Senator Cantwell resuscitates dirty energy bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Minority Leader Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) reintroduced an energy bill comprised of many of the provisions from last year’s dirty energy bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has indicated that he will advance a bill directly to the Senate floor after the 4th of July recess without marking it up in committee. Environmental organizations, including Friends of the Earth, opposed the bill when it came to the floor last year.

In response, Friends of the Earth’s Senior Political Strategist Ben Schreiber issued the following statement:

Donald Trump has done everything in his power to put our government in the hands of the fossil fuel industry. By pushing this bill, Senator Cantwell is helping Trump pad the pockets of corporate polluters. Senator Cantwell is betraying the millions of Americans who are demanding resistance to Trump’s fossil fuel agenda.

At a time when the world has already leased more fossil fuels than can be burned, the Senate energy bill will increase fracking and pave the way for new fossil fuel extraction by researching methane hydrates. This bill is the wrong direction for America and Senators should reject it if it comes up for a vote.

Expert contact: Ben Schreiber, (202) 222-0752, [email protected]
Communications contact: Erin Jensen, (202) 222-0722, [email protected]