In the third presidential debate that took place on Thursday, US President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden again disagreed on the issue of fracking. This is not the first time that fracking has been discussed in this electoral cycle.
Here is everything you need to know about the problem:
What is fracking?
Fracking is the technology that allows oil and gas to be extracted from the shale using a specific technique called horizontal hydraulic fracturing in which drillers drill thousands of feet of land to reach the shale. The bits are then placed horizontally deeper into the ground in search of oil and gas. After this, water is shot into the rock at high speed and the oil and gas molecules come out of the cracks.
How important is fracking to the American economy?
Fracking has contributed to the massive expansion of drilling and thus the creation of new jobs in the American economy. It has also helped the United States become the world’s largest oil and gas producer as well as an exporter.
What is the position of Biden and Trump on fracking?
The debate on fracking lasts a decade, as it is the central talking point in the broader discourse on climate change. It is being discussed so much, as it marks a political difference between Biden and Trump.
Biden has promised his ‘Build Back Better’ plan that focuses on renewable forms of energy and job creation through them and has called for a limited ban on fracking, which means ending the use of federally controlled land. for fracking. On the other hand, President Trump rejects the concept of any ban and has maintained the idea that he is protecting oil and coal jobs through his stance.
Also Read: Trump Implements 2016 Playbook, Biden Expands 2020 Battlefield
Why is fracking a voting issue in these elections?
The issue is a way for Trump to capture working-class voters, who tend to vote for the Democratic Party. Through this, Trump also intends to show voters that his focus is entirely on the economy and jobs. Additionally, four swing states – Pennsylvania, Ohio, Colorado, and New Mexico – are heavily affected by the fracking problem and Trump is trying to capture the votes here. Pennsylvania has 20 electoral votes; Ohio is 18; Colorado has nine and New Mexico has five electoral votes.
Trump may also cast Biden as a bow to the far left of the Democrats, as the Green New Deal (the ‘Build Back Better’ plan is a reformed version of the deal) was initially proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders and supported by Alexandria. Ocasio Cortez.
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