Sanders Strongly Against Fracking, Says He Would Shut Down Porter Ranch Well

When asked by Miles Goodrich, a campaigner with 350 Action, at a town hall meeting at Southern New Hampshire University, if he would shut down the Porter Ranch gas well, Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders responded immediately with his support in shutting down the gas storage facility, and continued to express his strong disagreement with those who argue that fracking is safe. The Porter Ranch disaster just 25 miles outside of Los Angeles has shined a harsh spotlight on the dangers of existing natural gas infrastructure and has intensified concerns around the harmful impacts fracking has on communities and the climate. The massive leak, which is emitting pollution equivalent to 7 million new cars on the road each day, is estimated to be fixed no sooner than March. The disaster, and it’s parallel to the water crisis in Flint, has made fracking a key issue in the Democratic primary as voting draws near. Sanders’ fellow Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley have yet to comment on the Porter Ranch crisis or come out with strong positions against fracking. ….