National Public Radio: on Energy & Oil
Barack Obama:
Aggressively address accelerating climate change
Q: What do you think the toughest choice you have left to make is? What haven’t you made up your mind on yet? And why haven’t you?A: The issue of climate change. I’ve put forward one of the most aggressive proposals out there,
but the science seems to be coming in indicating it’s accelerating even more quickly with every passing day. And by the time I take office, I think we’re going to have to have a serious conversation about how drastic steps we need to take to address it.
Source: 2007 Democratic radio debate on NPR
Dec 4, 2007
Beto O`Rourke:
Invest in fighting climate change as JFK did with "moonshot"
O'Rourke told NPR, "We've called for an investment commensurate with John F. Kennedy's moonshot. We're going to invest in the technologies that will allow us to lead the world on this. It should be happening right here in the United States."
O'Rourke continued to evoke the 20th century with a callback to the "greatest generation." He wants America to rise to the challenge of protecting the climate just as it did in resisting Nazism during World War II.
Source: NPR Morning Edition, "Election 2020: Opening Arguments"
Jun 14, 2019
Beto O`Rourke:
Climate change a true existential threat
We're going to have to make an investment as a country. It is not going to necessarily be easy. We just celebrated the 75th anniversary of D-Day--that was this country meeting the existential threat of that day, of Nazi Germany, making the
United States and the world safe for democracy. Here's our generation's opportunity to meet a true existential threat of this moment. I'm confident that that's going to bring out the absolute best in us.
Source: NPR Morning Edition: Election 2020 Special Series
Jun 14, 2019
Bob Massie:
Transform the state completely by pursuing renewable energy
Environmentalist and entrepreneur Robert Massie says he's running for governor in 2018. Massie was most recently head of the University of Massachusetts Boston's Sustainable Solutions Lab--which focuses on climate change research and preparedness.
Among Massie's top priorities is bringing more sustainable energy options to the state, which he said will create new jobs and boost a new sector of the economy.
He said, "We have an opportunity to transform the state completely by pursuing renewable energy at a much faster rate, like what's going on across the world."
"I think it's about vision and leadership," he said. "Can you lay out a future for the state
, drawing from the millions of wonderful ideas that people have , and have Massachusetts become again a leading force in the United States, pushing us towards a new economy that creates new jobs and is much more fair."
Source: WBUR 90.9 FM (NPR) on 2018 Massachusetts gubernatorial race
Apr 24, 2017
Charlie Baker:
Next-generation roadmap for climate policy
S.9: An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy.Summary by WBUR (NPR 90.9-FM) 1/4/2021 : Massachusetts would adopt some of the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the country,
dial up thousands of more megawatts of cleaner offshore wind power, encourage natural gas utilities to explore other services they could provide in the future, and put an explicit emphasis on helping the most overburdened communities cope
with the effects of climate change under a compromise climate policy bill.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 39-1-0 Rollcall #19 on Mar/15/21; Passed House 145-14-1 on Mar/18/21; Signed by Governor Charlie Baker on Mar/26/21.
Source: WBUR (NPR 90.9-FM) on Massachusetts voting records: S.9
Mar 26, 2021
Curt Clawson:
Keystone XL pipeline must be completed
Clawson--speaking on behalf of Tea Party Express--said all new government programs and increases to federal debt or taxes were wrong. He said that the
small-business and corporate tax rates should be cut in half, and that the Keystone XL pipeline must be completed.
Source: NPR.org on Tea Party 2015 State of the Union response
Jan 20, 2015
Donald Trump:
Represent Pittsburgh, not Paris: Coal over climate agreement
As he announced his decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, President Trump said he was putting American jobs ahead of the needs of other countries. "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris," he said, claiming
that as a result of this action, "The coal mines are starting to open up. For many, many years that hasn't happened." Is that true?Short Answer: Yes, mines are opening, including a new one in Pennsylvania.
Long answer: That doesn't reverse the
overall decline of the coal mining industry from its glory days. The mines that are opening produce a special kind of coal used in steelmaking and are opening largely because of events unrelated to federal policy, experts say. The market for the kind of
coal used in electricity--the biggest use for coal--remains down relative to where it was several years ago. In other words, the industry has rebounded slightly after years of layoffs and closures caused mainly by competition from cheap natural gas.
Source: NPR Fact-Check on 2017 Trump Administration promises
Jun 2, 2017
Donald Trump:
Fact-Check:US became #1 producer of natural gas in 2009
President Trump said, "Thanks to our bold regulatory reduction campaign, the United States has become the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world, by far. With the tremendous progress we have made over the past 3 years,
America is now energy independent, and energy jobs, like so many elements of our country, are at a record high. We are doing numbers that no one would have thought possible just 3 years ago."Fact -Check:
The U.S energy boom started more than a decade ago, driven by market forces and advanced technology such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. According to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. became the world's leading producer
of natural gas in 2009. More recently it surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia in crude oil production. That was helped in part after President Obama signed a bill to lift a 40-year ban on most oil exports.
Source: NPR Fact-Check on 2020 State of the Union address
Feb 4, 2020
Harry Reid:
BP and oil companies need regulation
Reid tried to turn Angle's disdain for government regulations against her. "My opponent favors big banks. She's against Wall Street reform.
Oil companies--she said BP had too much regulation, that's what went wrong there. I have a different philosophy. I am for the middle class," he said.
Source: NPR Morning Edition coverage of 2010 Nevada Senate debate
Oct 15, 2010
Jay Inslee:
America ready to be inspired to pursue clean energy
Look at clean energy. [Trump] doesn't think we're smart enough to revolutionize our economy. He is too pessimistic about the capabilities of the American people. I think of the American people still having what we did when we went to the moon and
we just need a spark of inspiration. And I think America is ready and willing and able to create a whole new clean energy economy if they have that spark and inspiration."
