Tag: Kamala Harris

  • Oil Change U.S. Response to Presidential Debate

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 10, 2024

    Contact:
    Rebecca Stoner, rebecca.stoner@priceofoil.org
    Allie Rosenbluth, allie@priceofoil.org

    Oil Change U.S. Response to Presidential Debate

    In response to tonight’s presidential debate, Allie Rosenbluth, Campaign Manager at Oil Change U.S., released the following statement: 

    “Tonight, both candidates bragged about their support for fracking and record fossil fuel production — dangerous positions that will keep us on the path towards catastrophic climate impacts and continue exposing frontline communities to deadly levels of fossil fuel pollution. The science is clear that the only way to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is to phase out fossil fuels. 

    “We expect this from Donald Trump, a walking oil spill who openly promised fossil fuel CEOs he would shred all environmental protections in exchange for $1 billion in campaign donations. If elected, Trump would sell our future to fossil fuel barons, threaten our democracy, demonize immigrants and LGTBQ+ people, and further erode reproductive rights.

    “Kamala Harris promised to turn the page and chart a better future. That means taking decisive action to end fossil fuels and ensuring a just transition to renewable energy. We need a climate president — one who will invest in clean energy, end fossil fuel subsidies, and phase out fossil fuels to protect the communities most exposed to oil and gas pollution and the climate crisis. It’s time for Harris to show she can be that president.”

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  • Response to Kamala Harris’s Remarks at DNC: ‘We Need More than Platitudes on Climate’

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    August 22, 2024

    Contact:
    Valentina Stackl, valentina@priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin@priceofoil.org

    In response to Kamala Harris’ speech at the Democratic National Convention, Collin Rees, Political Director at Oil Change U.S., said:

    “Kamala Harris’s extremely brief mention of climate change in her Democratic National Convention speech capped a week in which the climate crisis was shockingly absent in Chicago. We need concrete, specific commitments to match the urgency of the climate crisis. Harris must build on her ambitious 2020 climate agenda by committing to halt fossil fuel expansion, end fossil fuel subsidies, and invest in a Green New Deal with a just transition to renewable energy.

    “We need more than platitudes. We’re looking for specific pledges: a permanent halt to new LNG exports, a rejection of the disastrous Dakota Access Pipeline, and a clear plan to phase out fossil fuel production and end environmental injustice. Harris’s past support for the Green New Deal and her record of holding Big Oil accountable are promising, but this moment demands bold, transformative action.

    “The Democratic ticket must put forward a visionary climate agenda to address the climate crisis. With extreme weather events intensifying, we can’t afford half-measures or compromise. Real action to end fossil fuels and build a livable future remains a top, critical issue for young voters. We’ll be watching closely to ensure Harris follows through on her climate promises and becomes the climate president we desperately need.”

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    Oil Change U.S. is a national organization focused on exposing the true costs of fossil fuels, supporting real climate leadership, and building a just, equitable, and renewable energy future in the United States. Oil Change U.S. is one of several organizations that coordinates the national No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and the national Green New Deal Champions campaign. For more information, please visit OilChangeUS.org.

  • Kamala Harris Announces Governor Tim Walz as 2024 Running Mate

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    August 6, 2024

    Contact:
    Valentina Stackl, valentina@priceofoil.org

    In response to reports of Kamala Harris’s selecting Tim Walz as her vice presidential candidate, Collin Rees, Political Director of Oil Change U.S., said:

    “Kamala Harris picking Tim Walz as her running mate is an encouraging sign that she’s willing to listen to the Democratic base. Walz’s collaboration with a progressive legislature in Minnesota has led to significant wins for working people, including important climate victories with a 100% carbon-free by 2040 law and a $2 billion climate spending program. At the same time, his lack of action to stop the Line 3 pipeline shows a troubling deference to fossil fuel interests. This campaign is an opportunity for Walz to put people before fossil fuel profits. 

    “The Harris-Walz campaign must continue to be bold and put forward a visionary agenda to address the climate crisis and end fossil fuels with a just transition. Our future hinges on leaders who will prioritize transitioning away from fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis with urgency.” 

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    Oil Change U.S. is a national organization focused on exposing the true costs of fossil fuels, supporting real climate leadership, and building a just, equitable, and renewable energy future in the United States. Oil Change U.S. is one of several organizations that coordinates the national No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and the national Green New Deal Champions campaign. For more information, please visit OilChangeUS.org.

