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For Immediate Release
Contact:

Seth Gladstone, sgladstone@fwwatch.org, 917.363.6615

Gov. Inslee Would Ban Fracking-So Might Nine Other Presidential Candidates, and Counting

Gov. Jay Inslee today released a climate and energy plan that, among other things, would institute a national ban on fracking. Additionally, nine other Democratic presidential candidates claim to oppose fracking. On this topic, Food & Water Action Climate & Energy Program Director Mitch Jones issued the following statement:

WASHINGTON

Gov. Jay Inslee today released a climate and energy plan that, among other things, would institute a national ban on fracking. Additionally, nine other Democratic presidential candidates claim to oppose fracking. On this topic, Food & Water Action Climate & Energy Program Director Mitch Jones issued the following statement:

"Governor Inslee's intention to ban fracking across America is precisely the type of bold, smart action we need to address the deepening climate and public health crises extreme fossil fuel extraction has created. The nine other candidates that claim to oppose fracking now need to talk in specific detail about exactly what they would do to halt the process as soon as they take office. And the candidates that haven't yet publicly opposed fracking need to pull their heads out of the sand, and get on board with the will of most Americans."

Background:

Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2019) - A presidential candidate survey released by The Washington Post indicates that ten Democratic candidates - Booker, Buttigieg, de Blasio, Gabbard, Inslee, Messam, Sanders, Swalwell, Warren and Williamson - support a ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the U.S. Meanwhile, a poll last year from the Pew Research Center indicates that a majority of Americans - 58% - oppose fracking. The same poll indicated that 65% of "moderate Democrats" and 83% of "liberal Democrats" oppose fracking. In response to the Post's candidate survey, Food & Water Action Climate & Energy Program Director Mitch Jones issued the following statement:

"Given that most Americans oppose fracking, for good reason, it's not surprising that more and more presidential candidates are coming to the prudent conclusion that fracking simply must be banned. Front-line communities across the country are dealing every day with the human health and environmental risks that fracking inherently brings. Fracking poisons air and water, and makes people sick. Americans know it, and finally Democratic candidates are beginning to get the picture."

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