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Michael Bennet on Energy & Oil

Democratic Presidential Challenger; CO Senator

 


Build on our responsible approach to energy transition

Climate change is changing how we plan for the future, and Colorado is already leading the national response to this challenge. As Governor, Michael will continue to build on this leadership through a common-sense, responsible approach to our energy transition that meets our emission targets and keeps energy affordable. Michael will also protect Colorado's long-term interests on the Colorado River while working with communities across the state to manage our water resources.
Source: 2026 Colorado Governor campaign website MichaelBennet.com , Jun 1, 2025

Endorsed by LCV to tackle the climate crisis

Betting that climate change will be at the top of voters' minds in 2022, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund made its first round of endorsements, backing nine incumbent senators--all Democrats.

The endorsements, first shared with CQ Roll Call, went to Michael Bennet of Colorado, Alex Padilla of California, Patty Murray of Washington, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

"Voters really are demanding that the administration, the Senate, and the House do something about investing in clean energy jobs and tackling the climate crisis in 2022," said the vice president of governmental affairs for LCV Action Fund. Climate change has been growing in importance for voters over time, and a majority of registered voters said it was a very or somewhat important factor.

Source: Rollcall.com on LCV 2022 endorsements , Jun 10, 2021

US is only government officially questioning climate change

Paris, where the United States in 2015 had helped lead the world toward a landmark accord--currently endorsed by 196 nations--to address climate change. Now, under its new president, the United States had become the only country in the world to commit to withdraw from the agreement. The US government was also the only one officially questioning whether climate change was even happening. In Europe, in countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, parties on the left and right fight ferociously over many issues--but not over whether the planet is warming. Rather they sometimes fight over which party can claim more credit for trying to address the problem. In the United States, an entire political party has embraced climate-change denial as political orthodoxy.
Source: Land of Flickering Lights, by Michael Bennet, p. 73 , Jun 25, 2019

Transition to renewable energy in a ways that create jobs

Eight out of ten Coloradans support new policies to reduce carbon emissions, and nine out of ten support more investment in renewable energy. We have seen the promise of drawing energy from cleaner and more diverse sources. Compared with other states, Colorado ranks fourth in wind jobs; tenth in oil and gas jobs; and ninth in solar jobs. Our largest utility, Xcel energy, has publicly committed to making a 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050, while saving its customers money. Renewable energy now drives more than $9 billion of economic activity annually; our other outdoor industries account for $28 billion. Coloradans perceive climate change as a real threat but are confident we can transition our economy in ways that will foster growth and create jobs.
Source: Land of Flickering Lights, by Michael Bennet, p. 75 , Jun 25, 2019

Build Keystone pipeline, or oil will be transported by rail

According to the State Department in 2014, regardless of whether a pipeline was built, the oil sands in Alberta would still be developed. If the US did not permit the [Keystone XL] pipeline, the oil would be transported by railcars, which were arguably worse than a pipeline in terms of environmental and safety consequences.

There might have been good reasons to defeat the pipeline. If the tar sands were in Colorado instead of Canada, I would chain myself to a fence to avoid the environmental degradation that would occur. But concern about climate change was not a sound reason to oppose the pipeline.

I believed that opposing Keystone on the basis of climate change would destroy my credibility as I argued for the much more significant Clean Power Plan. It was not just my credibility; the credibility of the entire climate science movement was at stake. I have seldom felt this alone in my public life. I voted to build the pipeline when the issue came to the Senate floor several times.

Source: Land of Flickering Lights, by Michael Bennet, p.100-1 , Jun 25, 2019

Climate change is major issue; but not Green New Deal

Bennet has been consistent on the issue of climate change, working toward a comprehensive approach to combat climate change. He was not a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, but he recommends investing in renewable energy.
Source: Axios.com "What you need to know about 2020" , May 2, 2019

Permanent tax incentives to spur renewable energy growth

We also need to prioritize energy independence, because our job growth on clean energy has been 18% since 1998, double our job growth in other areas. That's why I support a federal renewable energy standard of 25% by 2025, and permanent tax incentives to spur renewable energy growth.
Source: League of Women Voters 2010 Candidate Questionnaire , Aug 11, 2010

Supports renewable energy tax credits.

Bennet supports the CC survey question on renewable energy tax credits

The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.

The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Tax credits for investment in renewable sources of energy, (such as wind, solar & biomass)"

Source: Christian Coalition Survey 10-CC-q18 on Aug 11, 2010

Other governors on Energy & Oil: Michael Bennet on other issues:
CO Gubernatorial:
Greg Lopez
Heidi Ganahl
Jared Polis
Phil Weiser
CO Senatorial:
Eli Bremer
Janak Joshi
Joe O`Dea
John Hickenlooper
Julie Gonzales
Mark Baisley
Ron Hanks

Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Local Issues
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty

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Page last updated: Feb 16, 2026; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org