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Kamala Harris on Energy & Oil
Democratic candidate for President (withdrawn); California Senator
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2019: ban fracking; 2024: I will not ban fracking
Q: In your last run for president you said you wanted to ban fracking. Now you don't. Why have so many of your policy positions changed?HARRIS: My values have not changed. Let's talk about fracking because we're here in Pennsylvania. I made that very
clear in 2020. I will not ban fracking. I have not banned fracking as Vice President. And, in fact, I was the tie-breaking vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which opened new leases for fracking. My position is that we have got to invest in diverse
sources of energy so we reduce our reliance on foreign oil. We have had the largest increase in domestic oil production in history because of an approach that recognizes that we cannot over rely on foreign oil.
TRUMP: Fracking? She's been against it
for 12 years. She will never allow fracking in Pennsylvania. If she won the election, fracking in Pennsylvania will end on day one. When they took over, they got rid of it, started getting rid of it, and the prices were going up the roof.
Source: ABC News 2024 Presidential debate in Philadelphia
, Sep 10, 2024
As president, I will not ban fracking
Q: In 2019 you said, "There is no question I'm in favor of banning fracking." Do you still want to ban fracking?HARRIS: No, and I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020, that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking.
As president, I will not ban fracking.
Q: In 2019, in a town hall you were asked, "Would you commit to implementing a federal ban on fracking on your first day in office?" and you said, "There's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking. So yes."
So it changed in that campaign?
HARRIS: In 2020 I made very clear where I stand. We are in 2024, and I have not changed that position, nor will I going forward. I kept my word, and I will keep my word.
Q: What made you change that position at the
time?
HARRIS: 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.
Source: CNN on 2024 Hopefuls: joint interview of Harris and Walz
, Aug 29, 2024
Does not support a total ban on fracking
During the 2020 election cycle, Harris publicly supported bans on fracking, mandatory buy-back programs for assault weapons, and decriminalizing illegal border crossings. Now, her campaign says she's changed her positions.During 2020,
Harris publicly supported bans on fracking, mandatory buy-back programs for assault weapons, and decriminalizing illegal border crossings. Now, her campaign says she's changed her positions.
A few days ago, Harris' campaign released a statement saying the vice president "does not support a total ban on fracking" to drill for oil and gas. Video clips from 2019 of her telling CNN that "there's no question
I'm in favor of banning fracking" have been circulating on social media.
Asked whether Harris' stance has changed, a campaign official told Axios that the vice president's positions have been "shaped by three years of effective governance."
Source: Axios.com on 2024 Presidential hopefuls
, Aug 9, 2024
2010s: Sued Big Oil; no climate change disinformation
Climate action has run through Harris's career for decades. As California's attorney general, Harris sued big oil companies like BP and ConocoPhillips, and investigated Exxon Mobil for its role in climate change disinformation.
While in the Senate, she sponsored the Green New Deal resolution. And as vice president, Harris made the crucial tie-breaking vote to pass Democrats' historic climate bill.
Source: CNN coverage of 2024 Presidential hopefuls
, Jul 23, 2024
$20B for community-based clean energy transition
Every day, we feel and see the impact of the climate crisis. It is clear that the clock is not only ticking, it is banging. And we must act. I have met with folks with new approaches to reduce our emissions and accelerate our clean energy transition,
but folks who often do not have access to the funds they need to make their ideas a reality. And that is a problem.For years, one of the missing pieces in our strategy to fight the climate crisis is that we have not invested in community climate
action. For years, the people of the community--folks who know what their neighborhood needs and how to provide it--have not been given adequate resources to implement climate solutions. And that's why we're here today.
I am proud to announce the
largest investment in financing for community-based climate projects in our nation's history. We will provide $20 billion to a national network of nonprofits and community lenders to fund tens of thousands of climate and clean energy projects.
Source: White House Vice Pres. 2024 press release: "Clean Energy"
, Jul 14, 2023
Carbon-neutral America by 2035
PENCE: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would put us back in the Paris Climate Accord. They'd impose the Green New Deal, which would crush American energy and would crush American jobs. President Trump and I believe the progress we have made in a cleaner
environment has been happening because we have a free market economy. What's remarkable is the United States has reduced CO2 more than the countries that are still in the Paris Climate Accord, but we've done it through innovation.
