The Texas state House of Representatives has passed a bill that would block cities in Texas from banning the controversial oil and gas exploration method known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
After an overwhelming
vote of 122-18, the proposal – House Bill 40 – advanced to the
state Senate, where lawmakers have not taken up the bill just
yet. The bill featured 70 co-sponsors and had the support of the
oil and gas industry.
The House vote comes just a few months after voters in a small
Texas town called Denton approved a measure that banned fracking
in the area. Denton was the first Texas city or county to ban the
practice, the oil industry has already filed a lawsuit seeking to
reverse the prohibition.
READ MORE: Fracking ban goes into effect in its
birthplace
On Friday, Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo), who introduced the
bill, said the ban on banning fracking was needed to ensure that
cities didn’t implement different regulations that harm the
state’s economy.
“In the absence of this bill, a statewide patchwork of oil
and gas regulation is likely,” Darby said to the Houston Chronicle.
Notably, similar comments were made by the Texas Oil Gas
Association, which is also suing Denton.
“HB 40 is a welcome solution because Texas can’t afford a
patchwork of regulations for an industry that supports 40 percent
of our economy,” the association tweeted after the vote,
Reuters reported.
However, opponents say the measure would also take aim at
measures passed by local communities addressing health, safety
and more.
READ MORE : Fracking link suspected in presence
of cancer-causing gas – report
“It is a carte blanche for all sorts of heavy industries
associated with energy production, including disposal, transport
and processing,” Texas Campaign for the Environment
Executive Director Robin Schneider said to Reuters.
Additionally, supporters of the bill reached a deal with the oil
and gas industry to block any amendments to the legislation – a
move that angered some Democrats who want to make sure oil
companies wouldn’t be allowed to drill under city buildings and
parks.
“I would say to you that you would be hard press to find
anybody in the City of Houston to say yes to HB 40 if the intent
of HB 40 is to allow any company to go to Memorial Park … and
drill for what’s underneath,” said Rep. Sylvester Turner
(D-Houston) to the Chronicle.