Joe Biden has continuously stopped short of calling for the most radical environmental proposals, including the Green New Deal and a national ban on fracking. Though he may have flirted with a “no new fracking” policy, he told a crowd just last month in Pennsylvania that their energy jobs were safe.
In fact, Biden’s hesitancy to go all-in on left-wing climate proposals even led the Sunrise Movement, a prominent climate organization that previously backed Bernie Sanders, to give his climate plan an F rating. Despite this hesitancy, when it comes to environmental reforms, it’s clear where Biden’s running mate stands.
While running for president, Kamala Harris told a CNN town hall crowd that there was “no question” that she would ban fracking. It obviously sounds appealing for the environmentally minded, but banning the practice of hydraulic fracking would be disastrous for carbon emissions, energy access, and employment.
While fracking may not be a perfect energy solution, natural gas is an integral part of the United States’s strategy to fight climate change. Natural gas produces approximately 50% fewer emissions than coal, and while it may not pass the purity test of many progressives, there is truly no question that it is the reason the U.S. has been the world’s foremost leader in emissions reductions by volume. U.S. emissions reductions are more than 4 times those of the United Kingdom, the nation with the second-greatest reductions.
As a passionate advocate for environmental justice, Harris should know that banning fracking would increase energy costs for rural, low-income, and minority communities. Those without access to clean energy and those who cannot afford clean energy are no less deserving of reliable, affordable power. The U.S. generated 38% of its electricity from natural gas in 2019, more than all renewables and nuclear combined. A ban on fracking cannot and will not magically change these numbers and supply people with the energy they need.
The harsh reality is that a ban on fracking could result in only two choices for our most vulnerable communities: They could either be forced to go without or resort to a cheaper, dirtier alternative. Neither outcome champions environmentalism or justice.
Finally, as our nation faces a recession from the virus, we cannot afford to lose the nearly 725,000 jobs created by the shale revolution and fracking boom from 2005 to 2012. People must put food on the table and maintain affordable energy in their homes. Decimating an entire industry as families face the consequences of a global pandemic is simply not an option.
These challenges do not outweigh the challenges we face environmentally, but getting ahead of ourselves will only set us further back. By proposing a ban on fracking, Harris reveals a blatant misunderstanding of how to best combat climate change, and her misguided approach to natural gas is only the tip of the iceberg.
The opportunity for bipartisan climate action has been abundant, as shown in the Growing Climate Solutions Act, the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act, the USE IT Act, the BEST Act, and the LEADING Act, among others. Of those listed, Harris has co-sponsored none. While she advocates against fracking, more telling are the methods she chooses not to support.
The Biden campaign has been careful to walk the line between being moderate and convincing the progressive wing of the party that Biden is worthy of their support. After fumbling his stance on fracking, Biden chose a vice presidential nominee who fully supports progressive Green New Deal measures, someone who can attract the base that has yet to embrace him fully.
While at first glance, her stances may appeal to leftists, upon further inspection, it is apparent that Harris is no better suited to address environmental challenges than moderate Biden. With an abysmal record, Harris’s rhetoric may in theory add something environmentally valuable to the race. However, this eloquence is nothing more than an attempt to “greenwash” a ticket lacking in both style and substance.
In Harris, Biden may appease one wing of his party, but those seeking real, effective climate solutions are once more left out in the cold.
Danielle Butcher is the executive vice president at the American Conservation Coalition.
