Sep 04, 2019
Declaring the climate emergency an "existential crisis" that requires bold and urgent action, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tuesday night unveiled a proposal that calls for repealing President Donald Trump's tax cuts for the rich and corporations to help fund a transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.
Warren's plan adopts and builds upon the clean energy blueprint introduced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race last month after running a campaign that centered the climate crisis as the most dire issue facing the U.S. and the world.
"Jay didn't merely sound the alarm or make vague promises. He provided bold, thoughtful, and detailed ideas for how to get us where we need to go," Warren wrote in a Mediumpost. "One of the most important of these ideas is the urgent need to decarbonize key sectors of our economy. Today, I'm embracing that goal."
Warren said she will "commit an additional $1 trillion over 10 years--fully paid for by reversing Trump's tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and giant corporations--to match Governor Inslee's commitment, and to subsidize the economic transition to clean and renewable electricity, zero emission vehicles, and green products for commercial and residential buildings."
The senator outlined the broad goals of her clean energy plan, which calls for $3 trillion in federal investment:
- By 2028, 100 percent zero-carbon pollution for all new commercial and residential buildings;
- By 2030, 100 percent zero emissions for all new light-duty passenger vehicles, medium-duty trucks, and all buses;
- By 2035, 100 percent renewable and zero-emission energy in electricity generation, with an interim target of 100 percent carbon-neutral power by 2030.
"Nothing less than a national mobilization will be required to defeat climate change," said Warren. "It will require every single one of us, and it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work--there is no time to waste."
Warren's clean energy plan was unveiled Tuesday as part of the Massachusetts senator's overall climate platform, which is detailed on her website.
Warren, an original co-sponsor of the Senate Green New Deal resolution, said her platform would aim to ensure a just transition for fossil fuel industry workers, bolster protections for frontline communities, and create millions of well-paying union jobs while confronting the climate crisis.
"If we work together to make smart investments in our clean energy future, we will grow our economy, improve our health, and reduce structural inequalities embedded in our existing fossil fuel system," Warren wrote. "The task before us is monumental, and it is urgent."
The youth-led Sunrise Movement praised Warren's platform, which was compiled ahead of a CNN climate crisis town hall on Wednesday that will be attended by 10 Democratic presidential candidates, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former Vice President Joe Biden, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
\u201cAhead of tomorrow\u2019s @cnn #ClimateTownHall, @ewarren has compiled all her plans so far for a #GreenNewDeal. They are as detailed as they are bold.\n\nThank you for your continued leadership. We hope this list keeps growing!\n\nHappy reading \ud83e\udd13 \ud83d\udcd6 https://t.co/qu7GHwu7Of\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1567570504
In a statement on Tuesday, Mitch Jones, climate and energy program director at Food & Water Watch, applauded Warren's clean energy plan as a "welcome" addition to her slate of climate proposals.
But Jones criticized Warren for neglecting to mention fracking, which is largely responsible for the planet-threatening boom in U.S. natural gas production.
"While Senator Warren came out early in support of previous plans to stop fossil fuel production on public lands, this latest proposal is silent on banning fracking everywhere," said Jones. "Our new fossil fuel exporting economy is based on fracking, without banning it or exports of fossil fuels, we are condemning our children to decades of fossil fuel use."
"We must move immediately to ban fracking, ban the export and import of fossil fuels, ban new fossil fuel infrastructure including pipelines, as well as banning production on public lands," Jones added. "We don't have time to wait. Acting now is both a political and moral imperative."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Declaring the climate emergency an "existential crisis" that requires bold and urgent action, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tuesday night unveiled a proposal that calls for repealing President Donald Trump's tax cuts for the rich and corporations to help fund a transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.
Warren's plan adopts and builds upon the clean energy blueprint introduced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race last month after running a campaign that centered the climate crisis as the most dire issue facing the U.S. and the world.
"Jay didn't merely sound the alarm or make vague promises. He provided bold, thoughtful, and detailed ideas for how to get us where we need to go," Warren wrote in a Mediumpost. "One of the most important of these ideas is the urgent need to decarbonize key sectors of our economy. Today, I'm embracing that goal."
Warren said she will "commit an additional $1 trillion over 10 years--fully paid for by reversing Trump's tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and giant corporations--to match Governor Inslee's commitment, and to subsidize the economic transition to clean and renewable electricity, zero emission vehicles, and green products for commercial and residential buildings."
The senator outlined the broad goals of her clean energy plan, which calls for $3 trillion in federal investment:
- By 2028, 100 percent zero-carbon pollution for all new commercial and residential buildings;
- By 2030, 100 percent zero emissions for all new light-duty passenger vehicles, medium-duty trucks, and all buses;
- By 2035, 100 percent renewable and zero-emission energy in electricity generation, with an interim target of 100 percent carbon-neutral power by 2030.
"Nothing less than a national mobilization will be required to defeat climate change," said Warren. "It will require every single one of us, and it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work--there is no time to waste."
Warren's clean energy plan was unveiled Tuesday as part of the Massachusetts senator's overall climate platform, which is detailed on her website.
Warren, an original co-sponsor of the Senate Green New Deal resolution, said her platform would aim to ensure a just transition for fossil fuel industry workers, bolster protections for frontline communities, and create millions of well-paying union jobs while confronting the climate crisis.
