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Seth Moulton on Energy & Oil
Democratic Presidential Challenger (withdrawn); MA Rep.
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Need to make climate change a top priority
We need to make clean energy more cost-effective than coal for developing countries. We should also rejoin the Paris Climate Accord immediately, and we must also go further. If we hope to not only save the planet but also remain the economic
and diplomatic leaders of it, we need to make climate change a top priority in our investment, foreign policy, and national security decisions. And we must do so now before it's too late.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
, Jul 30, 2019
Get started on stopping climate change
Q: Do you think it's possible for the next president to stop climate change?
A: "Is it possible to fix it in the term of one presidency? Probably not, but we can get started in the right direction."
Source: 2019 "Meet the Candidates" (NY Times.com)
, Jun 18, 2019
Green New Deal addresses climate change AND changed economy
We're facing two primary challenges in this country right now. The first is that our economy is changing faster than ever before, and Americans everywhere are being left behind. The second is climate change. That's why we need a Green New Deal:
because if we do it right, we can solve both problems at once.The Green New Deal needs to be built around green jobs and clean energy, decarbonization and breakthrough technologies, and access to green energy for the developing world--and
America should lead the way in winning this moral and economic opportunity. We can lead the world in green tech and green jobs, and we should set the standards for other countries to follow.
The New Deal paved the way for a strong economy and American leadership in the last century. Let's shape the Green New Deal to help America lead this one.
Source: 2020 Presidential Campaign website SethMoulton.com
, May 2, 2019
Member of the Climate Solutions Caucus in Congress
"Climate change is real," he says on his congressional website. He is a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus. He hopes the U.S. can one day move toward energy independence. He supported President Obama's Clean
Climate Agenda and opposes President Trump's executive order on the environment, which he says shows "a complete disregard for facts and science."
Source: CNN Town Hall with 2020 presidential hopefuls
, Apr 23, 2019
50% carbon-free electricity by 2030
He signed a 2016 initiative for the
U.S. to use 50% clean and carbon-free electricity by 2030.
Source: Axios.com "What you need to know about 2020"
, Apr 22, 2019
Firm leadership to lessen greenhouse gas emissions
Congress needs firm leadership to lessen GHG emissions & to hold private companies accountable for environmental degradation while still encouraging economic growth. With the proper structures & incentives, businesses should be advocates for environmenta
stewardship and innovation, not opponents.Climate change is the most important global issue we face today. It is Congress' job to ensure that the US is taking an active role in advancing a strong agenda to mitigate climate change and its effects.
Source: 2014 House campaign website, SethMoulton.com
, Sep 1, 2014
Supports regulating CO2, according to Faith2Action.
Moulton supports the F2A survey question on greenhouse gas regulation
Faith2Action.org is "the nation's largest network of pro-family groups." They provide election resources for each state, including Voter Guides and Congressional Scorecards excerpted here.
The F2A survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?'
Source: Faith2Action Survey 14-F2A-Q8 on Jul 30, 2014
Supports regulating CO2, according to PVS rating.
Moulton supports the PVS survey question on greenhouse gas regulation
Project VoteSmart infers summary responses from campaign statements and news reports
The PVS survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?'
Source: Project VoteSmart Inferred Survey 14-PVS-q8 on Sep 30, 2014
Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico.
Moulton voted YEA Interior & Environment Agencies Appropriations
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).
Source: Supreme Court case 16-H5538B argued on Jul 13, 2016
50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030.
Moulton co-sponsored H.Res.637/S.Res.386
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should establish a national goal of more than 50 percent clean and carbon free electricity by 2030 for the purposes of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, growing our economy, increasing our shared prosperity, improving public health, and preserving our national security.
- Whereas failing to act on climate change will have a devastating impact on our Nation's economy, costing us billions of dollars in lost GDP;
- Whereas extreme weather, intensified by climate change, has already cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year in recovery efforts, and this will only continue if climate change is left unaddressed;
- Whereas climate change will have devastating public health implications, including increased asthma attacks and exacerbation of other respiratory diseases, especially in vulnerable populations;
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Whereas inaction on climate change will disproportionately impact communities of color and exacerbate existing economic inequalities;
- Whereas the transition to a clean energy economy is feasible with existing technology;
- Whereas the transition to clean energy will create millions of jobs and will increase our country's GDP and increase disposable household income;
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should--- Establish a national goal of more than 50 percent clean and carbon free electricity by 2030; and
- Enact legislation to accelerate the transition to clean energy to meet this goal.
Source: Resolution for 50% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2030 16-HRes637 on Mar 3, 2016
Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization.
Moulton co-sponsored the Resolution on Green New Deal
This resolution calls for the creation of a Green New Deal with the goals of:
- achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions;
- establishing millions of high-wage jobs and ensuring economic security for all;
- investing in infrastructure and industry;
- securing clean air and water, climate and community resiliency, healthy food, access to nature, and a sustainable environment for all; and
- promoting justice and equality.
The resolution calls for accomplishment of these goals through a 10-year national mobilization effort. The resolution also enumerates the goals and projects of the mobilization effort, including:building smart power grids (i.e., power grids that enable customers to reduce their power use during peak demand periods);upgrading all existing buildings and constructing new buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency;removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation and agricultural sectors;
cleaning up existing hazardous waste and abandoned sites;ensuring businesspersons are free from unfair competition; andproviding higher education, high-quality health care, and affordable, safe, and adequate housing to all.Opposing argument from the Cato Institute, 2/24/2019: While reasonable people can disagree on some aspects of the Green New Deal's proposals, one fact is uncontroversial: the US cannot afford them. The Green New Deal would likely cost upwards of $6.6 trillion per year. The federal government should look for cheaper ways to address problems like climate change. Instead of the Green New Deal, the federal government could adopt a revenue??neutral carbon tax to decrease emissions without exacerbating the fiscal imbalance. Economists from across the political spectrum support carbon taxation as the most cost??effective way to address climate change. And a carbon tax would be most effective if uniformly adopted by other countries, too.
Source: H.Res.109/S.Res.59 19-HR0109 on Feb 7, 2019
Page last updated: Jun 13, 2020