"OKLAHOMA CITY -- As she knocked on the federal government's door for aid in the wake of a damaging earthquake in 2011, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) avoided talking about one aspect of the earthquake -- its cause.

Too 'awkward,' said Fallin's communications director, Alex Weintz.

'The problem is, some people are trying to blame hydraulic fracturing (a necessary process for extracting natural gas) for causing earthquakes,' Weintz wrote in an email, vetoing mention of the earthquake at an energy conference. 'So you see the awkward position that puts us in. I would rather not have to have that debate.'"

Mike Soraghan reports for EnergyWire July 8, 2015. [2]