Despite climate change measures, particularly some type of taxation, continuing to fail at the ballot box, Democrats are not going to give up on plans to take more money from citizens and take more control of their lives
New governors plan aggressive climate steps
New and recently re-elected Democratic governors plan a series of aggressive steps to address climate change and bolster renewable energy industries in their states.
The new climate plans come amid federal and international reports that show significant and immediate threats to the environment and the global economy as carbon emissions rise and temperatures spike faster than anticipated.
At the same time, President Trump has said he will pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accords, rolled back several anti-pollution regulations imposed by the Obama administration and pledged to revitalize the struggling American coal industry.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) will prioritize a measure to create a cap and trade system in her state that is similar to one already underway in neighboring California. Brown’s proposal, laid out in a budget blueprint last month, would set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions that would decline over 30 years.
“Using a cap and invest strategy, that means using a market-based approach that allows our business and industry to use the lowest cost option to reduce their carbon emissions,†Brown said in an interview. “We are very committed to tackling global climate change.â€
Well, at least she didn’t see “free market”, because what she’s referring to is the government market option.
Gov. Jay Inslee (D), who has suggested that climate change would be at the top of his agenda if he runs for president in 2020, told The Hill last week that he will try to advance new climate measures through the legislature.
“We are using the loss in Washington to develop policy and strategy,†Oregon’s Brown said. “Under these circumstances, we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.â€
A carbon tax scheme lost in Washington during the November election, what was called Initiative 1631, was voted down 56-43. Nor was this the first time a carbon tax lost in an initiative. Democrats won’t give up, though.
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), who will take over as New Mexico’s governor next year, said she wanted her state to produce enough energy through solar and wind farms to be able to sell excess energy to California and other neighboring states.
“If there was ever a state that could export renewable energy, it’s us,†Lujan Grisham said in an interview. During her campaign, Lujan Grisham aired an advertisement showing herself atop a wind turbine, hundreds of feet above the ground.
And you can bet that environmentalists will file lawsuit after lawsuit to keep her from putting solar panels and wind turbines all over the pristine areas of the state. Oh, and 28% of Nevada is owned by the federal government. Won’t be happening on that land. I doubt they can do enough to keep Las Vegas or Reno powered, much less sell to other states.
Illinois Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker (D) has said his state will increase its reliance on renewable energy to 25 percent of total consumption by 2025. In Nevada, Gov.-elect Steve Sisolak backed a ballot measure this year that would require the state to get half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. In Maine, Gov.-elect Janet Mills (D) wants her state to get 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
“On the big issues, we can’t afford to wait,†Polis said. “If we want to move forward on climate and renewable energy, it will be on the state level.â€
Which is the way it should be. The Constitution doesn’t give the federal government the power to jam these kinds of things down the throats of the citizens. At the state level, it will be great when Democrats over-reach and potentially turn their states Red. However, unfortunately, these kinds of schemes which the Stateists vote for means they get upset about the fallout, such as a skyrocketing cost of living, and leave their Big Government states and come to GOP states, then try and ruin those states. And maybe the states looking at carbon taxes should consider
Which leads to
Tax cuts, huh? Hmmmmmm.
Read: Democrat Governors To Push Lots Of ‘Climate Change’ Steps »
Students from across Metro Vancouver walked out of school today to demand action on climate change, joining school strikes staged in eight other Canadian cities.
Democrats will only support an infrastructure deal with 
A faculty group called Friday for UNC leaders to drop a plan to keep the Silent Sam Confederate statue on campus and asked that a faculty committee be included in any future planning for the statue. (snip)
