TL/DR –
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign has been criticized for inconsistent positions on fracking, particularly after her new climate engagement director, Camila Thorndike, stated that Harris would not ban fracking, mirroring Harris’s previous change of stance on the issue. This has led to skepticism and negative reactions from energy groups and the state of Pennsylvania, where fracking is a significant part of the energy industry. The oil and gas industry in the United States, despite administrative obstacles, was the world’s largest producer of crude oil last year, and energy groups see natural gas as key for future economic growth.
Vice President Harris’s Stance on Fracking Sparks Controversy
As Election Day draws near, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign is facing criticism for its stance on fracking. The campaign’s climate engagement director, Camila Thorndike, recently told Politico that Harris doesn’t plan to ban fracking, causing a stir among climate change voters.
Previously, Harris had promised to ban fracking during her 2020 presidential run but reversed her position after securing the Democratic nomination. The Trump campaign latched onto Thorndike’s clarifying statement on social media, as energy groups and the U.S. Oil and Gas Association claimed the inconsistent messaging proves Harris’s unreliability.
The mixed messages didn’t go down well in Pennsylvania, a state where fracking is integral to the energy industry. The state’s Manufacturers Association president, David N. Taylor, accused the Harris campaign of deceit, while Amanda Eversole of the American Petroleum Institute dismissed Harris’s fracking endorsement as empty rhetoric.
In spite of the administration’s wavering stance, the U.S. remained the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The gas industry, in fact, generated $40 billion and supported over 123,000 jobs in Pennsylvania alone in 2022, according to a Marcellus Shale Coalition analysis.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump consistently highlights his pro-oil and gas stance at Pennsylvania rallies, seeking the state’s 19 Electoral College votes. Polls indicate a tight race in Pennsylvania, with Trump leading Harris by approximately one point, according to the RealClearPolitics poll average.
Energy consultant Trisha Curtis of PetroNerds argues that the Harris campaign is struggling with its identity as it flip-flops on key issues. She maintains that any industry gains during the Biden-Harris administration occurred in spite of, rather than because of, their actions.
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