“We’re not saying that climate change is not real. It is real. It’s how do you have that balance between making sure you’ve got jobs and businesses moving and then also making sure you protect your climate. The answer’s in the middle.”
quotable climate
The Right Voices on Climate
“Climate change is not the hoax that some claim it is. But to the extent that it’s a crisis, people like Mr. Sanders, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and Ms. Warren want to use it as an excuse to radically transform the American economy and political system along lines that have less to do with climate change and much to do with their ideological animosity to the status quo.”
“While big-government proposals and economic takeovers often dominate the headlines, the truth is that any consequential plan to address climate change must include a strong commitment to innovation-based policy and global deployment.”
“What countries have to do is that they have to satisfy three Es: they have to satisfy economic growth, they have to satisfy environmental sustainability and that is done through energy use.”
“Time-tested conservative principles like promoting innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and lowering regulatory barriers are the best ways to deploy new technologies that will create a healthy natural and economic environment. These principles, not top-down and heavy-handed government intervention, unleashed the fracking revolution that dramatically cut emissions in my home state of Pennsylvania and the entire country.”
“Climate change is real, and we need to address it. The question is, how do we do that? I think we should support all ways of decreasing emissions, from traditional renewables to cleaned-up fossil fuels to nuclear to innovative new tech like carbon capture.”
“Climate change is causing real problems. Real problems deserve real solutions. Many of the proposed ‘fixes’ for climate change are unrealistic & dangerous.”
“One of the things I told the president when he asked me about my position on climate is I said it doesn’t matter. People want us to deal with it. The question is: Do we deal with it on our terms or walk away from it?”
“America has always been a leader in developing cutting-edge technologies and pushing the limits of our imagination. It only makes sense to apply that same approach and dedication to reducing global emissions and creating new American jobs.”
“What conservative Republicans really want is a depoliticizing of the climate issue. They don’t necessarily think that the alarmist rhetoric and certainly not the policy proposals of the left are what they’re looking for…On the other hand, the idea that the climate’s not changing and this is an issue that no one should talk about isn’t where they’re at.”
“I believe the climate is changing. I believe that all flora fauna and human beings have some impact on that. I also believe fervently that we can protect our environment without wrecking our economy.”
“Those who say climate change is an existential threat are completely mistaken. We do have time to address this. We should address it.”
“I have always supported science-based, common-sense policies that protect our environment and the beautiful California coastline. In Congress, I will work towards climate solutions that promote innovation and diversification. We need leaders that understand the challenge at hand, but also have the foresight not to overburden small businesses with meaningless regulations.”
“We always should promote policies and innovation to have clean water, air and healthy food for our citizens. We all want a clean planet and a healthy environment for our children. There is real debate among scientists about how much climate change is natural and how much is man-made, but we need to approach the issue in a common sense way that recognizes we can balance protecting the environment and not destroying jobs and opportunity for lower and middle income Americans.”
“The cost of the Green New Deal is tens of trillions of dollars. The Green New Deal would raise the cost of motor fuel and would impoverish rural families. I will fight to protect rural residents by opposing radical ideas like the Green New Deal and other extreme environmental legislation. Our focus should be on developing clean coal technology and nuclear power.”
“When it comes to our energy sector, affordability, sustainability, and energy independence are critical to the future of Iowa and America.”
“Radical environmental policies that unnecessarily damage our economy must be rejected. We all have a responsibility to take care of the planet and protect the environment, but this is best done through conservation efforts and common sense rules, not excessively burdensome mandates”
“We will continue to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation, expansion of solar energy generation, increased use of electric vehicles and using innovative new technologies.”
“Joe Biden’s new climate change package is yet another Green New Deal, and Kendra Horn continues her support of this extreme leftist candidate for president. Biden has made it clear that he cares nothing about jobs related to oil and natural gas exploration, a lifeblood for Oklahoma’s economy. Oklahomans need a congresswoman who will stand with Oklahoma companies, protect Oklahoma jobs and fight for Oklahoma families. I am that Congresswoman.”
