|
John Delaney on Energy & Oil
Democratic candidate for President; U.S. Rep from MD-6
|
|
Zero score on "350 Action's 2020 Climate Test"
The environmental group 350 Action released a candidate scorecard known as the 2020 Climate Test to assess presidential hopefuls on three major metrics: support for a Green New Deal, opposition to new fossil fuel development and refusal to accept money
from energy companies.Three candidates have made firm climate-forward commitments on all three issues:
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT)
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA)
Four candidates have supported two of
350 Action's three benchmarks.- Sen. Cory Booker (NJ)
- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI)
- Gov. Jay Inslee (WA)
- Andrew Yang (CA)
Three candidates have failed all three of 350 Action's tests, attacking the Green New Deal or
making no firm pledges to work against fossil fuel companies.- Donald Trump (NY)
- Former Rep. John Delaney (Md.)--Does not support the Green New Deal.
- Former Gov. John Hickenlooper (Colo.)--Does not support the Green New Deal.
Source: Mother Jones, "On Climate," on 2020 Presidential Hopefuls
, Mar 27, 2019
Bipartisan carbon tax bill, but not the Green New Deal
Delaney has not held back on the campaign trail when asked about the Green New Deal, the sweeping policy proposal to combat climate change that is supported by a host of liberal lawmakers. On Twitter, Delaney once said the plan was "as realistic as
Trump saying that Mexico is going to pay for the wall."At the South-by-Southwest conference, he defended that position. "It is a time for bold solutions. But we also have to put our shoulder behind things that can actually get done,"
he said. "Because climate is not like other issues. We have an infrastructure issue in this country. But if we wait five years to deal with our infrastructure, it's a missed opportunity.
But it doesn't get exponentially worse, so we have to deal with climate change right away."
Delaney said he would get a bipartisan carbon tax bill passed in his first year as president. "We have to have a goal around climate that's realistic," he said.
Source: CNN KFile on 2019 SXSW conference in Austin
, Mar 11, 2019
Proposed carbon tax, but also invest in new technology
Climate change is one of the great threats to the next generation of Americans. And we have to stop talking about it. We have to start doing things, which is one of the reasons I introduced the only bipartisan carbon tax bill in the Congress.
All the revenues get collected, get given back to the American people in the form of a dividend. I'm working on ideas to fund negative emissions technologies, which I think have to be incredibly important to how we get out of this climate dilemma.
These are machines that actually take carbon out of the atmosphere. The problem is they're really expensive. We need to create a market for them.
If we can do that, it can not only help get the United States to where I believe we need to be, which is net zero by 2050, but we can also have the technology that can save the world.
Source: CNN Town Hall on 2020 Democratic presidential primary
, Mar 10, 2019
Co-sponsored bipartisan carbon tax bill
Delaney co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that looked to impose an initial $15-per-ton carbon "fee" on fossil fuel producers, processors and importers.
Per Axios' Ben Geman, the plan had no chance of becoming law.
Source: Axios.com "What you need to know about 2020"
, Feb 27, 2019
Institute a revenue-neutral national carbon tax
To preserve our environment for future generations, we need to address our dependence on the fossil fuels that are contributing to climate change.
Instituting a national carbon tax is one way to create certainty for the markets and guidelines for industry that will help foster investment, research, and development for a clean energy economy.
According to a 2008 study by the Congressional Budget Office, such a tax would be the most efficient incentive-based option for reducing emissions and could be relatively simple to implement.
A revenue-neutral plan will also protect families from increased energy costs.
Source: 2012 House campaign website, delaney2012.com, "Issues"
, Nov 6, 2012
Supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Delaney supports the PVS survey question on greenhouse gases
Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.
Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?'
Source: Project Vote Smart 12-PVS-q18 on Aug 30, 2012
Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico.
Delaney 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.
Delaney 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;
-
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
Page last updated: Jun 02, 2019