Chesapeake Energy Corp. over the Fourth of July holiday launched an online initiative urging Americans to join the company in pushing for domestic energy independence by using more U.S. natural gas to ease dependence on OPEC.

The second largest natural gas producer in the country is using a wide array of online social networking tools on an “Energy Independence News” page within its corporate website, which includes a YouTube video, as well as a way to “spread the word” through Twitter (#EnergyIndependence), Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, StumbleUpon and email.

Visitors are asked to sign and to download a “Declaration of Energy Independence,” which states that for years “America’s energy freedom has been at the mercy of OPEC.” Those signing the petition “believe our nation can and should use its own natural resources to end this addiction” and “recognize the promise America’s vast and growing natural gas supply holds for breaking OPEC’s stranglehold for good…”

The petition goes on to state, “Energy freedom is within reach. Our nation has the resources. I have the resolve. I hereby join thousands of my fellow Americans who say now is the time to reclaim our energy destiny once and for all. Now is the time to declare our energy independence.”

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