White House memo signals climate retreat

WASHINGTON, D.C.– A just-released memo from the White House stakes out a series of climate negotiating positions in a pending reconciliation package. It makes no mention of repealing fossil fuel subsidies which was a key provision of the American Jobs Plan. The memo also includes an Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard (EECES), a rebranded Clean Energy Standard apparently based on similar principles of technology neutrality. 

Just yesterday, a coalition of over 500 groups sent a letter to Congress demanding the repeal of fossil fuel subsidies. Previously, a coalition of over 700 groups sent a letter demanding a Renewable Energy Standard that rejects natural gas and false solutions. 

Friends of the Earth Program Manager Lukas Ross issued the following statement in response: 

Democrats are once again throwing the climate justice movement under the bus. Congressional Democrats have yet to write a single Clean Energy Standard that excludes fracked gas and other false solutions. Climate activists aren’t fooled by technology neutral gimmicks.  Biden should not encourage proposals that peddle false solutions or that bargain away fossil fuel subsidy repeal. 

Expert contact: Lukas Ross, (202) 222-0724, [email protected]
Communications contact:  Kaela Bamberger, 202-222-0703, [email protected]