March 30, 2020

Joe Biden Vows to Ban Oil & Gas Drilling if Elected President

“Number one, no more subsidies for fossil fuel industry. No more drilling on federal lands. No more drilling, including offshore. No ability for the oil industry to drill, period, end, number one.” These were the words of former Vice-President Joe Biden during the latest Democratic Presidential debate. It was the declaration of a man trying to rally the misinformed to take up torches and pitchforks and run “fracking” out of town. Joe would be chasing off much more, though. The United States has become the world’s top producer of natural gas and petroleum and putting a stop to fracking (also known as hydraulic fracturing) would come at a steep price. The American Petroleum Institute (API) attributes fracking for being responsible in the development of over 95 percent of all the natural gas and oil wells in the United States. The Biden campaign has since tried to backtrack these comments, saying he “misspoke.” “No ability for the oil industry to drill, period, end, number one,” just slipped out? So, he accidentally said, “No” four times, while discussing fracking? If anything, Biden’s stance on fracking has been consistent. Asked in July of 2019, by a CNN correspondent, “Would there be any place for fossil fuels including coal and fracking in a Biden administration?” Biden answered with a resounding, “No.” Senator Pat Toomey, of Pennsylvania, isn’t buying it. “There is nothing ‘moderate’ about Vice President Biden’s plan to curb and eventually eliminate fracking. It’s just a ban by another name.” These drastic effects would devastate the towns and communities whose economies are largely built upon the oil and gas industry. API claims 7.5 million jobs in the US would be lost in just 2022, from the banning of fracking on public and private lands. In these times of economic uncertainty, Biden’s statement clangs the alarm bell. Biden’s own home state of Pennsylvania stands to suffer greatly if such measures are taken. Rep. Fred Keller of Pennsylvania called Biden, “out of touch with hardworking Americans who have benefited from our robust energy economy.” Economic shockwaves would reverberate throughout the entire country if Biden fulfills his promise to end oil & gas. It’s not just the energy community that would feel the repercussions of Biden’s proposed actions. In addition to robbing the country of current (and future) jobs and revenue, Biden’s plan would strip the United States of its energy independence. Thrusting the country into the reliance of foreign energy, would drive up domestic energy costs. Adding insult to injury, the millions in the energy sector put out of work, would be forced to pay more for the energy they had previously helped to develop. Rick Manning is the president for Americans for Limited Government. He cautions Americans, “He will leave behind America’s blue-collar workers in a heartbeat if elected president. After the last debate, there is no reason for any blue-collar worker to cling their support for Biden, as his true ‘collars’ are now available for everyone to see.” Biden is trying to villainize fracking and convince voters that he’s protecting them from a monster at the top of the hill.  As he races towards the top of that hill, it’s not a monster he’s chasing off, it’s millions of hard-working Americans.