Energy & Environment — Harris defends fracking reversal

View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story  Harris cites IRA impact to explain fracking reversal Vice President Harris in an interview Thursday addressed her reversal on a fracking ban, which she supported during the 2020 Democratic primary but has since come out against. © AP "As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking," Harris told CNN's Dana Bash in a joint interview with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).   Bash followed up by citing Harris's comments at a 2019 town hall in which she said "there's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking," and asked why she had since changed her position.   "My values have not changed. I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate. And to do that, we can do what we have accomplished thus far," Harris answered.   She went on to cite the recent boom in renewable energy jobs in the U.S., much of it in the wake of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, for which she cast the tiebreaking Senate vote.   "That tells me, from my experience as vice president, we can do it without banning fracking," she said. "What I have seen is that we can grow and we can increase a thriving clean energy economy without banning fracking."   Fracking, the process of extracting natural gas from bedrock by injecting pressurizing fluids, is a major employer in the southwest of Pennsylvania, which is likely to be a pivotal state in the November election.   Read more at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.   Programming note: This newsletter will not publish on Monday, Sept. 2 due to Labor Day. We'll see you Tuesday! Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: 5 issues where Harris has shifted to the center From banning fracking to pushing an electric vehicle (EV) mandate, here are five issues where Vice President Harris has shifted her position during her time in Washington.  Full Story A climate-related mass die-off leaves over 100 tons of dead fish collecting at a Greek port VOLOS, Greece (AP) — More than 100 tons of dead fish were collected in and around the port of Volos in central Greece after a mass die-off linked to extreme weather fluctuations, authorities said Thursday.  Full Story Major power outage hits Venezuela's capital, with Maduro government blaming 'sabotage' CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans awoke Friday to a major power outage in the capital, Caracas, and several states. President Nicolas Maduro's government blamed the outage, which it said began about 4:50 a.m., on "electrical sabotage."  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Errant ostrich brings traffic to a halt in South Dakota after escaping from a trailer SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — An ostrich brought traffic to a halt in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Tuesday as motorists tried to lure and nudge the towering bird off a multilane thoroughfare. Full Story What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Northern Lights Imperiled Infrastructure From Power Grids to Satellites, NOAA Memo Says (Bloomberg)   OPEC+ likely to proceed with planned output hike from October, sources say (Reuters) Climate Change Comes to the Tetons (The New York Times) On Tap  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: On Wednesday: The House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce will hold a field hearing titled "Assessing the Federal Governments Response to the 2023 Maui Wildfires" What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Major grocery chain ending tobacco sales Stop & Shop, a major grocery chain, announced this week that it would be ending its sales of tobacco products. The East Coast chain has 360 stores in five states. Read more Watch live: Trump rally in Pennsylvania Former President Trump is slated to deliver remarks Friday during a campaign rally in Johnstown, a western Pennsylvania town once dominated by riverfront steel mills. Read more   You're all caught up. See you next week!  Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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