CampusElect.org 2018 Gubernatorial coverage: on Energy & Oil

Andy Beshear: Climate change is real; develop renewables

Beshear : Yes. "Climate change is real, but you don't have to take my word for it, ask any farmer here in Kentucky or ask the U.S. Military which is preparing for it each & every day." Unclear on specific greenhouse gas regulations.

Bevin: No. "The idea that somehow we created this solely & need to fix it solely is an absolutely preposterous assumption of the authority & power of man as related to the planet."

Renewable Energy: Support development of renewable energy?

Beshear: Need to diversify & include "as many renewables as possible." Specific renewables plan not found.

Bevin: No. Opposes tax-payer subsidies of renewables; calls powering the world through them "unrealistic."

Matt Bevin: Don't subsidize renewables; we didn't cause climate change

Beshear : Yes. "Climate change is real, but you don't have to take my word for it, ask any farmer here in Kentucky or ask the U.S. Military which is preparing for it each & every day." Unclear on specific greenhouse gas regulations.

Bevin: No. "The idea that somehow we created this solely & need to fix it solely is an absolutely preposterous assumption of the authority & power of man as related to the planet."

Renewable Energy: Support development of renewable energy?

Beshear: Need to diversify & include "as many renewables as possible." Specific renewables plan not found.

Bevin: No. Opposes tax-payer subsidies of renewables; calls powering the world through them "unrealistic."

Bill Schuette: Opposed 25% electricity from renewables by 2025

Schuette: No. Opposed 2012 initiative to require 25% of electricity production from renewables by 2025.

Whitmer: Yes. Strong support for renewables.

Bruce Rauner: Relax emission limits to save coal-fired power plants

Pritzker: Yes. Considers it "a real threat," wants to move Illinois toward 100% renewable energy.

Rauner: No public statements.

Climate Change: Should the government limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Pritzker: Yes. Supports participation in U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to climate change action.

Rauner: No. Relax emission limits in order to save IL coal-fired power plants. Has not joined Climate Alliance.

Renewable Energy: Government support for renewable energy?

Pritzker: Supports increasing requirements for the percentage of renewable energy produced by utilities.

Rauner: Signed bill to promote "unprecedented" renewable energy sources,

Fred Hubbell: Avoid the pending disaster of climate change

Hubbell: Yes. "Avoiding the pending disaster of climate change is the responsibility of each and every one of us." Hubbell and his wife are on board of Environmental Policy and Law Center, which supports Obama's Clean Power Plan to regulate utility emissions.

Reynolds: Despite requests from legislators, has not joined US Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to fight climate change.

J.B. Pritzker: Climate change is a real threat

Pritzker: Yes. Considers it "a real threat," wants to move Illinois toward 100% renewable energy.

Rauner: No public statements.

Climate Change: Should the government limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Pritzker: Yes. Supports participation in U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to climate change action.

Rauner: No. Relax emission limits in order to save IL coal-fired power plants. Has not joined Climate Alliance.

Renewable Energy: Government support for renewable energy?

Pritzker: Supports increasing requirements for the percentage of renewable energy produced by utilities.

Rauner: Signed bill to promote "unprecedented" renewable energy sources,

Kim Reynolds: Cut funding for home retrofits & energy efficient appliances

Hubbell: Yes. Strong advocate for expanding investments in renewable energy. Has led efforts to invest state funds in this sector.

Reynolds: Mixed. Wants to continue growing IA's wind, biofuels, and solar industries, and has supported easing regulations to facilitate their growth. But signed bill cutting funding for energy efficiency subsidies, home retrofits and energy efficient appliances.

Climate Change: Consider climate change a critical threat? Regulate greenhouse gases?

Hubbell: Yes. "Avoiding the pending disaster of climate change is the responsibility of each and every one of us." Hubbell and his wife are on board of Environmental Policy and Law Center, which supports Obama's Clean Power Plan to regulate utility emissions.

Reynolds: No public statements on climate change found. Despite requests from legislators, has not joined US Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to fight climate change.

Ralph Abraham: End the war on our oil and gas industry

Abraham: No. Says Edwards is waging "war on our oil and gas industry."

Bel Edwards: Yes. Supported parishes suing for paying for restoration costs of Coastal Master Plan.

