Common Sense Energy: June 4th, 2021
June 4, 2021
Your Weekly Dose of “Common Sense“ Energy News
Brought to you by: The Empowerment Alliance
June 4th, 2021
Four U.S. Senators are considering a border carbon pricing plan to counter China economically. The plan “would assign fees to carbon-intensive goods that enter the US, while providing rebates to US companies that export products with lower emissions.”
Be sure to thank Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mike Braun, Mitt Romney and Susan Collins. Tell them you appreciate their willingness to show the Biden Administration that it is possible to support both American companies and a clean environment.
But that would require President Biden to get tough on China…
Speaking of China, a new report found that China has singlehandedly surpassed every other country in the world combined in greenhouse gas emissions. And that is precisely why it would be smart for the President Joe Biden to stop putting the United States at a competitive disadvantage with his war on affordable American energy until China cuts their own carbon emissions.
Town Hall: While the United States has become the world leader in reducing emissions, China’s unfettered pollution has the potential to negate the good work we have done and must keep doing. We can’t take their pledges on climate, human rights, or anything else at face value. We need to be realistic: China is a bad actor and strong U.S. leadership is needed to actually reduce global emissions.
As Americans learn what President Biden’s green energy agenda would actually mean for them, they are increasingly opposed to the expensive mandates that it will entail:
- 64% oppose phasing out the use of fossil fuels
- 61% are unwilling to spend more than $30 per month to address climate change
- 53% are unwilling to spend extra money to switch to electric vehicles
Americans are paying 54% more for gasoline now than they were a year ago. The current national average is $3.04/gallon. It was $1.98/gallon one year ago.
Biden’s Infrastructure Deadline: Monday, June 7, is the Biden-imposed deadline for progress toward a deal on an infrastructure plan with Republicans. Biden has been negotiating with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito who put forth an alternative plan with a much smaller price tag and a harder focus on, well, infrastructure.
Line 3 Construction Resumes…And So Do Protests: After a pause required by Minnesota regulators, construction on the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in the state has resumed. Protestors are planning to make a showing starting over the weekend, with most of their activities concentrated on Monday, June 7. A decision in a legal challenge to the pipeline is also expected later this month.
Bill Nye On The Hill To “Examine” Climate Change : On Tuesday, June 8, the House Homeland Security committee will hold a hearing called, “Examining Climate Change: A Threat to the Homeland.” Witnesses include celebrity Bill Nye of “The Science Guy” fame (though, once again, not actually a scientist).
Colonial Pipeline Attack Hearings: On Tuesday, June 8, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee will hold a hearing on threats to critical infrastructure focused on the Colonial attack. And, on Wednesday, June 9, the House Homeland Security committee will hold a similar hearing.