Ban on hydraulic fracturing hurts Maryland's economic and environmental goals

ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 27, 2017 – Maryland Petroleum Council (MPC) Executive Director Drew Cobbs said today that the Maryland General Assembly’s decision to approve a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing could hurt Maryland families, jobs, government revenue and energy security. 

“This politically motivated decision moves Maryland further away from the state’s economic and environmental goals. Denying Maryland consumers, businesses and job-seekers the benefits that come with in-state energy production through hydraulic fracturing shuts the door on an important share in the American energy renaissance and Western Maryland’s future economic growth. 

“Maryland depends year-round on natural gas that is safely produced in neighboring states. Innovations in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling happening across the country have led to increased U.S. natural gas production. Since 2006, natural gas use in Maryland has increased by nearly 18 percent as the price of natural gas for residential consumers fell 26 percent.

“The United States leads the world in emissions reductions, and greater use of natural gas in the power sector is the leading factor in cutting U.S. carbon emissions from power generation to 25-year lows. Given the misguided decision making that led to today’s vote, it’s now ironic that Maryland’s energy-related carbon emissions dropped 39 percent between 2006 and 2014.The increasing number of Maryland households powered by natural gas is a prime driver in this success, and we will continue to pay other states to achieve these milestones.”

MPC is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.