Workers in Pennsylvania’s fracking industry are confident that the sector will remain strong, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Both candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, have pledged to support the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, though Trump’s consistent backing has garnered him more support from voters in key fracking regions.
Jennifer McIntyre, a sales representative for Keystone Clearwater Solutions, which provides water transfer services for fracking, voiced her strong support for Trump, citing his “pro-oil and gas” stance. “I absolutely adore Trump,” said McIntyre, who is also active in the local Washington County Republican party. She believes that Democrats have imposed regulations that hinder the industry’s success. “Sometimes those regulations are not necessarily appropriate,” she added.
Pennsylvania’s embrace of new fracking techniques in the early 2000s triggered a boom in natural gas extraction, making the state a significant player in global production. Currently, Pennsylvania produces more natural gas annually than countries like Canada and Qatar. Washington County alone hosts over 2,000 active gas wells, with nearly 13,000 across the state, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
At a Diversified Energy site in southwestern Pennsylvania, seven wells extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation. The gas is cleaned and sold to pipelines, benefiting companies like Diversified Energy, landowners who receive royalties, and state and local governments. Jason John Mounts, the company’s director of operations, said the wells produce over four million cubic feet of gas per day.
Mounts remains neutral about the election, saying he supports “whoever is going to be driving our business,” and adding that the industry seems to adjust to political shifts every four years.
While fracking is crucial to Pennsylvania’s economy, with more than 120,000 jobs supported by the sector in 2022, it remains a controversial practice. Environmentalists and health experts worldwide have called for a ban on fracking due to its environmental and climate impacts. Several countries, including France and Germany, and U.S. states like New York have already banned the process.
However, support for fracking remains strong in Pennsylvania, with 48% of residents in favor according to a 2022 poll. Many see the industry as vital to the state’s economy, with fracking jobs paying an average salary of around $97,000. “Those jobs are across the spectrum,” said Marcellus Shale Coalition president David Callahan, emphasizing the industry’s wide-reaching impact on both blue- and white-collar workers.
Despite growing concerns about the long-term environmental impact of fracking, Pennsylvania’s fracking industry is expected to continue playing a key role in the state’s economy for decades to come.