“We’re going to address the climate. It makes sense for us to have policies that reduce emissions, that reduce the pollutants that are in the air, to reduce the particles that cause massive health problems around the world.”
“We envision conservation policies and practices that focus on results rather than rhetoric and replace conflict with cooperation. Our goal is to foster a culture of environmental entrepreneurship.”
“We believe that there is much common ground on which all sides of this discussion could come together to address climate change with policies that are practical, flexible, predictable, and durable.”
“We know nuclear power slows climate change. We also know that every time a nuclear reactor closes in the U.S., carbon dioxide emissions go up.”
“It will be largely up to the business community to develop, finance, build, and operate the solutions needed to power economic growth worldwide, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilient, lower-carbon infrastructure. Thousands of businesses already are taking action in their own operations and along their value chains by investing in technology solutions and enhancing their efficiency.”
“The future of clean energy must be rescued from failed leftist policies and returned to its roots in conservation and conservatism. American energy policy must derive from a fierce sense of patriotism, technological innovation and entrepreneurship, a respect for individual rights and liberties over government intrusion, and reverence for God and His creation.”
“It’s time we focus on clean energy policy solutions that work. Entrepreneurs, innovators, and market solutions can solve our global environment and energy challenges better than government. Let’s find ways of supporting innovation with less regulation, not more.”
“Each of us is responsible for ensuring the land that shaped our heritage and culture is well cared for and continues to define who we are for generations. As conservatives, we live our conservation values every day. Whether we are farmers, hunters, fishermen or all of the above, we care for the land and water because they are what sustain our bodies and our souls.”
“Energy affects every facet of American life, so every one of us has a stake in supporting clean, responsible energy solutions that advance our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge.”
“Real climate action cannot be achieved alone, and the United States must continue leading the world in the fight to mitigate climate change, and adapt to its consequences.”
“There are a number of factors that contribute to that, including human activity. The question is, what are we going to do about it and at what cost?”
“I believe climate change is real. I believe that human emissions of greenhouse gases are a major cause of climate change. And I believe the Democrat cure for climate change, their “Green New Deal,” is so far out in left field that not many are going to take it seriously. So, as one Republican, I propose this response to climate change: the United States should launch a New Manhattan Project for Clean Energy, a five year project with Ten Grand Challenges that will use American research and technology to put our country and the world firmly on a path toward cleaner, cheaper energy.”
“It is clear the climate is changing to me. We need policy responses that work.”
“I believe that we can address this challenge by having the federal government focus on basic research in the areas of energy storage in order to make renewable power dependable, on advanced nuclear power solutions to produce zero-emissions electricity and on finding ways to reduce emissions from today’s conventional fuel sources.”
“Any serious conversation about the future of America’s energy production must include nuclear energy, which accounts for 20 percent of all American energy production and 55 percent of American carbon-free-energy production.”
“The United States can lead in reducing carbon emissions without jeopardizing our economy by focusing on technology and innovation.”
“We have to act now if we want to unlock the solutions that will aggressively combat climate change. Through smart, technology-neutral tax incentives, we can unleash American ingenuity and encourage the kind of innovation at scale that will significantly reduce carbon emissions.”
“The implementation of #45Q will help encourage American competitiveness in a growing and competitive global market for #CCUS technologies and will positively impact domestic energy, manufacturing, and construction jobs.”
“Free-market innovation — not government regulation or taxation — is the best way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”
“Too often, climate change policy is oversimplified to false choices: renewables versus fossils, economy versus environment, 100% reductions versus inaction. The reality is this: solutions must make a clean energy transition cheaper and faster while preserving economic growth and reflecting the global nature of the challenge.”
“Under Gardner’s bipartisan bill announced last week, the nation’s ability to manage and increase public lands would be bolstered. This is critical at a time when animal species, including birds, deer, elk and many others, are struggling to find wild habitats that can sustain healthy populations and the globe is fighting deforestation and carbon-induced climate change.”