Eddie Rispone: No. "Lawsuit abuse is killing thousands of jobs."

Shawn Moody: Doesn't believe human activity contributes to climate change

Mills: Yes. "Global climate change demands immediate action. I [will use] the authority of my office to address the problem in a meaningful way."

Moody: No. Doesn't believe human activity contributes to climate change. Says he will balance protecting Maine's environment and having a stable regulatory structure for job creators.

Adam Laxalt: End costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers

Adam Laxalt (R): No. Joined appeal of Obama Clean Power Plan. "Oppose efforts to impose or expand costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers, which only lead to higher prices that hurt Nevada's families."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Climate change is real and poses a direct threat to our environment and communities." Work as a state to uphold Paris Climate Agreement & Clean Power Plan.

Q: Support Question 6, the initiative requiring utilities to provide 50% of energy from renewables by 2030?

Adam Laxalt (R): No specific stand but opposes "costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Want Nevada to lead the world in clean energy."

Andrew Gillum: Withdrawal from Paris Climate accord is reckless

Ron DeSantis (R): Mixed. "I don't know if it's because of my activity, your activity, but.we've got to deal with it."

Andrew Gillum (D): Climate change is a real & urgent threat. Transition Florida to clean energy. "We're going to put science first & work together to not only save our planet but create clean energy jobs along the way."

Q: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

DeSantis: No. Voted against any potential carbon tax as negatively impacting economy.

Gillum: Yes. Sees Trump withdrawal from Paris Climate accord as "disturbingly reckless." Join Climate Alliance of states committed to fighting climate change.

Q: Government support for renewable energy?

DeSantis: No. Opposed continued wind energy subsidy, calling it "anti-competitive & economically harmful."

Gillum: Yes. "Transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible." Supported renewables as Tallahassee mayor.

David Garcia: Climate change is a real & urgent threat

Doug Ducey (R): Unclear. In 2015 said skeptical that it's human caused. More recently said he's convinced that it is. Undercut Prop 127 by signing bill that minimizes fines on utilities for not complying if it passes.

David Garcia (D): Yes. Real & urgent threat. Politicians doing nothing are putting all Arizonans at risk, while ignoring "an enormous economic opportunity to make Arizona the nation's leader in solar energy."

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Ducey: No. Allowed utilities to avoid major penalties for not producing renewable energy under Prop 127.

Garcia: Yes. Supports Prop 127 to require 50% of energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Gretchen Whitmer: Oppose withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

Bill Schuette (R): No. Joined letter arguing that science wasn't settled, so Exxon wasn't lying about climate change. Opposed "burdensome" EPA regulations and Obama Clean Power Plan.

Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Opposed Trump withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord. Called on Gov Snyder to join U.S. Climate Alliance. Create state Office of Climate Change.

Q: Government support for renewable energy?

Bill Schuette (R): No. Opposed 2012 initiative to require 25% of electricity production from renewables by 2025.

Gretchen Whitmer (D): Yes. Strong support for renewables.

Jared Polis: Increase regulatory incentives for renewables

Jared Polis (D): Yes to limiting greenhouse gases. Supports participation in Alliance. Introduced "100 by `50 Act" to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050.

Walker Stapleton (R): No to limiting greenhouse gases. Says a major reason he is running is to "offer a full-throated defense of the state's oil-and-gas industry against [those] that want it regulated more tightly."

Q: Support government investment in renewable energy?

Polis: Yes. Increase regulatory incentives for energy efficiency & renewables.

Stapleton: No. Favors "free enterprise & open & competitive marketplace."

Jeff Johnson: Climate is changing naturally; human involvement debatable

Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says climate is changing naturally and human involvement is debatable.

Tim Walz (D): Yes. Sees climate change as real and urgent.

Q: Should the government limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Johnson: No. Believes that a single country's efforts to mitigate climate change would have only a "small effect" & "we don't need to reorder our economy based on climate change."

Walz): Yes. Supported legislation to restrict carbon emissions. Opposed Trump's decision to withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Johnson: Questions Minnesota's mandates on producing renewable fuels like ethanol & biodiesel, but promises not to end them if elected.

Walz: Yes. Wants to expand the Renewable Energy Standard, so Minnesota will get at least 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030, up from 21% now.

