Written by Elizabeth Arnold
Despite two-thirds of Democrats supporting a statewide moratorium on fracking, during his acceptance speech Pennsylvanian Governor-elect Tom Wolf failed to address his constituents living with toxic contamination from gas drilling operations. He also failed to discuss the gag orders on health workers who report on the effects of toxic radioactive fracking waste. Instead, he doubled down by promising to extract coal, gas, lumber, and clean water sources from across Pennsylvania.
As Wolf came out in his signature Jeep and walked onto the stage, activists from the Fracking Moratorium NOW! campaign held up a banner that said “Congrats Tom, Protect PA, no new frack wells.” Wolf staffers dramatically rushed to confiscate the banner the activists held. One staff member told vocal fracking opponent and disability care worker Angela Vogel, “This is not the time and place.” Vogel responded, “When is the time and place? My union supported Wolf for governor. I voted for him. And then he announced that he ‘encourages more fracking in PA’ a week before the election. He was supposed to be our guy. If we can’t hold our elected officials accountable before we give them power through our vote, then when?”
In what was otherwise a Republican landslide in the midterm elections, Pennsylvanians elected Democrat Tom Wolf, who defeated Republican incumbent Tom Corbett. Corbett is now the only incumbent governor in PA history to fail to get re-elected for a second term, and Wolf was the only Democrat to win against a Republican incumbent in the 2014 U.S. gubernatorial races.
While a win is a win for the Democratic party, many Democrats in PA are wary that the previously unknown Tom Wolf signals another win for money in politics and corporatism rather than a win for Pennsylvanians. Wolf spent over ten million dollars on TV ads. The gubernatorial election cost over $50 million, one of the most expensive races in the country. Wolf continues to promote shale gas drilling, despite two-thirds of Democrats supporting a statewide moratorium on fracking. Corbett oversaw an unregulated drilling frenzy despite PA dropping to 50th in job growth since 2011.
Pennsylvanians from all walks of life are distressed about hydraulic fracturing. They are demanding that their health, property values, livelihoods, and resources be given priority over the profit margins of the gas industry. Unfortunately, they have been all but ignored by Republicans and Democrats alike.
People from different groups and coalitions filled the crowd at Tom Wolf’s election-night rally with signs, banners, and shouts demanding that Wolf halt fracking and promote renewable energy. Craig Stevens, a sixth generation landowner whose water was poisoned by fracking, attended Wolf’s speech. Stevens said, “My water went bad under Corbett, but it’ll stay bad under Wolf, while more and more Pennsylvanians have a toxic cocktail pouring out of their faucets.”
Jen Hombach, a Wolf supporter and 350.org member, said in response to the disruption of the speech she had come to hear, “It reminded me that we are all capable and responsible to hold our representatives accountable. It’s going to take massive systems change to address climate change.”
A member of Energy Justice: Shale Initiative who was also escorted out told reporters, “In Susquehanna County a thousand wells, dozens of compressors stations, and miles of pipeline have turned our farming community into an industrial park. Tom Wolf needs to stop this devastation, and I made sure he heard it.”
A representative from Delaware Riverkeeper Network claimed that Wolf had made promises to fight for climate justice, but admitted to being unable to get Wolf to take time out of his campaign to discuss the human costs of fracking.
A report by Food and Water Watch Fund revealed that fracking money fueled Wolf’s campaign. “Tom Wolf For Governor received at least $273,500 in campaign contributions from ‘the oil and gas industry and companies affiliated with the industry.’”
Wolf and his staffers aggressively handled members of the Fracking Moratorium Now! coalition. Wolf strategically parked his Jeep between himself and those who elected him. This barrier reveals the disconnect between elected officials and the people they represent.
Fracking Moratorium NOW! campaigner Elizabeth Arnold said, “Many Pennsylvanians are still living without safe drinking water, and have lost their property value and health due to drilling. Now they can’t afford to move to a safe place.” She and others plan to pursue Wolf like fracktivists in New York pursue Governor Cuomo. New Yorkers have relentlessly demanded Cuomo ban fracking for years, and PA activists intend to do the same.
Pennsylvanians are demanding that those most affected by fracking have their voices heard over corporate money. On Tuesday Nov 18th from 12 – 2pm we’ll be at the Capitol Steps, Harrisburg PA pressuring the Governor-elect to clean up our state!
CLICK HERE if you need transportation to the Harrisburg!
For more information or an interview:
Elizabeth Arnold
Fracking Moratorium Now!
Elizabeth Arnold is an electrician by day and activist by night. She lives in Philadelphia and collaborates with people from across PA who are also working to protect their communities. Together they are organizing for cleaner, stronger, sustainable local economies. She is a proud MoveOn.org #FrackingFighter.