Democrats ban on fracking - Feb 20

[dan_s]

Sanders and Bloomberg split over fracking

Yesterday’s Democratic primary debate in Las Vegas laid bare the candidates' differences over fracking as Bernie Sanders defended his push for an outright ban and challenged concerns that it could hurt Democrats politically. NBC's Chuck Todd asked Sanders what he would tell workers in Pennsylvania, a swing state where natural gas extraction via fracking is a major industry. Todd cited this New York Times piece on the politics of fracking there. Sanders, who is leading in national polls, replied he would tell workers of the need to act "incredibly boldly” in the near future to prevent "irreparable" global damage from climate change. ‘The Green New Deal that I support, by the way, will create up to 20 million good-paying jobs as we move our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy,” said Sanders. Michael Bloomberg, whose has donated heavily to anti-coal and other climate efforts, said he did not support a ban a fracking, the technique that has enabled the decade-plus surge in U.S. oil and natural gas production. “If we enforced some of the rules on fracking so that they don’t release methane into the air and into the water, you will make a big difference, but we are not going to get rid of fracking for a while,” he said.

BTW: The #1 thing that can be done to benefit Russia is ban fracking because there would be a big spike in global oil prices. The ban on fracking would cause U.S. oil production to go on steep decline. Sanders statement that the Green New Deal will create 20 million good-paying jobs is total BS. Gasoline prices over $5.00/gallon, thanks to ban on fracking, would crush the U.S. economy.