Staff Reports
During the second GOP presidential primary debate, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis engaged in a heated discussion about energy policies in Florida. According to Haley, DeSantis is against fracking and offshore oil drilling, which would hinder the country’s energy independence. However, DeSantis swiftly refuted these claims, saying they were false and inaccurate.
Before DeSantis became governor, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 9, a constitutional amendment that banned offshore drilling. This measure was placed on the ballot by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), a panel responsible for reviewing and proposing changes to the state’s constitution. The passage of Amendment 9 meant that offshore drilling for oil or natural gas underneath Florida’s territorial waters was prohibited to protect the state’s coastal beaches and marine wildlife.
It’s important to note that this amendment did not specifically mention fracking. However, DeSantis took immediate action upon assuming office by issuing an executive order to end all fracking in Florida. This order directed the Department of Environmental Protection to oppose offshore oil and gas activities as well as fracking. While DeSantis has successfully prevented fracking in the state during his tenure, efforts to officially ban it legislatively have failed.
Nikki Haley: "Ron DeSantis is against fracking. He's against drilling. He always talks about what happens on day one. You better watch out because what happens on day two is when you're in trouble. Day two in Florida you banned fracking. You banned offshore drilling." pic.twitter.com/Ga2xsy3VE7
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 28, 2023
DeSantis has consistently maintained his stance against fracking in Florida due to the potential dangers it poses to the state’s water and resources. He believes that protecting Florida’s coastlines is crucial for its tourism-centered economy. However, he has expressed support for fracking in other states as long as it remains outside of Florida’s boundaries.
Overall, Haley’s claim that DeSantis banned fracking and offshore oil drilling is partly false. While he has taken actions to prevent fracking in Florida, efforts to ban it legislatively have been unsuccessful so far. Additionally, the citizen-passed constitutional amendment effectively banned offshore drilling in the state. DeSantis’s views on fracking and offshore drilling extend beyond Florida, as he supports these practices in other states while respecting Florida’s constitutional amendment.
