Washington, D.C.—Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) applauded the first legislative proposal for a nationwide ban on fracking for natural gas and related operations, including extraction, processing, transport and export.
Clean, renewable energy means big changes for the way that the US funds the energy sector.
With Buttigieg surging, and CleanTechnica’s deep dives into the front runners (and Yang’s) plans completed, it’s time for the overview comparison, now with Mayor Pete added.
In the second half of this episode of our CleanTech Talk podcast interview series, Zach Shahan continues his conversation with Michael Barnard, Chief Strategist of TFIE Strategy Inc. and CleanTechnica contributor, about the role of climate change plans and policies in the 2020 presidential election. You can listen to the full conversation in the embedded player below. Below that embedded SoundCloud player is a brief summarization of the topics covered, but tune into the podcast to follow the full discussion.
Pete Buttigieg’s climate action plan is not nearly as strong as Warren’s, and the lack of funding puts it close to the level of Biden’s at the bottom of the heap. The major saving grace is the price on carbon.
Calls for the end of investor-owned utilities are increasing across America as people realize their social cost is just too high.
US conservative concerns about the Green New Deal are odd. Each ‘bad’ section is tied to the New Deal, climate change, real problems, and sensible plans.
Of the DNC Presidential candidates, Harris and Warren have robust, salable climate plans. Biden’s is worst, Yang’s is interesting and Sanders’ is unsalable. With a couple of additions, Warren’s plan will be very supportable in 2020. If Biden is the candidate, major surgery will be required.
Warren’s new climate commitments add a trillion dollars, specific targets in some areas, and significant improvements on electrification, industry, and transportation. They improve the plan substantially.
Bernie Sanders’ electrification plan is excellent but depends on potentially dangerous authoritarian populism, his transportation plan is mostly about cars for less wealthy people, his land use plan is good, but military and industry don’t get nearly enough attention. Only about half of the $16.3 trillion can be tracked to things which actually reduce climate change.
