House Republicans, with Some Fossil-Fueled Democratic Friends, Vote to Make America Pollute Again
Earlier this week, when not busy voting to praise white supremacists or take away DC’s autonomy, the House of Representatives voted for a series of bills to entrench a fossil-fuel future.
First up was H.R. 3062, the Promoting Cross-border Energy Infrastructure Act. This bill would significantly limit the government’s ability to review and permit international crude oil pipelines (Think: Keystone XL pipeline, which Secretary of State John Kerry ruled was not in the national interest). The bill also forces the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to make national security assessments, which is beyond their expertise — removing the State Department and Department of Defense from the approval process. Even worse, by expediting gas exports, the bill would increase domestic electricity prices. A lose-lose all around.
The bill passed 224 to 203.
Seven Democrats joined Republicans: Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Lou Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05).
Next up was H.R. 3015, the National Coal Council Reestablishment Act, which would direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to reestablish the National Coal Council (NCC), an advisory council that provides recommendations on matters related to the coal industry (think: coal barons giving coal recommendations). The coal industry has been on the decline this century, being replaced by gas and renewables, and this bill wants to enshrine a future for coal that need not and will not exist.
It passed 217 to 209. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) joined Republicans in voting for it. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Nick LaLota (NY-01), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) joined Democrats in voting against it.
Finally, the House voted 216 to 206 for HR.1047, GRID Power Act, which would require FERC to prioritize fossil fuels over renewable energy for grid integration projects.
Five Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it: Lou Correa (CA-46), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Don Davis (NC-01), Jared Golden (ME-02), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) joined Democrats in opposing it.
