Florida Legislature Rejects Fracking

Statement of Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch

Washington, D.C. - “Today’s decision is a victory for the health and safety of families throughout the state as well as everything that makes Florida run – tourism, agriculture and fishing. The regulations rejected today by the State Senate would have paved the way for the use of hydraulic fracking and other methods of extreme oil extraction that Americans are increasingly turning against. Additionally, this result protects the rights of local communities throughout the state to decide for themselves whether to allow risky oil drilling methods within their boundaries. Today’s action against fracking puts Florida near the leading edge of safe, sensible, clean energy policy in the nation.

"However, the legislature’s job isn’t done. Even today, dangerous practices like acid fracking could still move forward in the future and threaten the health and safety of countless Floridians. Our leaders in Tallahassee need to get back to work and create a law that prohibits all forms of extreme oil extraction, once and for all."

Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment. A founding member of Floridians Against Fracking, Food & Water Watch was the first national organization to call for an outright ban on fracking in America.

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