Karl Dean: Pledged to work toward reducing greenhouse gases

Karl Dean (D): Yes. Signed US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to work toward reducing greenhouse gases.

Bill Lee (R): Unknown.

Q: Climate Change: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases? Support US participation in Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump's withdrawal? Support participation in interstate initiatives to limit levels of greenhouse gases?

Karl Dean (D): Yes. Supported national emission trading system through Climate Protection Agreement. Worked to lower Nashville's greenhouse gases as Mayor. "We can be pro- business and pro-environment...[will] work with businesses to reduce their carbon footprint."

Bill Lee (R): Unknown.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Karl Dean (D): Yes. "We need to focus more on incentivizing the use of solar."

Bill Lee (R): Unknown.

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: 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.

Mike DeWine: Challenged Obama's Clean Power Plan

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Clean energy & energy efficiency are job engines, but also "keys to addressing climate change that threatens the Great Lakes & Ohio farmland."

Mike DeWine (R): No. Challenged Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan: "Will dramatically increase Ohioans' electric rates while. offering less reliable service & few tangible environmental benefits."

Q: Government support for renewable energy?

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Increase requirement for utilities to generate electricity from renewable sources. Believes this can play key role in revitalizing economy.

Mike DeWine (R): No stand found.

Richard Cordray: Climate change threatens Great Lakes & Ohio farms

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Clean energy & energy efficiency are job engines, but also "keys to addressing climate change that threatens the Great Lakes & Ohio farmland."

Mike DeWine (R): No. Challenged Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan: "Will dramatically increase Ohioans' electric rates while. offering less reliable service & few tangible environmental benefits."

Q: Government support for renewable energy?

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Increase requirement for utilities to generate electricity from renewable sources. Believes this can play key role in revitalizing economy.

Mike DeWine (R): No stand found.

Ron DeSantis: No carbon tax; no wind energy subsidy

Ron DeSantis (R): Mixed. "I don't know if it's because of my activity, your activity, but.we've got to deal with it." Opposed resolution saying greenhouse gases contributed to climate change.

Andrew Gillum (D): Climate change is a real & urgent threat. Transition Florida to clean energy.

Q: Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

DeSantis: No. Voted against any potential carbon tax as negatively impacting economy, voted against greenhouse gas emission standards, & to cut EPA funding.

Gillum: Yes. Sees Trump withdrawal from Paris Climate accord as "disturbingly reckless."

Q: Government support for renewable energy?

DeSantis: No. Opposed continued wind energy subsidy, calling it "anti-competitive & economically harmful."

Gillum: Yes. "Transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible."

Scott Wagner: Planet moving closer to sun is cause of global warming

Scott Wagner (R): No. Earlier suggested heat from human bodies & planet moving closer to the sun were causes of global warming. Recently acknowledged human impact.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes. "The science of climate change is settled. Reduce Pennsylvania's carbon emissions. by promoting a cleaner energy mix."

Q: Support government limits on greenhouse gases? Support participation in US Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to climate change action.

Scott Wagner (R): No. Opposes regulatory overregulation. Government should also pare down regulations on natural gas drilling industry.

Tom Wolf (D): Supports limiting greenhouse gases, but hasn't joined Climate Alliance. Says PA is on target to exceed the Paris climate agreement without joining the Alliance.

Scott Wagner: Let market decide renewables & clean energy

Scott Wagner (R): No. Does not support subsidizing renewables or clean energy. Need to let market decide.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes. Has supported loans & grants for solar energy. Also financing mechanism for low-cost funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, & water conservation upgrades to commercial properties.

Q: Support severance tax on oil & gas extraction?

Scott Wagner (R): No. Would drive drillers to other states.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes. Only gas-producing state that doesn't have this kind of tax, though drillers do pay comparable impact fee. Would raise $250 million in first year.

Scott Walker: No measurable global warming in the last 15 or 20 years

Tony Evers (D): Yes. "This is a real, serious threat." Challenges deniers to find another issue "where political leaders in nearly every single country" recognize this "& have been able to work together & find compromise." Early Paris Climate Accord supporter, & supports emissions regulations.

Scott Walker (R): No. "There has not been any measurable warming in the last 15 or 20 years." Sued Obama administration over emission regulations, calling them "a buzz saw to the nation's economy." Also cut budget of state scientists researching areas related to climate change.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Tony Evers (D): Yes. Strong supporter including state incentives.

