AOC’s Clean Energy Bill Seeks to Eliminate Fossil Fuel Incentives in Inflation Reduction Act

House Democrats Introduce Legislation to Undo Oil and Gas Leasing Mandates

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, alongside two other House Democrats, has introduced legislation aimed at reversing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that have been criticized by climate advocates. These provisions, which were included under pressure from Sen. Joe Manchin, have locked the U.S. into continued fossil fuel development despite warnings from experts about the climate emergency.

Sen. Manchin supported the historic $740 billion climate and healthcare legislation, but only after securing “poison pills” that mandated oil and gas lease sales be held whenever a permit for solar or wind power production was granted or an offshore wind lease was sold. The Comprehensive Legislation for Expanding and Advancing Nonrestrictive (CLEAN) Energy Act, introduced by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and the Nonrestrictive Offshore Wind (NOW) Act, introduced by Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Deborah Ross, aim to repeal these mandates.

Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that the climate crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, including Indigenous communities and communities of color. She stated, “In the midst of this crisis, there is no reason that we should require more oil and gas drilling as a prerequisite for building renewables. This legislation will help end the stranglehold oil and gas has kept on our country while enabling good, union jobs in renewable energy development.”

The introduction of these bills comes shortly after a report by the American Clean Power Association highlighted the accelerated development in the clean energy industry since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. However, the legislation’s full potential has yet to be realized due to mandatory oil and gas leasing. Laura M. Esquivel, senior legislative representative for Earthjustice, stressed the need to repeal these provisions, stating that they hold clean energy development on public lands hostage to continued oil and gas leasing.

An analysis by the ocean conservation group Oceana found that protecting unleased federal waters from offshore drilling could prevent billions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions and billions of dollars in damages. These findings highlight the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels and expanding clean energy sources.

The introduction of the clean energy and NOW Acts coincides with ongoing wildfires in Oregon and record-breaking heatwaves in parts of the Southwest. The World Weather Attribution has reported that the extreme heat would have been “virtually impossible” without the climate emergency.

Michael Messmer, acting campaign director for Oceana, expressed support for Ocasio-Cortez’s legislation, stating, “It is absurd and counterproductive to forcefully hold back the expansion of clean wind energy unless we continue to expand dirty and dangerous offshore drilling. Building offshore wind energy should never come at the cost of more fossil fuels, and this bill allows us to make that a reality.”

The clean energy and NOW Acts represent the next steps in the fight to protect coastlines, advance the transition to clean energy, and ensure a habitable planet for future generations. These legislative efforts aim to address the urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.

Original Story at www.commondreams.org – 2023-07-26 21:02:11