Inhofe: Obama has ‘disdain’ for fracking

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) blasted the Obama administration for not being more supportive of hydraulic fracturing and the natural gas boon it has produced for the U.S. economy.

“Despite the president touting his support of natural gas, the administration’s disdain for the method to extract this clean, cheap energy resource shows little interest in actually supporting the growth of this industry,” Inhofe said Thursday.

{mosads}Inhofe’s comments came after Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee released a report that disputed Democrats’ concerns about health risks to water supplies near hydraulic fracturing sites. 

“Hydraulic fracturing is a time-tested, safe technology that is absolutely essential to the energy independence of the United States,” Inhofe said. “This timely committee report sets the record straight and serves to remind us that the development of domestic energy provides enormous potential for our nation’s economic growth and energy security.”

EPW ranking member David Vitter (R-La.) released his report, “Setting the Record Straight: Hydraulic Fracturing and America’s Energy Revolution,” which found that federal regulations have ensured that fracking is safe and not harming the environment.

Hydraulic fracturing — also known as fracking — is a process where water is sent underground to break up shale and other rocks where natural gas is trapped.