Scott Walker (R): No. Slashed budget for major renewable energy research center.

Steve Pearce: No one believes the crap about climate change

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.

Steve Sisolak: Climate change poses a direct threat to our communities

Adam Laxalt (R): No. Joined appeal of Obama Clean Power Plan. "Oppose efforts to impose or expand costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers, which only lead to higher prices that hurt Nevada's families."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Climate change is real and poses a direct threat to our environment and communities." Work as a state to uphold Paris Climate Agreement & Clean Power Plan.

Q: Support Question 6, the initiative requiring utilities to provide 50% of energy from renewables by 2030?

Adam Laxalt (R): No specific stand but opposes "costly and burdensome mandates on energy providers."

Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. "Want Nevada to lead the world in clean energy."

Tim Walz: Climate change is real and urgent

Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says climate is changing naturally and human involvement is debatable.

Tim Walz (D): Yes. Sees climate change as real and urgent.

Q: Should the government limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Johnson: No. Believes that a single country's efforts to mitigate climate change would have only a "small effect" & "we don't need to reorder our economy based on climate change."

Walz): Yes. Supported legislation to restrict carbon emissions. Opposed Trump's decision to withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Johnson: Questions Minnesota's mandates on producing renewable fuels like ethanol & biodiesel, but promises not to end them if elected.

Walz: Yes. Wants to expand the Renewable Energy Standard, so Minnesota will get at least 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030, up from 21% now.

Tom Wolf: PA is on target to exceed the Paris Accord on GHGs

Scott Wagner (R): No. Earlier suggested heat from human bodies & planet moving closer to the sun were causes of global warming. Recently acknowledged human impact.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes. "The science of climate change is settled. Reduce Pennsylvania's carbon emissions. by promoting a cleaner energy mix."

Q: Support government limits on greenhouse gases? Support participation in US Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to climate change action.

Scott Wagner (R): No. Opposes regulatory overregulation. Government should also pare down regulations on natural gas drilling industry.

Tom Wolf (D): Supports limiting greenhouse gases, but hasn't joined Climate Alliance. Says PA is on target to exceed the Paris climate agreement without joining the Alliance.

Tom Wolf: Supports loans & grants for solar energy

Scott Wagner (R): No. Does not support subsidizing renewables or clean energy. Need to let market decide.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes. Has supported loans & grants for solar energy. Also financing mechanism for low-cost funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, & water conservation upgrades to commercial properties.

Q: Support severance tax on oil & gas extraction?

Scott Wagner (R): No. Would drive drillers to other states.

Tom Wolf (D): Yes. Only gas-producing state that doesn't have this kind of tax, though drillers do pay comparable impact fee. Would raise $250 million in first year.

Tony Evers: Global warming is a real, serious threat

Tony Evers (D): Yes. "This is a real, serious threat." Challenges deniers to find another issue "where political leaders in nearly every single country" recognize this "& have been able to work together & find compromise." Early Paris Climate Accord supporter, & supports emissions regulations.

Scott Walker (R): No. "There has not been any measurable warming in the last 15 or 20 years." Sued Obama administration over emission regulations, calling them "a buzz saw to the nation's economy." Also cut budget of state scientists researching areas related to climate change.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Tony Evers (D): Yes. Strong supporter including state incentives.

Scott Walker (R): No. Slashed budget for major renewable energy research center.

Walker Stapleton: Full-throated defense of oil-and-gas deregulation

Jared Polis (D): Yes to limiting greenhouse gases. Supports participation in Alliance. Introduced "100 by `50 Act" to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050.

Walker Stapleton (R): No to limiting greenhouse gases. Says a major reason he is running is to "offer a full-throated defense of the state's oil-and-gas industry against [those] that want it regulated more tightly."

Q: Support government investment in renewable energy?

Polis: Yes. Increase regulatory incentives for energy efficiency & renewables.

Stapleton: No. Favors "free enterprise & open & competitive marketplace."

The above quotations are from CampusElect.org 2018 Campus Election Engagement Project. Click here for definitions & background information on Energy & Oil. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Charlie Baker on Energy & Oil.
Candidates and political leaders on Energy & Oil:
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