“Whether we call the problem ‘climate change,’ ‘global warming,’ or my preference of ‘climate volatility,’ the bottom line is that Congress has finally stopped talking about how to define the problem and more about how to solve it. One area of potential consensus––trees. While expanded carbon capture technology, conservation, mass transit, bikes, scooters, electric cars, wind, solar, biofuels, and even nuclear energy will play significant roles in reducing carbon emissions, trees are nature’s best way of cleaning out excess carbon pollution from the atmosphere.”
“The most effective thing we can do on this committee to address climate change is to support more basic research that will lead to the next generation of technologies that are needed to reduce global emissions like carbon capture, nuclear power, and fusion energy.”
“The full breadth of global solutions to climate change, including technological innovations to reduce carbon emissions that are causing a rise in air temperature almost everywhere.”
“The climate is changing. Humans and global industrial activity are contributing. Thankfully, there are realistic free-market solutions that will lead us in the right direction.”
“Washington has been paralyzed by partisan gamesmanship for too long on this issue. Through the Climate Solutions Caucus we can have real conversations about protecting our environment, securing America’s energy future and protecting American manufacturing jobs.”
“Clean air and clean water is an important issue and it’s one that both sides could find common ground on if they wanted to. But unfortunately, the socialist Left has taken over the debate and is more interested in pushing their radical policies on the American people than finding real solutions. … Republicans have proposed commonsense solutions to climate change that are good for the environment and our economy, but Democrats have continually let the most radical voices dominate the conversation.”
“Preserving trees means more carbon sequestration. Fewer climate-harming pollutants will be belched into the air from uncontrolled wildfires. These are outcomes we should all desire.”
“As we move in the direction of a cleaner energy portfolio, a goal all of us share, we must keep unleashing the affordable innovation that made us the world leader in reducing emissions — and not play into China’s hands.”
“We believe that the key to successfully tackling climate change is American innovation. Innovation is what made America the global energy leader, and what will make us the driving force behind clean and affordable energy as a realistic, practical solution to greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Climate change does pose real long-term challenges to our country and the rest of the world. Economic prosperity and protecting our environment are not mutually exclusive goals. I believe we can address climate change with realistic and responsible market-driven solutions that foster innovation, competition, and economic growth.”
“Climate change is real. Humans contribute to climate change.”
“In order to truly make progress in addressing climate change we must work together. I will continue working on sensible, bipartisan efforts to promote conservation, reduce emissions, and strengthen our economy.”
“The question is how do you address it. … The way to do this consistent with American values and American capitalism is through technology and innovation … not to shut down your economy, throw people out of work”
“There’s no question that we’re experiencing climate change and that humans are a significant contributor to that. In my view, the course forward is going to require innovation and technology breakthrough because nothing I’ve seen is going to reverse the warming trend other than that.”
“We are having conversations about how to address the problem, which is emissions. To do it in a way that continues to let the economy flourish and come up with solutions.”
“There is a growing consensus on our side that man-made emissions are contributing to global warming, that the ‘green deal’ is absurd, and we should be able to find a more appropriate solution to the problem.”
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Select Committee [on Climate Crisis] to ensure that the United States can continue to rely on clean, affordable energy generated from our abundance of resources. I am focused on finding solutions on this committee that will allow the United States to become energy independent, preserve our environment, and build a strong economy. I hope that my colleagues will join me in prioritizing innovation, not taxation or over-regulation, in our energy industry to maximize efficiency, cut costs, protect and create jobs in West Virginia, and care for our earth for generations to come.”
“Climate change is real and the need to protect our environment is real. I want to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create solutions to address climate change that are realistic, market-based and will actually have an impact on climate change. We should also be focusing on proposals that will create American jobs instead of killing them.”
“Climate change is the greatest environmental and energy challenge of our time, and our government is failing to meet it.”
“Nature isn’t just a destination, it’s our home. We should be protecting our parks and public lands not just because they’re natural wonders but also because conservation is vital to addressing climate change. I’ll continue to work to find free-market conservation solutions.”
“What I’m just saying is, what are the practical means to address it? And the practical means to address it by the left are absurd.”
“Clean energy innovation is key to addressing the serious issue of climate change.”
