Hochul should embrace fracking in NY with Kamala Harris’s support

Recently, Kamala Harris publicly stated that as president, she would not prohibit natural gas fracking, revealing in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash that she had reversed her stance from her 2019 campaign promise. 

This announcement is positive news for Pennsylvania, where fracking is a significant $41 billion industry, supporting 123,000 jobs. 

It should also be encouraging for New York, where natural gas can be found in 22 upstate counties.

With the shift in perspective from the Democratic presidential candidate regarding fracking, it is suggested that Governor Hochul should also reconsider her stance. Surprisingly, natural gas is not even being discussed in the agenda of her Clean Energy Summit this week, disregarding the fact that New York’s natural gas resources are cleaner than coal and can be developed without government subsidies that wind and solar power require.

By lifting the ban on the development of this relatively clean energy source, it could potentially revive the struggling upstate New York economy, Governor Hochul’s own region. This region has been facing economic challenges due to the loss of key industries and the migration of its youth, who often have to seek opportunities elsewhere outside of the region.

New York’s natural gas could help retain the younger population in the area and contribute to international efforts to replace Russian gas while maintaining US energy independence.

                                           
   
   

The decline in upstate New York has been evident in recent years, with 83% of its 868 municipalities experiencing a decrease in population since 2010. Counties like Erie (Buffalo) and Onandaga (Syracuse) have seen a decline in population since the mid-20th century.

This decline also affects counties like Broome, Allegeny, Tompkins, Otsego, and Seneca, all of which have untapped natural gas reserves. The Empire Center’s E.J. McMahon reports that upstate New York has experienced low personal-income growth from 2009 to 2018, with the counties with the most shale gas potential seeing the most stagnant income growth.

While the potential benefits of natural gas drilling have been noted, the ban on fracking imposed by former Governor Cuomo in 2014 has hindered the industry’s development. Despite potential drawbacks, permitting fracking could significantly impact upstate New York’s economy positively.

Researchers have found that allowing natural gas drilling could lead to a boom in natural resources, with counties experiencing an increase in gas and oil production, employment, income, and government revenue. Although there may be some environmental and social impacts, the overall net gain from fracking is positive.

By relying on funding from New York City and its suburbs, upstate regions are financially strained, receiving a significant portion of the state’s total operations expenses. This financial support comes from taxpayers in Gotham, who also benefit from the services provided by upstate New York.

Instead of focusing on the potential benefits of natural gas fracking, some environmentalists have chosen to champion cannabis cultivation as an alternative industry for rural New York. However, this industry may not offer the same economic benefits as tapping into the state’s natural gas resources.

New York’s current approach to energy generation involves importing power from states like Pennsylvania, which permit drilling. However, tapping into New York’s natural resources could potentially provide greater economic growth and energy independence for the state.

Considering New York’s historical investments in infrastructure, such as the Erie Canal, one must acknowledge the potential benefits of developing the state’s natural gas resources. Just as the Erie Canal transformed New York City into a thriving port, allowing fracking could boost the economy and create opportunities for growth in upstate New York.

New York should evaluate Pennsylvania’s successful utilization of its natural resources and consider a similar approach to tap into its own extensive mineral rights. Economic growth should not be limited to swing states but should be accessible to all regions.

Howard Husock is an American Enterprise Institute senior fellow and the author of “The Poor Side of Town — And Why We Need It.”