Harris’ energy policies under fire in crucial state

Written by The Empowerment Alliance via RealClearPennsylvania,

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is ground zero for selecting the next President of the United States. We know that energy affordability is a key issue for voters in making this decision.

Data compiled by The Empowerment Alliance (TEA) shows that Pennsylvania has 3.2 million American Energy Patriots, or about 38 percent of its 8.8 million registered voters.

We define those voters as people who prioritize energy affordability in their voting decisions. They will support candidates who support cost-effective energy policies.

Statistics also show that the Biden-Harris administration has a negative 31.8% approval rate among this voting bloc.

The importance of the state

• Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, the most of the seven battleground states.
• The state tended to support the winner of the US election. Only three times between 1933 and 1988 was a presidential candidate able to win without carrying the state.
• In 2020, Joe Biden won the state by about 1.16 percentage points (80,555 votes) over Donald Trump.
• Trump claimed a narrow victory in 2016 over Hillary Clinton.

TEA reviewed both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s energy policies and records Keystone State voters should consider before voting.

• Since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, the cost of electricity in Pennsylvania has increased by more than 33%, the cost of natural gas has increased by 28%, and the cost of gasoline has increased by more than 30%.
• Despite campaign promises not to ban fracking, the Biden-Harris administration has let a fracking ban take place in the Delaware River Basin, which covers parts of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.
• A national fracking ban could cost Pennsylvania 600,000 jobs and $260 billion in lost gross domestic product (GDP).

The specifics are missing

Harris has adopted a plan that aides describe as “strategic ambiguity” on energy policy to avoid alienating environmental activists and moderate voters. In fact, it took until early September for her campaign to list any key issues on its official website.

The state’s natural gas producers pressed Harris on her specific policies, which were inconsistent or — in some cases — nonexistent.

“We need more details,” said Dave Callahan, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, whose members gathered in northeastern Pennsylvania last week for an annual conference.

Reuters spoke to a dozen natural gas and drilling executives who attended the conference; all said they’re still second-guessing Harris’ energy policy.

Various policy changes

• Harris says he no longer supports a ban on oil and gas fracking on federal lands, which he championed during his 2020 presidential run.

Since rising to the top of the Democratic ticket, Harris has backed away from banning fracking, saying he now believes the economy of clean energy can grow without having to ban the practice.

• She also championed the progressive wish list of climate goals — including ending the U.S.’s dependence on fossil fuels within 10 years — as a co-sponsor of Green New Deal legislation in the Senate.
• As vice president, Harris voted to kill Biden’s climate investment package, which contained about $1 trillion in tax credits, grants and loans for clean energy.

But as a 2024 presidential candidate, she now says she no longer supports the Green New Deal.

• As a senator, Harris was a co-sponsor of legislation that called for an increase in zero-emission vehicles, meaning electric vehicles, and eventually phasing out all others by 2040.

The campaign recently said it no longer supports the measure.

Instead, voters have a much clearer picture of Trump’s position on energy issues.

• His “Drill Baby, Drill” mantra isn’t just campaign bluster to appease oil and gas producers.
• He remains committed to domestic energy production and pipeline expansion as he was during his first term in office.
• Trump has pledged to broadly dismantle federal regulations, boost domestic hydrocarbon production and attract “energy-hungry industries” to the United States if re-elected.

Natural gas matters here

Pennsylvania is second only to Texas in total estimated natural gas reserves.

• The state’s reserves more than quadrupled from 2011 to 2021 due to increased natural gas development in the Marcellus Shale region.
• In 2021, the oil and natural gas industry contributed $75 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy.
• In the same year, workers in jobs related to the oil and natural gas industry earned an average of $95,047 annually.
• In 2022, approximately 3,138,296 residential and business customers used natural gas in Pennsylvania.

Summary

Pennsylvania has a robust and diverse economy. It must protect the jobs and livelihoods of its residents by electing leaders at the local, state and federal levels who will fight for domestic energy with an eye toward consumer welfare.

The economy boasts strong sectors in agriculture, food processing, industrial machinery and health care, among others. That vibrant economy is powered by reliable, locally produced energy.

Marcellus Shale development is an American success story that began around 2005. It allowed clean, job-creating American natural gas to be extracted from the Marcellus and Utica shales.

This success must continue so Pennsylvania families, farms, businesses and industries can continue to thrive.

A Harris presidency will weaken domestic energy producers and make America even more dependent on foreign oil. If the record of her home state of California is any guide, we can expect her as president to advocate for more eco-friendly schemes at any cost, such as expensive and inefficient electric vehicle charging stations.

This is something that Pennsylvania’s energy sector, the state’s contractors and families cannot afford.

The Alliance for Empowerment was established in 2019 to provide common sense energy solutions that promote the production and consumption of affordable, clean and reliable natural gas. We believe that our nation’s energy independence is essential to America’s independence.

By Zerohedge.com

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