“Securing continued U.S. energy independence requires unleashing American innovation and public-private collaboration to address energy and environmental challenges.”
“Anybody who thinks we’re going to reach a carbon neutral world economy without nuclear energy has been smoking the devil’s lettuce. It’s not going to happen. And we know that.”
“America’s energy independence is vital to the future success of our nation. I have long supported an all-of-the-above approach to energy development from energy sources that are both environmentally sound and economically feasible. This includes expanding our use of domestic oil, natural gas, solar, wind, and geothermal power capabilities, among others. All of these policies must be part of a comprehensive, market-based plan to make the United States energy secure.”
“NEPA reforms are important to building green energy infrastructure, resiliency, and the things that are important to [Democrats]. … There is a more efficient, better way to do it that doesn’t compromise the integrity of the environmental protection at all by streamlining the NEPA process.”
“Many foresters, farmers, and ranchers in Mississippi and around the nation are good stewards of the land because it’s their livelihood. They also understand they can make voluntary contributions to conservation and environmental protection.”
“Lowering greenhouse gases is important. Louisiana loses a football field of land every 100 minutes due to erosion and rising sea level. But the Green New Deal would actually increase global emissions by incentivizing manufacturing to move to high-emitting countries like China.”
“Conservatives have real solutions for climate. Ones that are technologically realistic, economically feasible, and politically sustainable. Over the past decade, conservatives have institutionalized big, bold goals, anchored in clean energy breakthroughs as the best solution to solving the climate challenge.”
“Climate change is an urgent challenge that merits significant policy action at every level of the federal government and private sector.”
“This caucus also understands that climate change is a global issue and that overregulating America will do nothing to affect emissions abroad. Today 85% of greenhouse gas emissions are created outside of the United States. This means that U.S. energy and climate policy must foster innovation and commercialization pathways that work in Indiana as well as India.”
“The climate is changing and to address it our country needs a commonsense approach that works by reducing energy prices, not energy choices; shrinking emissions, not our economy; and by exporting American innovation, not American jobs.”
“There is nothing more conservative than the idea of an ounce of prevention versus a pound of cure; being grateful for the bounty that we’ve inherited and feeling that obligation to not consume it, to not waste it, to take advantage of it, but to grow it for future generations.”
“I care about making sure that we stem rising sea levels. I care about the fact that we need to work on global warming, that we need to reduce our carbon emissions. These are important things that frankly we are aligned with our business community on.”
“The legacy of Teddy Rosevelt, the legacy of the conservation ethos in the conservative movement, that’s always been there. One of the challenges is that for too long, we looked at the issue of climate and the issue of the environment as a zero-sum political messaging game. I’m proud that with this caucus, we’re not going to be bringing snowballs to the House floor, we’re bringing solutions. We’re not using this as a cheap talking point, we actually want to pursue principle-based, metric-based, fact-based approaches.”
“We believe in energy security, we believe in a clean environment. We want to protect the Earth, we want to protect the air, but mostly, we protect our communities while we do this in a responsible fashion.”
“We want to continue to… allow communities, allow industries, allow companies, and allow American workers to thrive on the world stage and continue to innovate and continue to bring technology forward to continue to lower our carbon emissions.”
“I think far too often people think that if we don’t have this massive, strict federal regulation then the climate and what these communities are doing is bad. I can tell you that this is not the case…we want clean air, we want clean water and we do it well.”
“We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to keep our planet healthy and the [Conservative] Climate Caucus aims to prove that we can do so while protecting our values, relying on the best available science, and empowering Americans to do what they do best: coming together to solve problems facing our communities. This caucus lays the groundwork for a climate agenda that limits the strong arm of the federal government, empowers the free market, and is rooted in the individual freedom that is guaranteed by the American Dream.”
“As a group we understand that locally-led conservation efforts are far more effective than one-size-fits-all mandates from the federal government.”
“Farmers and ranchers are leading local efforts to maintain our clean air, our clean water. Just down the road for our farms, researchers and scientists are on the cutting edge of clean energy research and grid storage technology.”
