Kamala Harris touted the record US oil boom during her time as vice president in Tuesday’s debate with Donald Trump, signaling a pragmatic approach on energy and climate policy pitched at swing state voters.
Harris twice invoked the surge in US crude and natural gas production in the televised proceedings — a striking embrace of the nation’s fossil fuel output for a candidate who more often touts her green credentials and history taking on Big Oil as California’s top prosecutor.
“We have got to invest in diverse sources of energy so we reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” Harris said.
“We have had the largest increase in domestic oil production in history because of an approach that recognizes that we cannot over-rely on foreign oil.”
Domestic crude output has touched a record under President Joe Biden’s administration, though Democrats have been largely reluctant to brag — knowing that could alienate some progressive and green voters.
Crude production averaged 12.9 million barrels a day last year, eclipsing a previous annual high set under Trump in 2019, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
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