Michelle Lujan-Grisham on Energy & Oil

Pro-active on climate change: 50% renewable by 2030

Limit greenhouse gases, lead on renewable energy

Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D): Yes. It would be irresponsible to ignore human impact on the changing climate. Modern science should guide our policy.

Steve Pearce (R): No. In 2010 said Intergovernmental Panel, which measured climate change, "doesn't even believe the crap."

Q: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Lujan-Grisham: Yes. Says: Limit greenhouse gases, join Paris Climate Accord, lead on renewable energy--50% of energy from renewables by 2030, 80% by 2040.

Pearce: No. "Burdensome regulations are killing jobs & driving up energy prices." Voted to prohibit EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Called Paris Accord an unfair deal for Americans.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Lujan-Grisham: Yes. Committed to facilitating investments in renewable energy sector.

Pearce: No. Wants to "support every form of energy." Voted repeatedly against credits or support for renewables.

Supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions.

Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.

Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?'

Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico.

Congressional Summary: House amendment to H.R. 5538, the Interior & Environment Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2017. This amendment would prohibit funds to be used to research, investigate, or study offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Heritage Foundation recommends voting NO: (7/13/2016): The Gulf of Mexico continues to be a very important asset for our energy future and it continues to produce significant amounts of oil and natural gas. Yet the Eastern Gulf of Mexico has not participated to this point despite its significant potential. A 2014 Heritage Foundation report said: "Excessive regulations and bureaucratic inefficiencies have stymied oil production and prevented the full effects of the energy boom." This amendment would block any potential progress that could take place by preventing the necessary work that would need to be prepared in the East Gulf for potential lease sales and eventual production.

Sierra Club recommends voting YES: (1/12/1974): The Sierra Club believes that no offshore petroleum exploration should occur unless and until the following conditions are met:

• Strengthen the Coastal Zone Management System.
• Lease sales should be prohibited in areas that possess:
  • High seismic activity
  • Fragile or unstable geological structures
  • Proximity to particularly diverse or productive marine ecosystems, or marine sanctuaries
  • Where visual impact of offshore structures would significantly reduce aesthetic values
  • Where the risks are unusually high.
• Petroleum exploration and production must be subject to automatic, heavy fines for all oil spills regardless of cause.
• The Sierra Club opposes leasing of lands beyond 200 meters depth until international agreements [define] ownership of sea floor resources.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 185 to 243 (no Senate vote).