March 6th Democratic debate featured fracking food fight.
Most of you know the abundance of natural gas, hence its low price, is due to the fracking revolution. And that the public's electric and gas utility bills are relatively low as a result.
So you might find of interest this transcript of the March 6th Democratic debate, where the presidential candidates had a food fight over fracking:
CNN's Anderson Cooper: The issue of climate change has been a major talking point for both of you. I wanted to bring in Sarah Bellaire. She's a student at the University of Michigan at Dearborn, who says she's currently undecided.
Ms. Bellaire has a question on fracking. Which for viewers is a process of oil and gas drilling that's led to a significant increase in American energy production and jobs, but also raises serious environmental concerns.
Sarah, your question is for Secretary Clinton. But you'll both be able to weigh in. Sarah?
Questioner: Fracking can lead to environmental pollution including, but not limited to, the contamination of water supply. Do you support fracking?
Anderson Cooper: Secretary Clinton?
Secretary Hillary Clinton: You know, I don't support it when any locality or any state is against it, number one. I don't support it when the release of methane or contamination of water is present. I don't support it -- number three -- unless we can require that anybody who fracks has to tell us exactly what chemicals they are using.
So by the time we get through all of my conditions, I do not think there will be many places in America where fracking will continue to take place.
And I think that's the best approach. Because right now, there [are] places where fracking is going on that are not sufficiently regulated.
So first, we've got to regulate everything that is currently underway. And we have to have a system in place that prevents further fracking unless conditions like the ones that I just mentioned are met.
Anderson Cooper: Senator Sanders, you...
Senator Bernie Sanders: My answer - my answer is a lot shorter. No, I do not support fracking.
(Applause)
Related: Bernie, Hillary Debate Climate Change Plans
When the momentous election of 2016 touches our world of utility regulation and policy, as it shall on occasion, Public Utilities Fortnightly will reflect on the implications.
Steve Mitnick, Editor-in-Chief, Public Utilities Fortnightly
E-mail me: mitnick@fortnightly.com