“Conservatives care about our climate and conservatives care about our environment.”
“If we did everything that the Green New Deal people wanted us to do, we wouldn’t move the needle at all for any responsible purpose. Innovation is what we need to work with and I think that’s the beauty of this Caucus; moving forward, with innovation, and still caring for our environment because we need that.”
“We need innovation that continues on. Never in the history of the United States have we gone backward. We’ve innovated forward. We can do that in energy.”
“We’re [reducing emissions] without regulations, without mandates, without causing our consumers to double or triple the cost of electricity, without sending our jobs overseas.”
“Right now the United States is leading the world in reducing emissions. Right now we are the global leader and it’s not even close… We are doing this based upon America’s resources and American workers.”
“We’re committed to policies that advance a clean energy future for the United States. But you know what else we are committed to? We are committed to solutions that have been proven to work.”
“Proposals to reduce emissions and be good stewards of the Earth do not need to hurt the American economy, in fact, it’s just the opposite. There is a way to lower emissions without sacrificing American jobs and principles.”
“We don’t need to kill the U.S. economy to reach our climate goals.”
“The success of conservation policy must be measured by its outcomes — not by the number of, or stringency of, regulations. The focus must instead be on supporting local conservation efforts that use some of the most effective species recovery tools we have: private citizens and American industry.”
“An all-of-the-above approach to energy production is essential to ensure that every American has access to affordable and reliable energy. Private sector ingenuity and good governance helped America become a net exporter of crude oil in 2020 for the first time. We have an ambitious goal of not only energy independence, but energy dominance.”
“Thanks to innovation and advancements in technology, and our efforts to put the right tax and regulatory framework in place, we have been able to dramatically increase energy production and improve environmental stewardship.”
“It is estimated that the demand for energy across the country could grow nearly 50 percent by the year 2050, making carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies as important as ever in the fight against climate change. CCUS will not only help America meet the growing demand for energy, but will also be critical to reducing emissions and supporting a cleaner environment.”
“I support an all-of-the-above approach to securing not just American energy independence, but American energy dominance. That includes alternative sources of energy—hydropower, wind, biomass, and solar—along with coal, oil, and natural gas.”
“Clean water and economic prosperity are not mutually exclusive. Westerners want both, and that’s made possible by empowering communities and strengthening locally led conservation efforts – because the best stewards of our lands and waters are those that live closest, not out-of-state regulators.”
“As the global demand for energy continues to soar, it will be necessary for America to pursue an energy policy that is built on the solid foundation of domestic production, technological innovation, and efficient consumption…Nuclear, hydro, geothermal, and other forms of renewable energy should all be a part of our portfolio.”
“Consumer-driven, free-market competition provides a much better way to ensure Americans have access to reliable, affordable energy.”
“I support an aggressive expansion of nuclear power to meet our nation’s future energy needs. It is safe, reliable and produces zero carbon dioxide. I also support expanding other clean sources of baseload power such as hydropower, geothermal, biomass, natural gas and clean coal; as well as further development into technologies that are not yet able to produce reliable and substantial quantities of clean power, such as solar and wind. I support expanded drilling for domestic oil to reduce America’s dependence on foreign sources especially in the immediate future while we develop these other sources of energy.”
“Nuclear power is our nation’s largest source of carbon-free electricity. It’s critical to reliable electricity, resilient electricity, and affordable electric service.
“Now more than ever, Washington must advance policies to preserve and expand the use of nuclear energy. Nuclear technology is fundamental to meeting our energy, environmental, and national security goals.”
“[W]e should foster the innovative energy technologies that will reduce emissions while using all our resources including, hydropower, natural gas, nuclear—as outlined in E&C Republicans’ Securing Cleaner American Energy agenda.”
“Today, as a result of the shale revolution and the rise of natural gas, we are also leading the world in carbon emissions reductions, and we didn’t need a top-down Federal mandate, a price on carbon, or the Paris Agreement to get there either. We owe that to the free market and competition that rewards efficiency and innovation.”
