FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2016
Contact: Lindsay Meiman, 350 Action, (347) 460-9082
Clinton Supports New York State Ban on Fracking
New York, NY — When asked today at a campaign event by Ben Lehr, a senior and fossil fuel divestment campaigner at Vassar College, if she supports New York State’s ban on fracking, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was quick to express her support for the statewide ban.
“Over the last few months, our movement has pushed Clinton to take stronger positions for climate and against the fossil fuel industry than ever before,” said Yong Jung Cho, spokesperson for 350 Action. “While it’s significant to hear she backs the New York State fracking ban, her undeniable ties to the fossil fuel industry, and to fracking specifically, remain incredibly troubling. Clinton has significant ground to make up for, and we need to see more than just grand statements to truly believe that as President she would keep fossil fuels in the ground. It’s time that she take a stronger stance against fracking across the country and finally pledge to stop taking money from the likes of Exxon and Big Oil.”
Despite her favorable shift to the left on many climate issues over the last few months, such as pledging to stop all fossil fuels, opposing the toxic Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and vowing to impose a moratorium on all fossil fuel extraction on public lands, environmentalists remain disturbed by Clinton’s close ties to fracking. During her tenure as Secretary of State, Clinton traveled the world promoting the extreme extraction.
Additionally, despite vowing last December to look into fossil fuel lobbyist donations to her campaign, it appears Clinton has still not yet done so. At the same campaign event earlier today, Clinton expressed that she is “so sick” of such allegations. However, reports confirm that Clinton’s biggest campaign bundlers have come from fossil fuel lobbyists. Last summer, fellow Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders pledged not to accept any donations from the fossil fuel industry and its lobbyists.
Video: bit.ly/235C91p
Full Transcript:
Ben Lehr: Senator Clinton, do you support New York State’s fracking ban?
Hillary Clinton: I do. Yes. I do.
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350 Action has not endorsed any presidential candidate and is working in primary states to urge candidates for president to take bold action on climate change by pledging to keep fossil fuels in the ground and support a just transition to a 100% renewable energy economy that works for all.