South Lancaster News

Donald J. Trump, a candidate for President of the United States, said at a rally in Lancaster that if elected, his administration would cut energy bills in half within one year. The statement was made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on October 20th.

"We will have your electric bills and all of your energy bills down by - we're going to cut it in half, anything you're paying right now," said J. Trump. "And that's going to make your business strong, by itself, and it'll be done within one year. Because what are we going to do. Drill baby, drill. Frack baby, frack."

A recent poll by the American Petroleum Institute (API) found that nearly nine in ten Pennsylvania voters want presidential candidates to address energy policy. Ninety percent of voters are concerned about inflation, while 86% believe increasing U.S. oil and gas production could lower energy costs. Additionally, 82% support reforms to streamline energy infrastructure approvals, and 84% want to leverage domestic energy resources.

According to a report by the America First Policy Institute, there has been a rise in energy costs in Pennsylvania from 2021 to 2024. Gasoline prices increased by 38%, natural gas prices by 18.6%, and electricity costs by 16.1%, outpacing wage growth. The report points to federal regulatory policies as factors affecting domestic energy production, which it argues have contributed to these rising costs and says expanding energy development could help stabilize prices.

In Philadelphia, one in four low-income households spends 16% of their income on energy costs, classified as a severe energy burden. Black households face an average energy burden of 3.6%, while Hispanic households face 4.1%. Low-income homeowners experience the highest burden with a median of 10.5%. Factors such as disinvestment in communities, outdated appliances, and poorly insulated homes exacerbate energy costs for these households, making it harder for them to manage rising energy bills, according to Whyy News.

Pennsylvania is a central player in the U.S. fracking industry due to its large reserves of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. The state produces a significant portion of the country’s natural gas, making it a major hub for energy extraction. According to Southwest PA News, Pennsylvania's contribution to natural gas production has grown as demand for domestic energy has increased, making the state's fracking operations critical for both local and national energy markets.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that the average price for regular gasoline in April 2020 was $1.84 per gallon.