Kamala Harris on Energy & Oil Democratic candidate for President (withdrawn); California Senator

2019: ban fracking; 2024: I will not ban fracking

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.

As president, I will not 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.

Does not support a total ban on fracking

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."

2010s: Sued Big Oil; no climate change disinformation

$20B for community-based clean energy transition

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.

Carbon-neutral America by 2035

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.

California fires show climate crisis is public health crisis

Deadlines for reducing greenhouse gases & renewable energy

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.

Shouldn't sell/lease public land for drilling

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.

Rejoin Paris Accord on Day One; carbon neutral by 2030

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.

Climate crisis represents existential threat to our species

Green New Deal sets agenda for dealing with climate change

Restore Clean Power Plan and Clean Car Standards

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."

Climate change important, but not only issue

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.

Climate change is a national security threat to America

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.

Innovate smart solutions to climate change

"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."

Criminal prosecution of pipeline companies for oil spills

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.

Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization.

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.