During Tuesday’s presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the subject of fracking as a means of drilling for fossil fuel was a heated point of discussion, with Harris’ stances on the issue under scrutiny.

While Trump has repeatedly called for any and all tactics to increase drilling and production capacity in the United States, Harris’ viewpoint on fracking specifically has been called into question, with those concerns stemming back to her run for president in the 2020 campaign.

Harris vowed not to ban fracking as president in the debate with former President Donald Trump Tuesday night.

Harris was pressed during the debate on changing her stance on hydraulic fracking.

“Let’s talk about fracking, because I made that very clear in 2020 I will not ban fracking,” Harris responded. “I have not banned fracking as Vice President of the United States, and in fact, I was the tie breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act which opened new leases for fracking.”

Passed by Democrats in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act included several requirements that the government offer new leases for oil and gas on federal property, provisions that were included due to the efforts of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, then a registered Democrat. Manchin, who registered as an Independent earlier this year, touted his efforts last October to include the leases, saying the Biden administration would not have allowed for new lease sales until 2029 without the measure.

Shifting Stances on Fracking

Harris’ past positions on fracking have been called into question as the vice president has taken up a more centrist stance during her time in the Biden administration, compared to beliefs expressed when running for president during the 2020 election.

During her 2020 campaign, Harris publicly voiced support for a fracking ban, telling CNN, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.”

“And starting with what we can do on Day One around public lands, right?” Harris said. “And then there has to be legislation, but, yes, and this is something I’ve taken on in California. I have a history of working on this issue and to your point, we have to just acknowledge that the residual impact of fracking is enormous in terms of the health and safety of communities.”

President Joe Biden campaigned on ending new fracking on federal land, which accounts for a small share of overall drilling. His administration has not followed through on that promise, although it has sought to limit drilling at the margins, and raised costs for producers.

In July, the vice president appeared to distance herself from her past support for banning fracking after Biden suspended his campaign, teeing Harris up to be the Democratic presidential nominee.

In a statement obtained by The Hill, a Harris spokesperson blasted claims made by former President Donald Trump and his campaign who had accused Harris of wanting to ban fracking.

“Trump’s false claims about fracking bans are an obvious attempt to distract from his own plans to enrich oil and gas executives at the expense of the middle class,” the spokesperson said at the time.

“The Biden-Harris Administration passed the largest ever climate change legislation and under their leadership, America now has the highest ever domestic energy production,” the spokesperson continued. “This Administration created 300,000 energy jobs, while Trump lost nearly a million and his Project 2025 would undo the enormous progress we’ve made the past four years.”

When pressed further on the issue, a campaign spokesperson confirmed to Politico that Harris “would not ban fracking” if elected.

What is Fracking?

Fracking technology has long been used in oil and gas production within the United States, booming in the early 2000s. The drilling method cracks rock layers thousands of feet underground and then pumps water, chemicals and sand to open the cracks – thereby forcing the release of oil or natural gas.

While millions of wells use fracking across the U.S., environmental activists have warned that the technology can pose a risk to humans and the planet. The National Resource Defense Council has warned that fracking can strain clean water supplies while causing contamination in others through fluid leaks, well construction, or the mismanagement of wastewater. Experts have also accused fracking operations of contributing to increased air pollution and earthquakes.

Economic and Political Repercussions

Despite environmental concerns, fracking has helped lower energy and gas prices across the country for decades. From 2007 to 2013 alone, gas bills dropped by $13 billion every year due to fracking, according to Brookings. Republicans have warned that any ban on the drilling method would drive these prices through the roof.

With record gas prices from 2022 still top of mind, support – or lack thereof – for fracking will undoubtedly remain a top issue for voters heading into the November election.

What is at Stake for the 2024 Election

The debate over fracking highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of energy policy in the United States. On the one hand, there is a growing consensus that climate change is a serious threat that needs to be addressed. On the other hand, there is also a strong desire to maintain energy independence and keep energy prices affordable.

Harris’ decision to avoid a ban on fracking may be seen as an attempt to balance these competing priorities. However, it is likely to be a controversial one, as it is likely to alienate both environmental activists and those who believe that the U.S. should be more reliant on domestic fossil fuels.

The 2024 election is likely to be a close one, and the issue of fracking could play a significant role in the outcome. Voters in key swing states like Pennsylvania are likely to be closely watching how the candidates address this issue, and their decision could ultimately determine who wins the presidency.