Incredibly, Democratic Sens. Heinrich and Whitehouse are now promoting a “compromise” with the Republicans on the energy permitting bill that will eviscerate environmental regulation across the board in exchange for a nominal, meaningless pat on the head to wind and solar, which, of course, the pro-extinction GOP wants to get rid of completely. The legislation as currently composed “would provide massive long-term structural advantages to the fossil fuel industry,” Common Dreams reports, “and minimal short-term improvements to electricity transmission policy that might marginally benefit renewable energy. The legislation fails to meaningfully curb the accelerating build-out of data centers and artificial intelligence.” It will also do huge damage to the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. And it is patently anti-democracy: citizens will no longer be able to sue to stop fossil fuel projects.
What the Democratic Establishment seems to once again want to do is convince voters that there is no difference between the two parties. (And then they blame Bernie.) Instead, they should champion–that means fight for–a truly clean energy agenda.
For your kids’ sake, call your senators and say NO WAY.