"If we work together to make smart investments in our clean energy future, we will grow our economy, improve our health, and reduce structural inequalities embedded in our existing fossil fuel system," Warren wrote. "The task before us is monumental, and it is urgent."
The youth-led Sunrise Movement praised Warren's platform, which was compiled ahead of a CNN climate crisis town hall on Wednesday that will be attended by 10 Democratic presidential candidates, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former Vice President Joe Biden, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
\u201cAhead of tomorrow\u2019s @cnn #ClimateTownHall, @ewarren has compiled all her plans so far for a #GreenNewDeal. They are as detailed as they are bold.\n\nThank you for your continued leadership. We hope this list keeps growing!\n\nHappy reading \ud83e\udd13 \ud83d\udcd6 https://t.co/qu7GHwu7Of\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1567570504
In a statement on Tuesday, Mitch Jones, climate and energy program director at Food & Water Watch, applauded Warren's clean energy plan as a "welcome" addition to her slate of climate proposals.
But Jones criticized Warren for neglecting to mention fracking, which is largely responsible for the planet-threatening boom in U.S. natural gas production.
"While Senator Warren came out early in support of previous plans to stop fossil fuel production on public lands, this latest proposal is silent on banning fracking everywhere," said Jones. "Our new fossil fuel exporting economy is based on fracking, without banning it or exports of fossil fuels, we are condemning our children to decades of fossil fuel use."
"We must move immediately to ban fracking, ban the export and import of fossil fuels, ban new fossil fuel infrastructure including pipelines, as well as banning production on public lands," Jones added. "We don't have time to wait. Acting now is both a political and moral imperative."
Declaring the climate emergency an "existential crisis" that requires bold and urgent action, Sen. Elizabeth Warren Tuesday night unveiled a proposal that calls for repealing President Donald Trump's tax cuts for the rich and corporations to help fund a transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.
Warren's plan adopts and builds upon the clean energy blueprint introduced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race last month after running a campaign that centered the climate crisis as the most dire issue facing the U.S. and the world.
"Jay didn't merely sound the alarm or make vague promises. He provided bold, thoughtful, and detailed ideas for how to get us where we need to go," Warren wrote in a Mediumpost. "One of the most important of these ideas is the urgent need to decarbonize key sectors of our economy. Today, I'm embracing that goal."
Warren said she will "commit an additional $1 trillion over 10 years--fully paid for by reversing Trump's tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and giant corporations--to match Governor Inslee's commitment, and to subsidize the economic transition to clean and renewable electricity, zero emission vehicles, and green products for commercial and residential buildings."
The senator outlined the broad goals of her clean energy plan, which calls for $3 trillion in federal investment:
- By 2028, 100 percent zero-carbon pollution for all new commercial and residential buildings;
- By 2030, 100 percent zero emissions for all new light-duty passenger vehicles, medium-duty trucks, and all buses;
- By 2035, 100 percent renewable and zero-emission energy in electricity generation, with an interim target of 100 percent carbon-neutral power by 2030.
"Nothing less than a national mobilization will be required to defeat climate change," said Warren. "It will require every single one of us, and it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work--there is no time to waste."
Warren's clean energy plan was unveiled Tuesday as part of the Massachusetts senator's overall climate platform, which is detailed on her website.
Warren, an original co-sponsor of the Senate Green New Deal resolution, said her platform would aim to ensure a just transition for fossil fuel industry workers, bolster protections for frontline communities, and create millions of well-paying union jobs while confronting the climate crisis.
"If we work together to make smart investments in our clean energy future, we will grow our economy, improve our health, and reduce structural inequalities embedded in our existing fossil fuel system," Warren wrote. "The task before us is monumental, and it is urgent."
The youth-led Sunrise Movement praised Warren's platform, which was compiled ahead of a CNN climate crisis town hall on Wednesday that will be attended by 10 Democratic presidential candidates, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), entrepreneur Andrew Yang, former Vice President Joe Biden, and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
\u201cAhead of tomorrow\u2019s @cnn #ClimateTownHall, @ewarren has compiled all her plans so far for a #GreenNewDeal. They are as detailed as they are bold.\n\nThank you for your continued leadership. We hope this list keeps growing!\n\nHappy reading \ud83e\udd13 \ud83d\udcd6 https://t.co/qu7GHwu7Of\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1567570504
In a statement on Tuesday, Mitch Jones, climate and energy program director at Food & Water Watch, applauded Warren's clean energy plan as a "welcome" addition to her slate of climate proposals.
But Jones criticized Warren for neglecting to mention fracking, which is largely responsible for the planet-threatening boom in U.S. natural gas production.
"While Senator Warren came out early in support of previous plans to stop fossil fuel production on public lands, this latest proposal is silent on banning fracking everywhere," said Jones. "Our new fossil fuel exporting economy is based on fracking, without banning it or exports of fossil fuels, we are condemning our children to decades of fossil fuel use."
"We must move immediately to ban fracking, ban the export and import of fossil fuels, ban new fossil fuel infrastructure including pipelines, as well as banning production on public lands," Jones added. "We don't have time to wait. Acting now is both a political and moral imperative."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.