Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter on Behalf of Americans Against Fracking.
Washington, D.C.— “The unfolding crisis in the Ukraine and the related tensions between Russia and the European Union have become one more justification for increasing the production of natural gas in the United States and exporting it to Europe.
“Pressure on the Obama Administration to allow exports of natural gas to commence demonstrates the cynical willingness of the industry to use an international calamity to achieve its long-term policy goals. The arguments in favor of export demonstrate the dishonesty of the oil and gas industry’s claims that fracked gas is the key to U.S. energy independence.
“This is one more example of the energy industry using a tragic international crisis with geopolitical undertones to rationalize and achieve its goals. Companies like ExxonMobil should not control U.S. foreign policy, and we should not sacrifice communities across the United States for illusory policy objectives that are really about increasing profit for a few energy giants.
“It is irresponsible to push for more fracking—a process that is dramatically increasing methane emissions in the atmosphere. It is contributing to climate change, leading to more global instability, and in the long run, undermining any national security goals that proponents claim will be achieved.”