OKC Standard

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) has responded to a recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal with a letter to the editor, emphasizing the significance of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for supporting allies and maintaining low energy costs.

In his letter, Mullin writes: “Your editorial ‘Where’s Kamala on LNG Exports?’ (Sept. 19) raises a question similar to the one I posed to my colleagues: Where are Senate Democrats on fracking?”

Mullin argues that fracking is vital for providing abundant and affordable energy to both U.S. citizens and international allies. He points out that if House Democrats support liquefied natural-gas exports, they should logically also back fracking.

The senator recounts an effort he made alongside Sen. Katie Britt (R., Ala.) to pass the Protecting American Energy Production Act by unanimous consent in the Senate. The bill aimed to prevent the president from unilaterally canceling fracking projects but was blocked immediately.

Mullin highlights an irony involving opposition from a Massachusetts senator whose constituents face some of the highest electricity costs in the nation.

“Our allies want to do business with us, and our economy desperately needs it,” Mullin states. “Instead we’re letting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries set the world price for crude and allowing our adversaries to get rich off our backs.”

He concludes by questioning why there is still a moratorium on fracking despite increasing global demand for fossil fuels, suggesting it comes at a cost to American taxpayers.