“I think one thing we can all agree to is the world needs to reduce its carbon emissions and I think we are on the same page here…Carbon capture technology must become commercially viable, the New Source Review program must be reformed, and the U.S. will need to develop a pipeline system to dispose of the captured carbon.”
“As I’ve said before, we should build upon our energy systems, not dismantle them. We should stop attacking the source of American innovation, stop trying to pick winners and losers. We should recognize the essential role technological innovation and American free enterprise serves to address climate risks.”
[W]e need to talk about permitting reform. As we all know, it has become virtually impossible to build large-scale infrastructure projects in this country, especially pipeline and transmission that crosses state lines. Pouring federal dollars on the problem will not solve it. We need real reforms – strong lead agencies, timelines, and real certainty to encourage project developers to take the risk.”
“I believe it is important to recognize that, over the past decade, the United States has become the world’s leading producer of oil and gas creating millions of good-paying American jobs and billions of dollars in tax revenues to States and local governments…We are now self-sufficient when it comes to natural gas – which has helped the United States reduce its greenhouse gas emissions more than any other nation. We have also become a world leading LNG exporter, pushing back on Russia and helping our trading partners reduce their emissions at the same time.”
“The oldest and most experienced environmentalists often aren’t lauded for their efforts to steward our planet. Farmers have been bettering our planet since before it was cool, and they have been improving their methods and prioritizing sustainability for centuries through natural solutions, such as the deployment of no-till crops and voluntary participation in carbon markets.”
“We’re no longer really debating whether or not climate change is real; we’re looking for the best ways to address it.”
“If this argument is about taking carbon out of the air, then the fact is that it has been Republican solutions that have done that. Republicans have led in really the most meaningful solutions when it comes to the climate, and we do it in a way that helps build a robust rural economy and keeps our farmers and ranchers in business and farming.”
“As we approach this issue of looking at climate, I’ve always subscribed to what I call principle-based leadership… the principles that guide our climate work are number one, first principle, you can’t have a healthier environment without a healthier economy, it just doesn’t work. Number two, whatever we do should truly be science-based, not myth, not emotion. And number three, let’s start with what we know works as a great starting point.”
“Good, healthy forests and our farmlands are the largest carbon sinks in the world…these are incredible solutions that can only be improved upon with the practices that we have [such as] conservation programs [and] precision agriculture…it’s just a very exciting opportunity of what our farmers and ranchers, our foresters, and our forest landowners, what they do for the environment.”
“What we need is thoughtful people on both the Right and the Left to come together and find solutions that we can agree on that meet the end goal, which is reducing pollutants in the air…and judge [solutions] based on how well they do that and let the best ideas survive.”
“If we stop all carbon from going into the air tomorrow…there’s still too much carbon in the air…So I think it’s a mistake to leave carbon sequestration out of the conversation if we really want to get to the levels of carbon that people are talking about.”
“If the goal is to reduce carbon in the air, we have something [nuclear energy] right in front of us that will dramatically change the equation.”
“Conservatives are branded as not caring about the planet. This is not true at all, we’ve just done a terrible job of talking about it and positioning ourselves. One of my passions and one of my missions is to let it be known that conservatives do care and that we have great ideas. Ideas that would help in a dramatic fashion to improve our environment and take care of the environment in a better way.”
“I think [that] nuclear energy needs to be one of the key parts of our national energy policy in achieving these laudable [climate] goals.”
“A balanced and responsible approach is the solution. This means developing more of America’s own energy resources, including wind, solar, clean coal, hydropower, biofuels, nuclear energy, as well as oil and natural gas, which will reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and create thousands of jobs here at home.”
“This is God’s creation, and we’re supposed to tend to and take care of it.”
“We’re not against solar. We’re for solar. We’re not against wind. We’re not against hydro, we’re not against fossil fuels and we’re not against nuclear. We want to mesh it all together.”
“Coal is a vital resource for Wyoming and for our nation. Through technological advancements that our state has championed, we know we can continue to expand its use as a clean and reliable tool to power our economy and support families. I’m proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation that will help support the coal industry by advancing the availability and use of carbon capture.”
