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Former Vice President and 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden is taking heat for a middle of the road climate change policy.
According to Reuters, the soon to be released policy is moderate in comparison to the Green New Deal.
The policy is expected to mimic former President Obama’s energy plan.
The story claims Biden plans to undo President Trump’s efforts that reversed Obama’s energy policy.
Accordingly, Biden wants to get the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Agreement, keep regulations on fuel efficiency standards on vehicle emissions, and keep regulations on coal-fired power plants.
Nuclear energy is also part of Biden’s plan:
The second source, a former energy department official advising Biden’s campaign who asked not to be named, said the policy could also be supportive of nuclear energy and fossil fuel options like natural gas and carbon capture technology, which limit emissions from coal plants and other industrial facilities.
Biden’s middle of the road policy was attacked by his 2020 competitors, progressive activists, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) considers climate change a top issue and criticized Biden.
There is no “middle ground” when it comes to climate policy. If we don't commit to fully transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels, we will doom future generations. Fighting climate change must be our priority, whether fossil fuel billionaires like it or not.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 10, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez, a backer of the Green New Deal, slammed the expected Biden plan.
This is a dealbreaker.
There is no “middle ground” w/ climate denial & delay.
Blaming “blue collar” Americans as the main opponents to bold climate policy is gas lobbyist 101.
We’re not going to solve the climate crisis w/ this lack of leadership. Our kids’ lives are at stake. https://t.co/KvrBmaJd75
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 10, 2019
Facing heat from progressives, Biden is trying to reinforce his climate change history.
I’m proud to have been one of the first to introduce climate change legislation. What I fought for in 1986 is more important than ever — climate change is an existential threat. Now. Today.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 10, 2019
Biden is trying to find the right balance between meeting Democrats’ need for a climate change policy while not alienating blue-collar voters in the Midwest battleground states.
