Former President Donald Trump pledged to unleash Pennsylvania’s energy sector if elected to a second term, promising to boost the state’s economy through energy production. He made this statement during a raucous rally in western Pennsylvania, flanked by supporters donning hard hats, while outlining his plan for slashing energy and electricity prices nationwide. Trump vowed to cut energy and electricity prices in half within 12 months if he secures another term as President. The cost of energy and electricity has soared nearly 30% under the current administration, according to a recent Wall Street Journal analysis.
The former president criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for proposing various tax increases and described her “biggest tax hike of all” as her vicious attack on Pennsylvania’s energy industry. Trump reminded the audience about Harris’ initial opposition to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and mocked her recent reversal on the issue. He played a clip from 2019 where Harris discussed banning fracking “once and for all.
Indiana County GOP committee chairman Randy Degenkolb told The Post that residents of the energy-rich Pennsylvania county were frightened by Harris’ initial opposition to fracking, as there are more shallow gas wells in the area than anywhere else in the state. He dismissed her recent flip-flop on the issue as a lie and emphasized the importance of fracking for their local economy.
Indiana County voted 68.2% for Trump in 2020, and residents expressed concerns over rising utility prices under the current administration. A hospital worker from neighboring Armstrong County said that the energy industry was thriving during Trump’s tenure, but her utility prices have since risen significantly. Fracking is a major industry in western Pennsylvania, with its local economy heavily dependent on energy production.
Harris currently holds a slim 0.7 percentage point lead over Trump in Pennsylvania, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls. The state has 19 crucial Electoral College votes up for grabs in November that could determine the winner of the race. Trump expressed confidence in securing these votes, stating, “There’s no way.