Source: NPR Morning Edition, "Election 2020: Opening Arguments"
May 31, 2019
Joe Biden:
FactCheck: Oil did not jump $18/bbl due to Iran Resolution
A question about the Senate's September adoption of a resolution declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization sparked lively debate, and a whopper by Biden. Sen. Biden said, "The moment that declaration was made, oil prices jumped over
$18 a barrel."There are two things wrong with this statement. One, it took two months, not a "moment," for the price of a barrel of oil to increase by $18. The price per barrel was $80.31 on Sept. 26, the date of the Senate resolution. It wasn't until
Nov. 19 that it went up as much as Biden says, to $99.16.
The second problem is that connecting the increase in the price of oil to the declaration on the Revolutionary Guard is a rather stunning post-hoc fallacy. There's no evidence that something
like the Senate resolution would have anything approaching such a dramatic effect on the price of oil. Some would expect [SOME] impact from Bush's sabre-rattling [but] risky financial maneuvers by high-stakes speculators may be having a bigger effect.
Source: FactCheck on 2007 Democratic radio debate on NPR
Dec 4, 2007
Joe Biden:
Convened "climate world summit"; cut US emissions in half
PROMISE MADE: (JoeBiden.com website): Biden will, in his first 100 days in office, convene a climate world summit to directly engage the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations of the world to persuade them to join the US in making
more ambitious national pledges.PROMISE KEPT: (NPR, 4/22/21): Emphasizing US commitments on climate change, Pres. Biden kicked off the first international summit during his presidency. He announced that the US would cut its greenhouse
gas emissions in half, from 2005 levels, by the end of the decade. Biden was joined by 40 heads of government on Earth Day, focused entirely on lowering greenhouse gas emissions quickly in order to prevent the worst outcomes of a rapidly warming
planet.
ANALYSIS: Much of the substantive work on cutting GHGs has yet to be done; only plans & proposals have been announced. However, the 2-day summit, which included Russia & China, fulfills Biden's pledge, within his first 100 days.
Source: NPR on Biden Administration promises
Apr 22, 2021
Joe Biden:
FactCheck:US rejoined world in GHG reduction, not vice-versa
Biden promised to persuade "the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations to join the US in making more ambitious national pledges." Biden led a climate world summit where he committed "that the US would cut its greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in half,
from 2005 levels, by the end of the decade" (NPR 4/22). But some fact-checking:Biden didn't persuade other countries to "join the US": In 2015, 191 countries signed the Paris Accord committing to GHG reductions. Trump withdrew the US entirely in 2017,
reducing US commitment to zero.
Looking at the numbers, the US had committed in 2015 to a 26% domestic reduction in greenhouse gases by 2025 compared to 2005 levels. Biden committed to a 50% reduction by 2030--a comparable reduction rate. For
comparison, the EU committed to a 40% domestic GHG reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels--a much lower base level. In summary, Biden's action restored the US to what the world is already doing--the US joined the other nations, not vice-versa!
Source: NPR/OnTheIssues FactCheck on Biden Administration promises
Apr 22, 2021
Maura Healey:
Will harness all the levers in combating the climate crisis
We have never seen so much coming into the state in terms of funding as we do right now. I think there is an incredible opportunity to deploy that and think about it, particularly when it comes to climate--and I have said that
I will be the most aggressive and insightful and innovative governor harnessing all the levers when it comes to combating the climate crisis right now. I've also talked about the economic imperative and opportunity that that provides--not just for jobs.
Source: WBUR (NPR Radio) on 2022 Massachusetts Gubernatorial race
Feb 3, 2022
Sonia Chang-Diaz:
Next-generation roadmap for climate policy
S.9: An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy.Summary by WBUR (NPR 90.9-FM) 1/4/2021 : Massachusetts would adopt some of the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the country,
dial up thousands of more megawatts of cleaner offshore wind power, encourage natural gas utilities to explore other services they could provide in the future, and put an explicit emphasis on helping the most overburdened communities cope
with the effects of climate change under a compromise climate policy bill.
Legislative Outcome:
Passed Senate 39-1-0 Rollcall #19 on Mar/15/21; State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz voted YES; Passed House 145-14-1 on Mar/18/21; Signed by Governor Charlie Baker on Mar/26/21.
Source: WBUR (NPR 90.9-FM) on Massachusetts voting records: S.9
Mar 15, 2021
Spencer Cox:
There's very clear evidence of climate change
On climate: "There's very clear evidence of a climate change--that the climate has been changing for a long time," he said, echoing the climate-science talking points of some Republicans. "Certainly, this feels much more like the new norm when it
comes to fires." Cox lives near the fast-growing Hilltop Fire in Sanpete County and has been monitoring the blaze all week. Utah is limited in any response, he said, because the climate is "global."
Source: KUER 90-1 NPR on 2020 Utah gubernatorial race
Aug 9, 2018
Steve Bullock:
Promotes wind and solar power and clean coal for Montana
Governor Bullock wants funding to expand wind and solar power projects and find cleaner ways to burn coal. "Montanans expect that we will protect our clean air and water, our lucrative outdoor heritage, our communities and our farmers and ranchers.
I am committed to sustainable and responsible development of all of our energy resources." Bullock says coal is an important part of Montana's future. But he also said the energy market is changing and there are concerns about climate change.
Source: Montana NPR on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race
Jun 21, 2016
Page last updated: Oct 26, 2024