Advocates Praise Sen. Sanders, Call on Senate Dems to Follow His Lead in Opposing Dirty Energy Bill

July 21, 2017 - 4:00pm

Excerpt:

WASHINGTON - Environmental advocates today issued statements in support of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who last night publically declared his opposition to an 850+ page energy bill—S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act—which would expedite dangerous fracking and fossil fuel extraction throughout the country. Sanders stated in part: "As a nation, our job is to move away from fossil fuels toward sustainable energy and energy efficiency. This bill does the opposite. It would make us more reliant on fracking for natural gas for decades to come by expediting the review process for natural gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas. It would also provide millions of taxpayer dollars to research new offshore natural gas extraction techniques."

Over three hundred environmental organizations have previously declared their strong opposition to the dirty energy bill. Grassroots energy demanding that Senators oppose the bill is growing. Currently, environmental organizations have driven 200,000 emails and 3,000 calls to the Senate opposing the bill. In response to Senator Sanders' opposition, advocates issued the following statements:

"By coming out in opposition to the dirty energy bill currently looming before the Senate, Senator Sanders has once again demonstrated the real progressive leadership that is too often hard to find in Washington. The Senate energy bill is a pro-fracking giveaway to oil and gas interests that would commit America to decades more of dangerous fossil fuel dependence. With our climate and a livable future hanging in the balance, Senate Democrats need to wake up, state their sensible opposition to this foolish energy bill now, and ensure it doesn't see the light of day." - Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

"By opposing this bill, Senator Sanders continues to be a real climate leader in Congress. The time has come for us to listen to the science and not play politics with the future of life on this planet. There can be no more trading off a few good conservation provisions in a bill for increased coal projects and fracking. We must transition swiftly to renewable clean energy. Our time is running out." - Actor and advocate Mark Ruffalo

https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/07/21/advocates-praise-sen-sanders-and-call-senate-dems-follow-his-lead-opposing-dirty