Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis engaged in a heated exchange over fracking during the second Republican primary debate on Wednesday. Both candidates made controversial claims about DeSantis’s stance on the issue, with Haley accusing him of being opposed to American energy independence.
Haley argued that DeSantis directed state environmental officials to oppose fracking as governor, implying that he was against drilling and American energy independence. However, in his 2018 campaign for governor, DeSantis promised to ban fracking in Florida due to the potential danger it posed to the state’s geological makeup.
Following his election, Florida voters passed an amendment to ban offshore oil and gas drilling, but it did not specifically mention fracking. Two days after his inauguration, DeSantis signed an executive order implementing the ban on offshore drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to protect the state’s coasts and environment.
According to PolitiFact, no permits have been authorized for fracking in Florida during DeSantis’s time in office. Despite this, during the debate, DeSantis denied Haley’s assertion that he banned fracking as governor and explained his executive order in support of increased drilling in west Texas to drive down gas prices and boost national security.
Haley retaliated by falsely claiming that DeSantis banned fracking in Florida before residents voted on the issue. However, the vote occurred before DeSantis took office. It is also worth noting that DeSantis has not followed through on his pledge to pass legislation banning fracking in Florida.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has been instrumental in the surge of oil and gas production in the United States but has also raised concerns about its negative environmental impacts. These include groundwater contamination, air pollution, noise, leaks of methane (a greenhouse gas), and the potential for earthquakes caused by wastewater disposal wells.
At a presidential campaign event in July, DeSantis reiterated that while Florida has a constitutional amendment prohibiting offshore drilling, he does not expect all states to outlaw fracking. He acknowledged the importance of honoring the amendment in Florida but expressed support for other states’ use of hydraulic fracturing.
The debate between Haley and DeSantis highlights the ongoing debate surrounding fracking and its implications for energy independence, environmental conservation, and the economy. As the primary race continues, candidates’ positions on this issue will likely be closely scrutinized by voters and environmental advocates alike.