“We understand the science [of climate change] and know the impacts are real because we are experiencing them firsthand.”
“The hydropower developed in the Pacific Northwest benefits every resident, family, and business in our region, and it’s an important component of the all-of-the-above energy strategy that will ensure the United States maintains energy independence and leadership on the global stage.”
“We should break down regulatory barriers that hamper research and development and encourage investments into current and emerging technologies, including carbon capture, renewable hydropower, nuclear power, and energy storage. The United States is at the forefront of clean-energy efforts, and we must continue to leverage current capabilities. Nuclear power generation – which accounts for 20 percent of our nation’s power supply – is a great example of technology that is fueling the U.S., creating jobs, growing our economy, and reducing our environmental impact.”
“We support strategies that take action against harmful emissions without disrupting the economy and burdening hard-working Americans with new taxes and mandates. By being good stewards of the environment and advancing an all-of-the-above energy plan, we can support productivity and sustainability for the future.”
“Southwest Florida’s waterways are the lifeblood of our community and economy. It is our responsibility and obligation to preserve and protect these precious waterways for generations to come. I support environmental research and studies that not only preserves our waters, but also leads to sensible solutions, that do not burden taxpayers.”
“I support an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that embraces all of our country’s natural resources. The federal government should not be picking and choosing which energy sources get advantages. Fundamentally, Americans deserve the most affordable fuel available. Prioritizing the economic well-being of our fellow Americans leads to longer, more productive lives and increased prosperity.”
“It is obvious that humans have some impact on the environment.”
“Congressman Bilirakis believes that climate change is real and has been active in Congressional hearings focused on reducing carbon emissions, boosting renewable energy options, and modernizing the nation’s power generation. The Congressman wants clean air, clean water, and environmental protection; but as he explains below, those things do not have to be achieved at the expense of jobs, prosperity, and national security.”
“If the Left cared about ‘Climate Change’, they would: -have plan to curb China’s CO2 emissions (sic) -support nuclear energy & natural gas -unleash power of markets to invest in R&D.”
“Nuclear energy is a critical part of our nation’s energy matrix. It is a carbon-free, 24/7 baseload power supply that protects our national security and plays a critical role in furthering the American Energy Renaissance…As we continue to strive for more reliable clean power across the United States and work to maintain our energy leadership on a global scale, we must keep in mind the importance of updating the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) burdensome environmental review process required for nuclear reactor licensing. According to industry data, the cost of the environmental review process has tripled over the last ten years, and completion of the process averages about four years, creating a significant barrier to getting carbon-free nuclear power online.”
“I am also a strong advocate for nuclear energy. In South Carolina, nuclear power is responsible for generating nearly 57 percent of our electricity. That is well above the national average of 20 percent. Nuclear energy is a critical part of our energy matrix, providing large amounts of carbon free electricity, which is imperative for the U.S. to make our internationally agreed upon emissions targets.”
“Nuclear power accounts for 55% of zero-emission, baseload electricity nationwide. The American nuclear industry is working to introduce new reactors that are safer, smaller and more affordable than ever.”
“No question we can do a better job taking care of the environment, but big government, one-size-fits-all proposals that threaten our economy are not the answer. The Trillion Trees Act is sensible legislation that not only lowers atmospheric carbon by planting and conserving forests, but adds quality jobs while preserving the American economy. This is an achievable, reasonable first step toward doing our part in lowering carbon in the atmosphere.”
“The ‘everything but’ position [of the Democrats] is bad for our economy, and our planet. For instance, no technology has done more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the past two decades than fracking and natural gas. Innovations in that sector were driven entirely by the private sector, not top-down government mandates.”
“Republicans have an ‘all of the above’ energy strategy that prioritizes American energy independence, embraces fossil fuels and renewable energy, and doesn’t allow Washington to pick winners and losers through massive subsidies.”
“There is wide bipartisan agreement that a market-based transition toward cleaner, renewable forms of energy is good for our country and the environment. But we must also recognize that these energy technologies are still years, perhaps decades, away from providing energy at the scale necessary to provide constant, reliable power to communities. In the meantime, we must not turn our backs on the abundant supplies of natural resources that heat homes and power businesses from coast to coast.”
