Executive Director Calls for Climate Activists to Grieve, Regroup, and Press On
TAKOMA PARK, MD – According to the Washington Post, Joe Manchin told Senate leaders yesterday that he would not vote for any new climate spending as part of the federal budget reconciliation bill now under debate. That scuttles $550 billion in tax credits for wind and solar power as well as rebates for electric vehicles, among other climate spending.
By all accounts, the 49 other Democratic Senators were ready to vote yes. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden have tried for months to reach a deal. But since not one of the 50 Republicans in the Senate is willing to support climate action, Manchin’s veto appears to have ended any hope of passing major climate legislation this year.
Statement from Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of CCAN Action Fund:
“Senator Joe Manchin’s decision to kill federal investment in clean energy and climate mitigation is inexcusable and heartbreaking. Today, the climate community will regroup but tomorrow we must double down on our efforts to pass stronger and stronger clean energy legislation at the state and local levels.
“CCAN Action Fund will work with our allies to fill the gap left by Federal inaction. We must build dramatically more offshore wind power in Maryland. We must preserve robust climate policies in Virginia. We must enforce new zero-carbon building standards in DC. And we must support other state-level climate initiatives from New York to California.
“But first, we’ll show Congress that we’re holding them accountable by holding a rousing ‘Now or Never’ protest at the annual Congressional baseball game in DC on July 28.”
For more of Mike’s reflections, see his latest blog post, “Manchin Hates Planet Earth.”
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CCAN Action Fund is the advocacy arm of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. For 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
Further reading:
Congress: Pass Anti-Inflation Climate Reconciliation Package with Justice Investments
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