HARRIS: Joe understands that the west coast is burning. Joe has seen and talked with the farmers in Iowa whose entire crops have been destroyed because of floods. Joe is about saying we're going to invest that in renewable energy, which is going to be
about the creation of millions of jobs. We will achieve net zero emissions by 2050, carbon neutral by 2035We will also reenter the Climate Agreement with pride.
Source: 2020 Vice-Presidential Debate in Utah
, Oct 7, 2020
California fires show climate crisis is public health crisis
Standing in front of a burned and melted playground at Pine Ridge Elementary, Harris spoke about how climate, health, the economy and race were all connected. She said it's not a partisan issue. "When we're talking about the climate crisis, we are
talking about a public health crisis," she said. "It is incumbent on us, in terms of the leadership of our nation, to take seriously these new changes in our climate, and to do what we can to mitigate against the damage."
Source: Sacramento Bee on 2020 Congressional CA-12 election
, Sep 15, 2020
Deadlines for reducing greenhouse gases & renewable energy
Q: Is the Green New Deal still your ultimate goal?HARRIS: We need to have a goal that is based on timelines, about saying that we're going to have deadlines on when we're going to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction, when we're going
to have an investment in electric vehicles, and do what we need to do to invest in renewable energies, there's a whole plan about investing in infrastructure around renewable energies-- one million jobs will be created as a result of that.
Source: ABC This Week 2020 National Convention David Muir Q&A
, Aug 23, 2020
Shouldn't sell/lease public land for drilling
Q: How do you plan to support already at-risk and marginalized people who are experiencing the impact of climate change now? HARRIS: Ultimately, it's about empowering communities that are often ignored. All of those communities have been
disproportionately impacted by the change that we are seeing in our climate, not to mention the kind of behaviors by the fossil fuel industry that have been about pollution, about dumping and all that.
It should be our responsibility to make sure that we leverage the incredible power we have in a way that is about empowering the communities that have been long overlooked and ignored.
Q: What about public lands?
HARRIS: We should not be selling or leasing public land for the purposes of drilling. One of my greatest priorities on this subject will be about preservation of public lands.
Source: Climate Crisis Town Hall (CNN 2019 Democratic primary)
, Sep 4, 2019
Rejoin Paris Accord on Day One; carbon neutral by 2030
Gov. Jay Inslee: : Climate change is not a singular issue, it is all the issues that we Democrats care about. It is health. It is national security. It is our economy. The science tells us we have to get off coal in 10 years. We have to have off of
fossil fuels in our electrical grid in 15. And we need a president to do it or it won't get done.Harris: I have to agree with Governor Inslee. We currently have a president in the White House who obviously does not understand the science.
The guy thinks that wind turbines cause cancer, but what in fact what they cause is jobs. I would take any Democrat on this stage over the current president of the United States.
We must have and adopt a Green New Deal. On day one I would re-enter us in the Paris agreement. And put in place so we would be carbon neutral by 2030.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (second night in Detroit)
, Jul 31, 2019
Climate crisis represents existential threat to our species
I don't call it climate change. It's a climate crisis. It represents an existential threat to us as a species. And the fact that we have a president who has embraced science fiction over science fact will be to our collective peril.
We must confront what is immediate and before us right now. That is why I support a Green New Deal. It is why I will re-enter us in the Paris Agreement, because we have to take these issues seriously.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami)
, Jun 27, 2019
Green New Deal sets agenda for dealing with climate change
The climate crisis is representing an existential threat to who we are as human beings. I support the Green New Deal because it puts timelines in effect. I think, for example, that we need to have -- really diversify public policy on water,
with an equal emphasis on recycling, on conservation, on capture of water, storage of water, desalination. We need to invest in electric cars. We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All of that is in the Green New Deal.
Source: CNN Town Hall 2020: 5 candidates back-to-back
, Apr 22, 2019
Restore Clean Power Plan and Clean Car Standards
Q: As president, would you keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement and commit to more ambitious targets in 2020?A: Yes, she wants to return the U.S. to the Paris deal.
Q: Would you restore Obama-era climate change regulations that the Trump
administration has reversed, like the Clean Power Plan?
A: Harris's campaign said she wanted to "restore the Clean Power Plan and fully implement the Clean Car Standards."
Q: Do you support a national renewable energy standard?
A: She is for a national goal for renewable energy.
Q: Do you support increasing federal funding for clean-energy research?
A: Harris's campaign said that as president, she would "invest in clean energy research and infrastructure."
