Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Kamala Harris insists Biden administration wouldn’t ban fracking

Sen. Kamala Harris is clarifying Joe Biden’s comments during the last presidential debate about transitioning away from the oil industry

Via AP news wire
Friday 23 October 2020 13:59 EDT
Election 2020 Harris
Election 2020 Harris (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local):

12:15 p.m.

Sen. Kamala Harris is clarifying Joe Biden’s comments during the last presidential debate about transitioning away from the oil industry. Speaking to reporters in Atlanta on Friday, Biden's running mate said he won’t ban the oil extraction technique called fracking and will “deal with the oil subsidies

Republicans have launched a barrage of attacks on the issue.

Biden was asked during Thursday's debate with President Donald Trump in Tennessee if there would be “any place for fossil fuels, including coal and fracking, in a Biden administration.” The Democrat offered a muddled response, initially saying he would transition away from oil, before clarifying he’d eliminate federal subsidies for the industry.

Biden’s climate plan calls for achieving net-zero carbon emissions in part through nixing subsidies, which would have implications for fracking. Biden also has proposed a ban on new gas and oil permits on federal lands but not a full fracking ban.

Republicans seized on Biden’s answer to again assert that his policies would have damaging implications for the oil and gas industry.

Harris dismisses those attacks, saying Trump “likes to take everything out of context.”

___

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE:

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Friday are framing their closing messages in the sprint to Nov. 3. On Thursday they met for their final debate in Nashville, Tennessee.

Read more:

— Trump, Biden lawyer up, brace for White House legal battle

— Battleground states' postal delays persist with mail voting underway

— Vision 2020: What happens if the US election is contested?

— Analysis: Debate is brief interlude of normalcy in 2020 race

— Final Trump-Biden debate is marked by clashes but less chaos

— Biden calls for ‘transition’ from oil, GOP sees opening

— US: Russian hackers targeting state, local networks

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in