Staff Reports
Pennsylvania is once again poised to play the role of kingmaker in the upcoming 2024 election. With polling indicating that the race is a dead heat between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the stakes have never been higher. Energy policy, a topic that’s usually about as exciting as watching paint dry, has suddenly become the rock star of the election cycle—especially in the Keystone State.
In a state that puts the “gas” in natural gas, energy isn’t just another issue on the ballot; it’s the issue. Pennsylvania is the second-largest producer of natural gas in the nation, which makes a vital que to voters who know that their jobs, and perhaps their entire state’s economy, could hinge on energy policy. When Pennsylvanians think of their livelihoods, they’re likely tuning in more to the sound of drilling rigs than to the musings of politicians cozying up to the green energy lobby.
Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwide: Pennsylvania may be the deciding state in the 2024 election. And new polling from my organization makes clear energy may be the deciding issue for Pennsylvania voters. Energy matters… https://t.co/PbK88anpSi pic.twitter.com/abXRHYFh6l
— ZBreakingNewz (@ZBreakingNewz) October 22, 2024
Recent polling shows that energy policy has taken center stage, with voters waking up to the reality that those supporting the transition to renewable energy often forget that it doesn’t exactly grow on trees—or rather, not without some well-placed government subsidies, which do little but put more money into the hands of bureaucrats. Voters in Pennsylvania seem to recognize that Trump, with his track record of boosting the fossil fuel industry, stands in stark contrast to Harris, who represents an administration hell-bent on implementing policies that threaten to choke off energy production.
It’s easy to see why energy has become a hot-button issue in a state where so many jobs depend on what comes out of the ground. With countless families benefiting from the natural gas boom, the prospect of a future where jobs are sacrificed for the sake of environmental virtue signaling raises concerns. Pennsylvanians aren’t just worrying about their next paycheck; they’re also thinking about how rising energy costs and job losses could hit home. And let’s face it, folks, they’re not ready to trade their gas stoves for a solar panel that has more glitches than a Windows 95 laptop.
With the election only a stone’s throw away, one thing is clear: for the people of Pennsylvania, energy isn’t just another talking point; it’s an existential concern. As the polling paints a picture of a tight race, it seems that the candidate who resonates with Pennsylvanians about securing their energy independence will likely come out on top. And that candidate, as history shows, is more likely to be the one who doesn’t look at coal and gas as a relic of the past but rather as a cornerstone of America’s future. So buckle up—it looks like Pennsylvania could well become ground zero for the battle over energy in the 2024 election.
