Tag: energy

  • Oil Change U.S. Responds to Biden Selections on Energy and Climate

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    December 15, 2020

    Contact:
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Oil Change U.S. Responds to Biden Selections on Energy and Climate

    Multiple news outlets have now confirmed the selection of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Graholm as President-Elect Joe Biden’s Secretary of Energy and former EPA Administrator as Biden’s domestic “climate czar.”

    In response to these announcements, Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change U.S., released the following statement:

    “These selections are a major victory for the broad and diverse movement pushing Joe Biden to keep top contenders with dangerous fossil fuel ties out of his Cabinet and administration. 

    “Gina McCarthy is a proven climate advocate with the experience to hit the ground running and coordinate an all-of-government response to the climate crisis. She’s been a strong champion for fossil fuel divestment in recent years, and made clear that the fossil fuel era is coming to a close. And she has increasingly recognized the critical importance of environmental justice in climate policy, which should serve her well in this role in the Biden administration. 

    “Jennifer Granholm is an experienced leader with a strong record of support for renewable energy and opposition to the disastrous Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines. She understands the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to confront the fossil fuel industry, previously stating, ‘We ought to be doing everything we possibly can to keep fossil fuel energy in the ground and develop renewables.’ 

    “Joe Biden’s entire government must be dedicated to mobilizing for an end to the fossil fuel era, and these announcements are a step in the right direction. We look forward to working with McCarthy and Granholm to combat the climate crisis and emphasize environmental justice in everything Biden’s administration does.” 

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    Notes to Editors

    – Previously, 145 organizations sent a letter to the Biden campaign opposing all fossil fuel-connected appointees: https://oilchangeus.org/biden-personnel-letter

    – In November, advocates launched a dedicated website opposed to Ernest Moniz and other fossil fuel representatives serving in a Biden administration: https://nomoniz.org

    – In June 2019, Joe Biden has signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge to reject contributions from the PACs, lobbyists, and executives of oil, gas, and coal companies: http://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1144357988523659264

    – More recently, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris released a Transition Ethics Plan specifically prohibiting fossil fuel company leaders from serving as staff on their transition team: https://oilchangeus.org/climate-activists-react-biden-ban-fossil-fuel-transition

    – Jennifer Granholm has previously taken a strong stance against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, which Joe Biden will have the opportunity to stop through executive action: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/303947-clinton-ally-blasts-dakota-access-pipeline

  • Oil Change U.S. Response: Trump’s Speech at Fracking Conference Was a Dumpster Fire

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 23, 2019

    Contact:
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil [dot] org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil [dot] org

    Oil Change U.S. Response: Trump’s Speech at Fracking Conference Was a Dumpster Fire

    Today, President Donald Trump spoke to a fracking industry conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In response to the president’s speech, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director at Oil Change U.S., released the following statement:

    “From the hearty handshakes between the president and fossil fuel industry executives, to the toxic masculinity exuding from the president as he heckled protesters, to Trump’s rambling description of catastrophic deregulation at the expense of our climate and communities, this speech was a classic Trump dumpster fire.

    “While Trump’s descriptions of his administration’s actions were largely overblown or inaccurate, the reality is Trump’s oil-soaked administration has paved the way for the U.S. oil and gas industry to run roughshod on communities at the frontlines and to drill and frack our climate to the brink.

    “Our next president must do precisely the opposite. We need a president who will not shake hands with industry executives, but will instead take them to court for their crimes. We need a president who gets serious about a just transition away from fossil fuel production, not one attempting to bring back the past and resurrect a dirty industry.

    “Thankfully, what we’re seeing from Democratic presidential candidates is a newfound willingness to directly confront the fossil fuel industry. All of the top candidates have signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, most agree we must end new fossil fuel production on federal lands, and many want to stop fracking entirely. This is the kind of leadership our country needs. What was on display in Pittsburgh today was a disaster in every sense of the word.”

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