  • Oil Change U.S. endorses Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 7, 2020

    Contact:
    Rebecca Concepcion Apostol, rebecca [at] priceofoil.org
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Oil Change U.S. endorses Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President

    Today, Oil Change U.S. is announcing its endorsement of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President of the United States. Elizabeth Bast, Executive Director of Oil Change U.S., provided the following statement:

    “Last week’s debate was just the latest reflection of how desperately our country needs a change in leadership, and tonight’s vice-presidential debate should show more of the same. The path towards greater climate and racial justice is clear: it’s the one with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House. That’s why Oil Change U.S. is endorsing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President of the United States.

    “While Biden showed at the first debate that he’s ready to listen and lead on climate, Donald Trump once again showed how a second term of his administration would be disastrous for everyone. His deadly politics of racism, fear, white supremacy, and climate denial was on full display at the debate. Trump further demonstrated his blatant disregard for others with his handling of the COVID-19 outbreak within the White House. No one — not a single one of us — can afford a second term of Donald Trump.

    “Since the start of this campaign, Joe Biden has been on a journey of listening, adjusting, and improvement. He’s shown that he’s willing to hear critique and adjust course. His running mate Kamala Harris has centered justice in her understanding of the climate crisis and has proposed new ideas on phasing out fossil fuel production. Donald Trump is trying desperately to claim that Biden has ‘lost the left’ in order to depress voter turnout; in reality, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are broadening their coalition every day in response to Trump’s campaign of hate and fear.

    “Oil Change U.S. was not shy to critique Joe Biden throughout the primary campaign. We pointed out where his plans fell short, and when he took advice from the wrong advisors. But we also know he’s listening — both Biden and Harris are signatories of the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge, and even in the last week they’ve announced fossil fuel executives will have no place in their transition team. With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the White House, we know there will be room to shape a more just and equitable future.”

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    Oil Change U.S. is dedicated to supporting real climate leadership, exposing the true costs of fossil fuels, and building a just, equitable, and renewable energy future in the United States. Read more at http://oilchangeus.org.

  • Climate Activists React to Biden’s Moves to Ban Fossil Fuel Executives from Transition Team

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 1, 2020

    Contact:
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org
    Jamie Henn, jamie [at] fossilfree.media

    Climate Activists React to Biden’s Moves to Ban Fossil Fuel Executives from Transition Team 

    Washington, DC — After pressure from progressives and climate activists, Vice President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that he is barring fossil fuel company leaders and executives from his presidential transition team. 

    This September, over 145 organizations sent Biden a letter requesting that he ban fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, and representatives from his campaign and administration. 

    Today’s announcement from the transition team should block controversial figures like former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who served on the board of Southern Company and regularly advises fossil fuel companies, as well as former Obama Administration official Heather Zichal, who earned $1 million as an advisor and board member for Cheniere Energy, a natural gas company. 

    According to polling from Data for Progress and Fossil Free Media, voters oppose fossil fuel industry lobbyists or representatives working in the executive branch by a 22-point margin. 61 percent of Democrats oppose fossil fuel industry representatives working in the administration, while only 22 percent are open to the idea. 

    Groups involved in the push to ban fossil fuel lobbyists issued the following responses: 

    “Committing to a fossil-free transition team is exactly what we need to see heading into a new administration. Keeping fossil fuel representatives out of the federal government is a position that’s extremely popular with the public, and builds on the key improvements Biden has made to his climate plan, said Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change U.S. “We look forward to this common-sense commitment being extended to cover an eventual Biden Cabinet and administration.” 

    “We’re heartened to see Joe Biden and Kamala Harris listen to grassroots climate hawks,” said RL Miller, political director of Climate Hawks Vote. “Fossil fuel advocates have no place on an administration dedicated to healing the harm Trump has caused and committed to 100 percent clean and renewable electricity by 2035.”

    “This language doesn’t just block people with fossil fuel connections from the transition team, it sets a clear precedent that they should have no place in a future Biden Administration. It’s a promising sign that Biden is preparing to take a more aggressive stance when it comes to the fossil fuel companies that are causing the climate crisis,” said Jamie Henn, director of Fossil Free Media. 

    “A fossil-free transition team is a bare minimum for the distance a Biden administration must keep the cheerleaders of continued fossil fuel use,” said Mitch Jones, Policy Director at Food & Water Action. “The Biden campaign should commit now to excluding fossil fuel champions from any role in a Biden administration. We look forward to working with the Biden transition team and with a Biden administration to assure that they are staffed with climate champions committed to handing on a habitable planet to future generations.”