Source: 2019 "Meet the Candidates" (NY Times.com)
, Apr 18, 2019
Climate change important, but not only issue
On the issue of climate change: "Every parent wants to know that their child can drink clean water and breathe clean air. And that same parent wants to know that they're able to bring home enough money with one job to pay their bills and pay their rent,
and put food on the table instead of having to work two or three jobs," she said. "Every person wants to know that there will be a criminal-justice system that is fair to all people, regardless of their race."
Source: The Atlantic, "Pick a Lane," on 2020 Democratic primary
, Jan 22, 2019
Don't withdraw from the Paris climate accord
- California's attorney general, Harris launched an investigation into Exxon Mobil in 2016, after reports that the oil and gas giant lied for decades about the risks of climate change.
- Harris criticized President Donald Trump's decision to
withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
- Additionally, Harris opposed the Trump administration's proposal to reverse Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
, Jan 21, 2019
Climate change is a national security threat to America
When you speak to experts on international conflicts, you will find that they look at climate change as a national security threat--a "threat multiplier" that will exacerbate poverty and political instability, creating conditions that enable violence,
despair, even terrorism. An unstable, erratic climate will beget an unstable, erratic world.For example, climate change will lead to droughts. Droughts will lead to famine. Famine will drive desperate people to leave their homes in search of
sustenance. Massive flows of displaced people will lead to refugee crises. Refugee crisis will lead to tension and instability across borders.
The hard truth is that climate change is going to cause terrible instability and desperation, and that will
put American national security at risk. That's why as part of President Obama's national security strategy, climate change was identified as a national security threat of the highest priority.
Source: The Truths We Hold, by Kamala Harris, p.244-5
, Jan 8, 2019
Innovate smart solutions to climate change
Harris released the following statement on SB 350, the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act, and SB 32, Climate Pollution Reduction Beyond 2020:"Millions of Californians enjoy cleaner air and water because of our state's efforts to improve our
environment. SB 350 and SB 32 build on this legacy by setting aggressive but achievable clean energy goals. These bills will ensure California continues to innovate smart solutions to climate change while growing our economy and improving public health."
Source: Imperial Valley News on 2016 California Senate race
, Aug 27, 2015
Criminal prosecution of pipeline companies for oil spills
Harris is investigating whether criminal activity was part of last month's oil spill on the Santa Barbara County coast.Harris got a first-hand look at the clean-up efforts. Harris walked along the coastline, where crews are still dealing with the
damage of more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil spilled. She met with the District Attorney to discuss the possibility of initiating criminal prosecutions relating to that spill. Harris said her office is looking into the company responsible, Plains
All-American Pipeline, and said all options are on the table.
"It's something that we're taking very seriously and we've got boots on the ground. I've got almost a dozen attorneys combined with folks who are helping with our independent investigation
with the local & state & federal agencies," said Harris.
A federal report released this week shows the ruptured portion of pipeline was corroded and its walls were at thin as 1/16th of an inch in some places. Harris called that information troubling.
Source: KCBX on Calif. Attorney General press release "Oil Spill"
, Jun 4, 2015
Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization.
Harris signed the Resolution on Green New Deal
This resolution calls for the creation of a Green New Deal with the goals of:
- achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions;
- establishing millions of high-wage jobs and ensuring economic security for all;
- investing in infrastructure and industry;
- securing clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment for all; and
- promoting justice and equality.
The resolution calls for accomplishment of these goals through a 10-year national mobilization effort. The resolution also enumerates the goals and projects of the mobilization effort, including:building smart power grids (i.e., power grids that enable customers to reduce their power use during peak demand periods);upgrading all existing buildings and constructing new buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency;removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and agricultural sectors;
cleaning up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites;ensuring businesspersons are free from unfair competition; andproviding higher education, high-quality health care, and affordable, safe, and adequate housing to all.Opposing argument from the Cato Institute, 2/24/2019: While reasonable people can disagree on some aspects of the Green New Deal`s proposals, one fact is uncontroversial: the US cannot afford them. The Green New Deal would likely cost upwards of $6.6 trillion per year. The federal government should look for cheaper ways to address problems like climate change. Instead of the Green New Deal, the federal government could adopt a revenue??neutral carbon tax to decrease emissions without exacerbating the fiscal imbalance. Economists from across the political spectrum support carbon taxation as the most cost??effective way to address climate change. And a carbon tax would be most effective if uniformly adopted by other countries, too.
Source: H.Res.109/S.Res.59 19-HR0109 on Feb 7, 2019
Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org