The Hill: Tom Steyer calls for Dem debate on climate

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The Hill: Tom Steyer calls for Dem debate on climate

Billionaire environmentalist donor Tom Steyer is pushing Democrats to devote an entire presidential primary debate to climate change and clean energy.

Steyer, who has raised money for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, said he wants a new debate before the Iowa caucuses in February.

“Climate change is an urgent threat to our economy, health, and national security, and requires immediate and bold action from our next president,” Steyer said in a statement.
“The Democratic presidential candidates understand this and have acknowledged the urgency of the climate crisis. Now it’s time for them to tell us exactly what they’d do about it,” he added.

“It’s time for the candidates and the Democratic Party to give these voters the opportunity to hear specifically from the Democratic presidential candidates about how they will address the climate crisis,” NextGen said in the statement.

Meanwhile, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have been pressuring the DNC to hold more debates than are currently scheduled.

Even the billionaires want more debates.

[elleng]

1. Meanwhile, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley

and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have been pressuring the DNC to hold more debates than are currently scheduled,'

and Governor O'Malley has proposed to GENERATE 100% OF AMERICAN ELECTRICITY WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050.

Click here to read the policy paper for a clean energy future.

Today in America, while fossil fuel pollution contributes to 200,000 deaths a year and a growing climate catastrophe, renewable energy technologies have not yet adequately scaled up, in part because of federal policies that still preference the fossil fuel industry. Governor O’Malley will tackle the climate crisis with a new American clean energy jobs agenda, comprised of detailed policies that will rapidly develop the renewable energy industry, create millions of new clean energy jobs, and end our reliance on fossil fuels.

https://martinomalley.com/15-goals/goal-2/

[Skwmom]

2. Explains why Clinton hedged her Keystone answer.

The Epic Hypocrisy of Tom Steyer

Billionaire hedge fund operator and “green” energy magnate Tom Steyer has pledged $100 million in the 2014 election cycle to help Democratic candidates who oppose the Keystone pipeline and who favor “green” energy over fossil fuels. Steyer claims to be a man of principle who has no financial interest in the causes he supports, but acts only for the public good. That is a ridiculous claim: Steyer is the ultimate rent-seeker who depends on government connections to produce subsidies and mandates that make his “green” energy investments profitable. He also is, or was until recently, a major investor in Kinder Morgan, which is building a competitor to the Keystone pipeline. Go here, here, here, here, here and here for more information about how Steyer uses his political donations and consequent connections to enhance his already vast fortune.

But Steyer’s hypocrisy goes still deeper. Today, he is a bitter opponent of fossil fuels, especially coal. That fits with his current economic interests: banning coal-fired power plants will boost the value of his solar projects. But it was not always thus. In fact, Steyer owes his fortune in large part to the fact that he has been one of the world’s largest financers of coal projects. Tom Steyer was for coal before he was against it.

A reader with first-hand knowledge of the relevant Asian and Australian markets sent us this detailed report on how Steyer got rich on coal. He titled his report “Hypocrisy & Hedge Funds: Climate Change Warrior Tom Steyer’s Secret Life as Coal Investment Kingpin.” Here it is, in full:

Tom Steyer founded Farallon Capital Management L.L.C. (“Farallon”) in 1986. Farallon has grown to become one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in the United States with over $20bn in funds under management.1 Mr. Steyer’s net worth is reported to be $1.6bn.2

Mr. Steyer left Farallon in 2012 to focus on political and environmental causes and potentially to position himself for public office. He has been described in the press as the “liberals’ answer to the Koch Brothers”3 due to his wealth and his opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline and carbon-based energy in general. He has dedicated some $50 million of his personal fortune to back political candidates who support his position on climate change – and punish those who don’t. Mr. Steyer has led recent campaigns with Bill McKibben to encourage university endowments to divest coal equities.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/04/the-epic-hypocrisy-of-tom-steyer.php