“If we want to tackle climate change, reduce emissions, and power the grid, then we need the proper mix of energy. We need to make sure that nuclear not only stays on the grid, but grows on it.”
“As Republicans, we recognize that climate action cannot be measured by a bill’s price tag or page count. We are not looking for a silver bullet to solve climate change; we are focused on real solutions that will work. Solving environmental challenges means introducing targeted solutions that will make a difference today and investing in breakthrough technologies that will make energy cleaner, cheaper, and more affordable in the long run.”
“Only 3% of the nation’s 80,000 dams currently generate electricity. These existing dams in the United States could be equipped with turbines and generators to produce up to 12,000 megawatts of clean, baseload electricity. If we were simply to retrofit dams across the country, we could tap into a powerful energy resource that has little to no environmental impact. We should also be working together to develop next-generation nuclear power, carbon capture technology, and battery storage to unlock the power of renewable energy. These are just a few of the many long-term solutions that exist.”
“Our solutions are simple yet effective. Where many Democrats want to shut down, ban, and overregulate, we want to incentivize, innovate, and progress through market-based solutions. Take the Trillion Trees Act as an example. Trees are the most economical carbon sequestration mechanism we have, and scientists estimate that planting 1 trillion trees globally would sequester the equivalent of two-thirds of all man-made carbon since the Industrial Revolution. More than just using trees to pull carbon out of the atmosphere, the Trillion Trees Act establishes programs that help convert that stored carbon into long-lived forest products, sequestering carbon for generations and opening space for new trees.”
“To achieve energy independence, we must work to develop viable forms of renewable energy while also maximizing the development of the conventional energy resources we have at home. By developing a diverse domestic energy portfolio in this way, we can create jobs, reduce energy costs and grow our economy.”
“There is more carbon now than before. Carbon is the issue. So how we move forward to address volatility in weather, environmental issues that are essential to us all, cleaner air, cleaner water. We have to build out our wind and solar, which we’re doing a good job of. And we have to move forward to a more sustainable economy.”
I support carbon capture technology use, research to improve battery storage to facilitate renewable energy, and tax incentives for wind, solar and geothermal. The rise in natural gas has had [a] positive impact [in] reducing carbon output. 40% of Omaha’s energy comes from renewables.
“Through a more efficient and less complex permitting process, we can more efficiently construct energy infrastructure, coastal restoration, and flood protection projects in Louisiana and across the country while still protecting our environment.”
“Hydropower is one of America’s top renewable energy sources and accounts for roughly 70% of our clean energy in Washington state. Building a clean energy future doesn’t happen without prioritizing the continued development of hydroelectric energy resources. The way we solve the climate crisis is through free-market technological innovation…”
“As we continue along the path towards energy independence, I favor an all-of-the-above approach to our energy needs. We must use all available resources to diversify our energy portfolio and support the American economy, while at the same time protecting our environment with reasonable regulations.”
“Lack of management has allowed a critical load of dead fuel to build up in our forests, turning them into tinderboxes. We don’t have to wait for the world to fix climate change; we can act now to thin our forests where appropriate and reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.”
“While investing in clean energy is an important piece of the puzzle, the wind isn’t always blowing and the sun isn’t always shining. We truly need an all-of-the-above energy strategy in order to keep the lights on at a price American families can afford.”
“We are stewards of the natural inheritance we have been given, and must value sustainability as a core conservative principle.”
“Solving for climate change can’t depend upon the world reaching an agreement on how much more we’re willing to pay for cleaner energy. That’s an argument with no end in sight— and we don’t want to keep fighting about it. Instead, we can work together to adopt policies that will make clean energy technologies for all fuels affordable — solar, wind, hydro and other renewables, as well as nuclear, carbon capture for fossil fuels, energy efficiency, storage, and other technologies that will make the grid more secure, resilient, and affordable. At the same time, we can establish rational, ambitious regulations to guide their use as they become increasingly affordable.”
