a farmer and shale gas producer in Pennsylvania testifies

a farmer and shale gas producer in Pennsylvania testifies

A few days before the presidential election, all eyes are on Pennsylvania, one of the main “ swing states “. To appeal to voters, Kamala Harris made an about-face on the issue of the shale gas industry, which is very present in this state. She now supports this energy sector, despite the controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing, which does not convince Jason Wight, a farmer producing shale gas.

1 min

With our special correspondent in Pennsylvania, Achim Lippold

The support of Kamala Harris on gas production changes nothing for Jason Wight: a former Democratic supporter, he will vote for Donald Trumpas in 2020. Jason Wight owns a small farm in Fredericksburg, south of Pittsburgh: “ We’re going to go to the other side of the farm and I’m going to show you my shale gas wells and, further on, on another piece of land, a very large gas well. »

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This 37-year-old passionate hunter and pheasant breeder proudly shows us his gas wells: “ Here is the well, a small pipe that comes out of the earth. The gas is separated from the liquid used in fracking and then transported via a pipeline to a power plant or other final destination. »

This technique is controversial in Pennsylvania: many residents denounce harmful effects on the environment and health. An opinion that Jason does not share: “ 25 years ago, when we started to exploit shale gas, we said: be careful, we are going to get sick, the animals will all die. But these fears turned out to be unfounded. »

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