    “Rejecting fossil fuel influence is a smart move for the Biden-Harris campaign. Voters are hungry to elect a climate champion. Joe Biden is running on the most ambitious climate platform in history, but it won’t mean much if his transition team is stacked with oil and gas insiders. Biden would do well to distance himself from the failed approach of the Trump administration, which is teeming with corporate lobbyists and fossil fuel cronies. While aiming to reject fossil fuel influence from his transition team is a strong start, this is not the end of the road. We urge Biden to commit to banning all fossil fuel executives and lobbyists from his cabinet and administration. Personnel is policy, and we need experts in the White House who put climate and environmental justice ahead of corporate profits,” said Charlie Jiang, Climate Campaigner at Greenpeace USA.

    “Sunrise Movement is pleased to see the Biden-Harris team recognize that there is no place on their transition team for people tied to fossil fuel executives and believe that they should extend this commitment to their cabinet and administration appointments,” said Lauren Maunus, Legislative Manager at Sunrise Movement. “Young people and people around the country are ready for a new chapter in this country in which we prioritize bold climate action that creates millions of good, union jobs and addresses the wounds of systemic racism and economic inequality. Excluding fossil fuel CEOs and their allies helps make this future possible.”

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  • Democratic Presidential Candidates Sign “NoKXL Pledge” to Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline on Day One if Elected

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 4, 2019

    CONTACT:
    Mark Hefflinger, mark [at] boldnebraska.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Democratic Presidential Candidates Sign “NoKXL Pledge” to Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline on Day One if Elected

    As candidates gear up for CNN and MSNBC Climate Forums, activists push for clarity on fossil fuel infrastructure

    HASTINGS, NEBRASKA — After delivering a letter asking all of the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to sign the “NoKXL Pledge” on Aug. 13, ten of the candidates have signed onto the pledge thus far, making it clear that on Day One in office they will revoke the unprecedented, unilateral permit that President Trump issued for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline:

    – Sen. Elizabeth Warren

    – Gov. Jay Inslee (no longer in the race)

    – Sen. Bernie Sanders

    – Tom Steyer

    – Sec. Julian Castro

    – Mayor Bill de Blasio

    – Sen. Cory Booker

    – Mayor Pete Buttigieg

    – Sen. Kamala Harris

    Over the past several years, Democratic candidates and elected officials, Indigenous Peoples, and activists have made it clear that there is a link between building new fossil fuel infrastructure and climate change. Before the Keystone XL fight, many in the Democratic Party supported building more pipelines, without regard to how this infrastructure locks us into additional decades of fossil fuel dependence and worsens climate change.

    The #NoKXL Pledge is backed by a coalition of farmers, ranchers, Tribal Nations and environmental groups that have been fighting the proposed Keystone XL tar sands export pipeline for 10 years.

    The #NoKXL Pledge specifically urges the Democratic presidential candidates to pledge to:

    1) Immediately revoke the unilateral permits issued by President Trump for the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines;

    2) Direct all federal agencies (State Department, FERC, Army Corps) to submit these two projects — as well as all new energy infrastructure projects — to a true climate test;

    3) Reject any project that will exacerbate our climate crisis; and

    4) Protect property rights from eminent domain abuse and honor U.S. treaties with sovereign Tribal Nations.

    View letter to Democratic candidates urging them to take the ‘NoKXL Pledge’:

    http://boldnebraska.org/letter-urges-democratic-candidates-to-take-nokxl-pledge-to-stop-the-keystone-xl-pipeline-on-day-one-if-elected-president/

    Online petition urging all 2020 Democratic candidates to sign the NoKXL Pledge:

    https://act.oilchangeus.org/sign/NoKXL-Pledge

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    “NoKXL Pledge” Co-Sponsors:

    Bold Nebraska & Bold Alliance

    Nebraska Easement Action Team

    Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

    Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

    Indigenous Environmental Network

    Oil Change U.S.

    Anthropocene Alliance

    Bucks Environmental Network

    Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund

    Chesapeake Climate Action Network

    Climate Hawks Vote

    Coalition Against the Pilgrim Pipeline

    Coalition Against the Rockaway Pipeline

    CREDO Action

    Earth Action

    Friends of the Earth Action

    Greenbelt Climate Action Network

    Greenpeace USA

    MN350

    New York Climate Action Group

    NYC Grassroots Alliance

    Progressive Democrats of America

    Seeding Sovereignty

    Sunrise Movement

    350.org Action