Vice President Kamala Harris has faced criticism for touting oil production under the Biden administration after becoming the Democratic nominee, although she previously called on such companies to “pay a price” for climate change. .
While running for president in 2019, Harris told voters she supported the Justice Department investigating oil companies like Chevron and Shell for “profiting” from environmental pollution.
“These big oil companies, these fossil fuel companies, need to be prepared to face significant fines or be charged with crimes, because here's the problem: These big oil companies. Because the companies and these fossil fuel companies are making huge profits, they're making money and profits off of this pollution,'' Harris said.
However, after becoming the Democratic nominee, the vice president began touting the “largest increase in domestic oil production in history” under the Biden-Harris administration.
CNN Corner spotlights Kamala Harris' flip-flops in far left position
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign event on Thursday, October 10, at the Gila River Indian Community Reservation in Chandler, Arizona. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)
“My position is that we must invest in diverse energy sources to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We had the largest increase in history,'' Harris said during the only presidential debate against former President Donald Trump in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
“As Vice President, I am proud to have invested $1 trillion in the clean energy economy over the past four years while increasing domestic gas production to historic levels,” Harris said.
Fox News Digital asked the Harris campaign whether it would continue to support investigations into major oil pollution, but did not receive a response.
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CNN criticized Harris for flipping the issue since she became the Democratic nominee.
Vice President Kamala Harris listens during a debate with former President Trump on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
“This is a significant change from where Ms. Harris once stood on this issue, not too long ago,” host Erin Burnett said Wednesday.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz, who signed a bill in 2023 requiring utilities to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, also reiterated his latest position on the issue.
“America is producing more natural gas and oil than ever before in history,” Walz said in a recent interview with WGAL 8.
The American Oil and Gas Association (OGA) criticized Harris' comments that resurfaced during the debate, saying she had “nothing to do” with the growth in domestic oil production.
CNN Corner spotlights Kamala Harris' flip-flops in far left position
“In just four years, you and the president have created the worst regulatory and legislative environment in the 160-year history of our industry. We have introduced separate actions. You have tried to put our CEO in jail and confiscate our capital and prevent our investors from making a profit,'' OGA said on Wednesday. I wrote this in a post on my old Twitter. “And yet we worked around you, above you, and beat your team. Now you take credit for what we did in spite of you.” Do you want to? I’m not going to allow that.”
Valero Energy Corporation's refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, February 19, 2021. (Eddie Seale/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Representatives from the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) said Harris' approval of the increase in crude oil production means a strong U.S. oil and gas industry is good for the U.S. economy.
“During this campaign, Vice President Harris is taking credit for her production record because she knows we need more energy, not less. I believe Harris also knows about American oil and petroleum, even though her policies and statements stem from environmentalist talking points about shutting down our nation's industries. “Natural gas producers operate some of the cleanest oil and gas operations in the world and adhere to the highest environmental and safety standards,” said Jeff Eshelman, IPAA Chairman and CEO. told FOX News Digital. “America needs energy, and as the vice president said, we shouldn't rely on foreign enemies.”
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Harris recently changed her stance on hydraulic fracturing, saying at a CNN town hall in 2020 that she was “without a doubt in favor of banning hydraulic fracturing,” before announcing her support for the method this term. did.
