Written by Curtis Williams
Industry executives expressed confidence that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris understands the implications of banning fracking on prices during a discussion at the GasTech conference in Houston. Despite Harris’s previous opposition to fracking as a senator from California, she has now clarified that she would not ban it on federal lands if she were to become president.
“I think she is changing her views,” said Baker Hughes oil field services CEO Lorenzo Simonelli regarding Harris’s stance on fracking.
A spokesperson for Harris confirmed that she would not ban fracking and pointed to her recent statements in a debate where she emphasized the need to invest in diverse energy sources to reduce reliance on foreign oil.
Harris’s opponent, former President Donald Trump, supports fracking and has raised concerns that Harris may seek to ban it.
During the GasTech conference, the CEO of Cheniere Energy, the largest U.S. LNG exporter, highlighted the importance of fracking in keeping natural gas prices low. He expressed trust in Harris’s support for fracking unless proven otherwise and called for a rational approach to the energy transition debate.
Other industry leaders, including Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill, echoed the sentiment that banning fracking would have devastating effects on the U.S. economy.
The discussion comes as Harris and Trump compete fiercely for support in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state and major natural gas producer.
At the conference, several executives also urged the Biden administration to streamline the process for U.S. companies to export LNG, citing the White House’s pause on new LNG permits to assess environmental impact.
“You gotta stop this crazy LNG pause from going forward,” said ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach to energy policy.