| Dear Daniel, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson just became the highest-profile anti-fracking activist in the world. Even though he is the CEO of one of the largest fracking companies in the world, Tillerson is suing to block a fracking development near his Texas horse ranch because it would create a "noise nuisance and traffic hazards."1 2 The situation is rich with irony, but the truth is that Rex Tillerson is right: He shouldn't have to cope with the horrendous local impacts of fracking. Nobody should. And as the CEO of America's largest natural gas producer, he has tremendous power to protect communities across the country from fracking. Tell ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson: Fight fracking everywhere, not just in your backyard. Click here to sign the petition automatically. Tillerson's lawsuit concerns a water tower near his property which, if built, would supply nearby fracking operations. Tillerson and his neighbors are suing to block the construction of the tower, arguing that the presence of heavy trucks hauling water to fracking sites would devalue their properties.3 Tillerson's ranch is in Bartonville, in Denton County right outside of Forth Worth, on top of the infamous Barnett shale. Fracking operations in North Texas', many of them owned by ExxonMobil, have had devastating effects on the health and safety of Tillerson's neighbors. It's no surprise, then, that Tillerson isn't the only Texan fighting to protect his home from fracking. In the city of Denton, where some fracked wells are less than 200 feet from suburban homes, residents are organizing to place a fracking ban on the city's ballot.4 5 Dallas residents passed a de facto ban on fracking, preventing XTO, an ExxonMobil subsidiary, from fracking in the city limits.6 Hundreds of North Texas residents have stormed Texas Railroad Commission hearings to demand that the commission shut down fracking wastewater injection wells that residents believe are causing earthquakes.7 But instead of using his considerable wealth and political influence to help his neighbors fight fracking, Tillerson has vocally backed fracking -- unless, of course, it might impact the market value of his multimillion-dollar horse ranch. Tillerson's hypocrisy is truly shameful. And the best way to call it out is to admit that he's right: Not even Rex Tillerson deserves to be fracked. Tell ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson: Fight fracking everywhere, not just in your backyard. Click here to sign the petition automatically. Zack Malitz, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets Automatically add your name: Learn more about this campaign 1. Rebecca Leber, "Exxon CEO Comes Out Against Fracking Project Because It Will Affect His Property Values," ThinkProgress, February 21, 2014
2. Amy Silverstein, "Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson is Suing to Stop a Fracking Development Outside Dallas," Dallas Observer, February 21, 2014
3. Daniel Gilbert, "Exxon CEO Joins Suit Citing Fracking Concerns," Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2014
4. Julie Dermansky, "Welcome to Gasland: Denton, Texas Residents Face Fracking Impacts From EagleRidge Energy," DeSmogBlog, December 5, 2013
5. Denton Drilling Awareness Group 6. Andrew Breiner, "Did Dallas Just Ban Fracking?" ThinkProgress, December 5, 2013
7. Nicholas Sakelaris, "Railroad commission will not halt injection wells in Azle area," Dallas Business Journal, January 21, 2014 |
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