Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a term that has been gaining national attention since the presidential debate Sept. 10, but many Americans are unfamiliar with what exactly it is. Fracking is a drilling system used to extract gas and oil from shale rocks using water, sand and a mixture of chemicals. There are concerns these chemicals, which are often unknown to those beyond the government and fracking companies, are leading to mass contamination of groundwater that people consume.
Pennsylvania is the second-largest natural gas producer in the nation. It is also one of the key swing states in the upcoming presidential election, so all eyes are on major policy issues important to voters in the commonwealth. Forty-four percent of Pennsylvanians support fracking, 40% oppose it and 16% are unsure of their views.
As of July 2024, there are approximately 220,175 drilled and proposed wells in Pennsylvania. Studies have shown that fracking has helped reduce energy costs and provide more jobs, but there are still concerns about unknown chemicals causing harm. Health effects include a higher likelihood of leukemia in children living near wells, lung diseases among workers from inhalation of sand particles and increased preterm births due to contaminated drinking water. Recently, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro implemented a policy requiring fracking companies to disclose the chemicals they use, but this did not include chemicals considered proprietary or “trade secrets.”
Because the Sept. 10 presidential debate was held in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where fracking is a popular topic among voters, Vice President Kamala Harris had to outwardly oppose a complete ban on fracking in order to retain Pennsylvania votes. However, former President Trump criticized Harris for switching her position on fracking. In 2019, Harris said she would ban fracking and supported the Green New Deal.
Both candidates’ focus on fracking as more of an industry issue rather than a potential health problem ignores a major complication with fracking that needs to be addressed. Since many voters in swing states still support fracking, the candidates will continue to appeal to this group rather than addressing these implications.
