Keystone Today

Vice President Kamala Harris, who historically has been in favor of banning fracking, has received millions in donations from anti-fracking environmental groups despite her contradictory stance on fracking given during recent appearances in Pennsylvania.

During her unsuccessful 2019 run for the democratic nomination for president, Harris pledged to use executive authority to implement her plan to “end federal support for the fossil fuel industry,” reported Politico. She also pledged to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure projects. Harris stated "there’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking" during a townhall that year. 

However, recently Harris has reversed course and said that she won’t ban fracking but told KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh that her position on the matter hasn’t changed since 2020, seeming to contradict her comments during the 2020 Presidential campaign cycle. In the Sept. 10 debate with former President Donald Trump, she said, “My position is that we have got to invest in diverse sources of energy so we reduce our reliance on foreign oil."

She said claims that she would ban fracking to be “a mischaracterization which I think is intended to make people afraid.”

The fracking industry employs more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians and has a $40 billion-plus economic impact across the state. 

A recent poll of Pennsylvania voters showed Trump ahead of Harris 49-48% in a head-to-head race among likely voters. The majority, 57% of Pennsylvania voters said they were better off financially under President Trump, marking a 24 point lead over Harris, who 33% of voters prefer economically. 

According to donation records, Harris' campaign has received millions from environmental groups, including $9 million from the League of Conservation Voters, $3.8 million from the Environmental Defense Fund, and $4.5 million from Clean Power Action. 

A Politico report noted that green activists have adopted a “do-no-harm approach” to the Harris campaign. According to the report these groups are “ditching demands for policy details and muting potential criticisms” over her reversal on fracking. 

On Meet the Press, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stated that he still considers Harris a “Progressive” and considered her recent policy position change on fracking, and other issues, "pragmatic." Sanders continued to say that Harris is "doing what she thinks is right in order to win the election."