During Tuesday’s presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the topic of fracking as a means of extracting fossil fuels was a heated point of discussion, with Harris’ stance on the issue coming under scrutiny.

While Trump has repeatedly called for all kinds of tactics to increase drilling and production capacity in the United States, Harris’ stance on fracking in particular has been questioned. These concerns date back to her run for president in the 2020 election campaign.

Here is an explanation of the situation.

What is fracking?

Fracking, also called hydraulic fracturing, is the process of breaking up shale rock formations using a pressurized fluid that includes water and other chemicals.

According to the BBC, these cracks allow for a more unhindered flow of fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil.

Has Harris’ stance on fracking changed?

During the presidential campaign leading up to the 2020 primaries, Harris said several times that she would support a ban on the practice to address issues related to climate change.

“There is no question that I support a ban on fracking and want to start with what we can do on public lands on day one,” she told CNN in 2019 at a town hall meeting on climate change.

Her stance on the issue has changed over the past five years. In an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, she discussed the reasons for the changes in her political stance and emphasized on the subject of fracking that she voted for the expansion of fracking leases during her term as vice president.

Trump sharply criticized Harris for her change of heart on the issue.

“She has surrendered at least 12 and probably 14 or 15 different policies,” he said.

Why is fracking so controversial?

According to the BBC and other publications, fracking can cause tremors on the earth’s surface. The process also consumes enormous amounts of water, which must be transported to the site.

According to researchers at Yale University, the process also generates enormous amounts of wastewater and emits greenhouse gases such as methane into the atmosphere. The release of the chemicals poses health risks.

Proponents of fracking say the United States needs to use the process to increase its production of oil and other fossil fuels and thus reduce its dependence on other countries. Organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute point out that thousands of jobs directly or indirectly related to the energy sector depend on processes such as fracking.