Politics

Here’s Why Biden Can’t Ban Fracking, But Could Restrict It

  • The oil, gas extraction technique has become hot button issue
  • ‘Foolish to assume Biden would not carry out his promise’
Biden has called for banning fracking on federal lands, but has said he does not support a nationwide ban on the technique.Photographer: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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Fracking has emerged as a hot button issue of the 2020 election, with President Donald Trump claiming his political rival will cripple the economy in politically important states such as Pennsylvania by putting an end to the well extraction technique, despite Joe Biden’s assertions to the contrary.

There’s good reason it’s getting so much attention: Hydraulic fracturing is used to coax oil and gas out of roughly 95% of U.S. wells, according to government data.