Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate candidates, incumbent Democrat Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick, have been locked in a feud over energy policy since campaign he started. In its ads, McCormick sought to portray Casey as an anti-flame fuel and to link Casey to Vice President Kamala Harris’s elderly comments about fracking. Casey maintained his support for fracking and an “all of the above” energy strategy that includes both fossil fuels and neat energy investments like those made possible by the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
On Thursday, candidates in this key swing state will meet for their first debate in Harrisburg. Here are seven tough questions about climate change, energy and the environment that the debate moderator should ask them.
For Senator Bob Casey
Do you believe fracking in Pennsylvania is currently adequately regulated and monitored? If not, what should the government do differently to protect the health of Pennsylvanians and the environment?
Casey said he supports “responsible fracking” that is “regulated and closely monitored to protect our communities.” Environmentalists, public health experts and some residents living near fracking wells in Pennsylvania argue that fracking is not regulated in a way that protects people from water contamination, air pollution, toxic waste and adverse health effects such as asthma, cancer and symptoms side of the respiratory system. Number the latest research on frackingincluding research commissioned by the state Department of Health and the University of Pittsburgh, supports this conclusion.
How would you address the concerns of climate activists and residents of environmental justice areas in Pennsylvania whose communities could become future locations for two Department of Energy-funded hydrogen centers? What should be considered “clean” hydrogen and what should not?
Casey supported two proposals to build hydrogen hubs in Pennsylvania, MACH2 and ARCH2speaking that hydrogen will be “a powerful energy source that can sustainably power U.S. manufacturing, transportation and heavy industry in the future.” Both proposals have drawn criticism from local activists and community members who worry about the impact on the environment and climate and feel left out of the planning process.
Environmentalists in western Pennsylvania are particularly concerned about the ARCH2 proposal, which would exploit fracked gas to produce hydrogen and is backed by fracking company CNX Resources.
Like Gov. Josh Shapiro, you have adopted an “all of the above” energy policy platform that encourages investment in renewable energy but offers no plans to limit fossil fuel extraction in Pennsylvania. But you also talked about the “devastating effects” of the climate crisis and said we must do this “invest in meaningful climate action now.” Given the direct impact of fossil fuel extraction on greenhouse gas emissions, how can these positions be reconciled? How have you supported “meaningful climate action” during your three terms as senator?
Casey voted against a fracking ban in 2021 and criticized President Joe Biden for pausing exports of modern liquefied natural gas, expressing “concern” about the impact of the pause on Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry. Pennsylvania’s annual natural gas production is now 43 times higher than when Casey was first elected to the Senate nearly 20 years ago, according to federal data.
For Dave McCormick
Is there a threshold of global warming at which you would change your mind about the need to enhance fossil fuel extraction?
McCormick acknowledged that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity, but he also advocates “freeing up” oil and gas production in the U.S.
Because fossil fuel extraction is directly linked to climate change, increasing oil and gas production will only enhance the risk of global warming for Pennsylvanians. If fossil fuels are not phased out, the world will be on track to exceed this level Warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius agreed at the Paris Agreements in 2016. Scientists warn that further warming could have disastrous consequences for our health, economy and everyday life.
What is your plan to support Pennsylvania adapt to a changing and increasingly harmful climate, and who will pay for it?
McCormick spoke about the need for a plan to “manage” the reality of climate change through adaptation. Extreme weather events like flooding and heat waves are already making life hard for Pennsylvanians costs local governments and local governmentsand the frequency of these events is likely to enhance in the future. It is estimated that adapting to climate change could cost Pennsylvania even more $15 billion by 2040.
Your wife, (*7*)Dina Powell McCormickserves on the board of ExxonMobil, a fossil fuel company. How does her role influence your decisions and views on energy policy in the United States and abroad?
For both candidates
How will you ensure Pennsylvania remains competitive in a future neat energy economy?
When it comes to the neat energy economy, Pennsylvania lags far behind other states. This ranks 45. of 50 to generate electricity from renewable energy and dead last According to a report by PennEnvironment, renewable energy production from wind, solar and geothermal has increased over the past 10 years. Of the six neat energy growth metrics, Pennsylvania only ranked in the top 10 for one: electric vehicle sales.
