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Hi. It me, the campaign reporter who also spent several years literally only reporting on Pennsylvania and fracking. There are a LOT of things us national reporters are oversimplifying and dumbing down here. Hold onto your butts for a thread.
-Fracking – more accurately the energy economy that has sprung up around it -- has been a real boost to the state, particularly Western Pa. Pittsburgh has become a Houstoneque energy hub.
-It’s always been controversial and many Pennsylvanians have been skeptical – particularly in the vote-rich eastern half of the state. And as both Dem and GOP governors underregulated, voters wanted more scrutiny.
-While money poured in some places, other communities were very underwhelmed by the promises vs the reality. A @MarieCusick about that: https://www.npr.org/2018/03/15/592890524/millions-own-gas-and-oil-under-their-land-heres-why-only-some-strike-it-rich
-There have been environmental red flags from day 1. Here’s an investigation I did 8 years ago about how a nearby well upended a family’s life: https://www.npr.org/2012/08/28/160128351/methane-making-an-appearance-in-pa-water-supplies
-ALSO, this is not longer the fast-booming energy economy it was a decade ago. Thousands of wells have been drilled, and energy prices have dropped. Both have led to a relative slowdown. Voters aren’t as obsessed as GOP thinks they are. From @susanphill : https://www.npr.org/2020/10/09/922375850/pennsylvania-voters-don-t-think-fracking-is-a-big-issue-despite-trumps-focus-on-
-A MORE IMPORTANT ALSO: Pennsylvania has a LOT of other energy activity. The turnpike is dotted with wind turbines. Pittsburgh is ALSO a growing tech and clean energy hub. It’s not the fracking wonderland President Trump makes it out to be.
https://features.witf.org/sipaturnpike/#!home
https://features.witf.org/sipaturnpike/#!home
Finally, having kept you this long, I present the greatest story I will ever report. It was about about people who hunt for rattlesnakes near fracking sites. https://www.npr.org/2012/08/26/159994268/snakes-and-the-snake-wranglers-who-love-them
