Once a supporter of banning hydraulic fracturing (fracking), the Democratic nominee has changed her stance, stating that she will not ban the practice and has not done so even as Vice President.
At Tuesday’s presidential debate, former President Donald Trump claimed that if Harris becomes President, she will ban fracking in Pennsylvania.
“Fracking? She’s been against it for 12 years,” Trump remarked at one point.“If she won the election, fracking in Pennsylvania would end on day one,” he asserted, according to NBC Chicago.

In response, Harris clarified, “I will not ban fracking. I have not banned fracking as Vice President of the United States. In fact, I was the tie-breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which opened new leases for fracking.”

What is fracking?

Fracking, or “hydraulic fracturing,” is the process of injecting water, sand, and/or chemicals into a well to break up underground bedrock and free up oil or gas reserves. The USGS monitors the environmental impacts of this practice across the country, from potential earthquakes to degraded groundwater quality.
Hydraulic fracturing is a well-stimulation technique commonly used in low-permeability rocks like tight sandstone, shale, and some coal beds to increase oil and/or gas flow to a well from petroleum-bearing rock formations. A similar technique is used to improve permeability in underground geothermal reservoirs. Hydraulic fracturing is also applied in low-permeability sediments and other tight subsurface formations to enhance soil vapor extraction and other remediation technologies for contaminated sites.

Why did Harris want to ban fracking earlier?

During her 2019 presidential campaign, Harris expressed support for banning fracking to address climate change concerns, stating, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking, and starting with what we can do on day one around public lands.”

Even in 2020, during the presidential campaign, Harris said on multiple occasions that she supported banning the practice to address climate change-related issues.

What made her change her stance?

Harris’ position on fracking has evolved over the past five years. In a recent CNN interview with Dana Bash, she discussed the reasons behind her policy shifts and emphasized that she voted to expand fracking leases while serving as Vice President. Trump criticized Harris for her reversal on the issue, claiming, “She gave up at least 12, and probably 14 or 15 different policies.”

Why is fracking so controversial?

Fracking remains a controversial practice due to its potential environmental and health impacts. According to various publications and researchers, fracking can cause tremors, requires massive quantities of water, generates significant amounts of wastewater, and emits greenhouse gases like methane into the atmosphere. The release of chemicals associated with fracking has also been linked to health risks.
Proponents of fracking argue that the US must continue the practice to increase its domestic production of oil and other fossil fuels, reducing reliance on foreign sources. Groups like the American Petroleum Institute highlight the thousands of jobs directly or indirectly tied to the energy sector that depend on practices like fracking.
According to the US National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHES), fracking impacts water quality, which is a primary concern. Hydraulic fracturing fluids used to fracture rock formations contain chemicals that could harm human health and the environment, especially if they contaminate drinking water supplies. Other concerns relate to the chemicals recovered and disposed of as wastewater. Emissions of air pollutants are another potential hazard.