An Act to eliminate hydraulic fracturing in the Commonwealth

HD 651 prohibits most hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for oil and gas extraction in the Commonwealth, directly affecting oil and gas companies operating within the state. The bill bans the process of pumping fluid into rock to extract oil or gas, except when used for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) to produce energy. It also prohibits the storage, treatment, or disposal of fracking byproducts, with the same EGS exception. These changes amend water quality and waste disposal laws to enforce the fracking ban. The policy directly restricts conventional oil/gas development while allowing fracking only for geothermal energy projects.