safely and efficiently for decades. But Rep. DeGette’s legislation now threatens our energy security, and threatens the livelihoods of working-class families across the country, especially in Tulsa’s energy-rich region.

Today’s Bixby Bulletin highlights these very real economic threats:

“The proposed legislation would make drilling new oil and natural gas wells more difficult and more costly, limiting the number of wells drilled in Oklahoma and the amount of oil and natural gas the state produces. … Regulations to protect groundwater during oil and natural gas production are in place in Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Hydraulic fracturing has been in use for more than 50 years and a 2004 study conducted by EPA found that the practice posed “no threat” to underground drinking water supplies.”

The paper also quotes Mike McDonald, chairman of the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association (OIPA):“Hydraulic fracturing is a necessary part of Oklahoma’s crude oil and natural gas industry, and federal attempts to add new restrictions to the technological process will have devastating effects on the state’s economy.”

Energy-producing communities are not the only ones taking notice. Law360 reports that:

“Chris Tucker, a spokesman for the industry group Energy In Depth, said on Wednesday the legislation appears to be a bid to subject hydraulic fracturing to federal regulation – not just disclosure.”

The article also added that: “Industry officials have said that there have been no instances of injury or harm resulting from hydraulic fracturing.”

Opponents of hydraulic fracturing opponents continue to find themselves on the other side of the facts. Whether that eventually slows any of them down – that’s anyone’s guess.