In Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are vying for support from voters who rely on fracking for economic stability. Farmer George Wherry, 85, and his daughter Diana Petrie, 56, will vote for Trump, citing his support for fracking, which has brought them economic “freedom.” However, Harris’s past support for a fracking ban has left many skeptical, including former coal mine manager Jason White, who plans to vote for Trump.
Fracking has created jobs and wealth in Pennsylvania, but environmentalists and scientists have raised concerns about its health and climate impacts. Despite this, many Pennsylvanians have grown more enthusiastic about fracking, with 48% in favor and 44% opposed, according to a 2022 poll.
Some voters, like August Michel, see fracking as positive for the economy and farmers, while others, like Laura Jean Kahl, oppose it due to environmental concerns and will vote for Harris solely because she’s not Trump. Kahl believes that fracking is too entrenched to be stopped by Harris’s election.
The debate highlights the complexities of fracking in Pennsylvania, where economic interests and environmental concerns collide.
