Lawmakers clashed Tuesday over the benefits of renewable energy versus fossil fuels as Democrats seek to amplify concerns about affordability ahead of the midterm elections.
House Energy and Commerce Republicans convened a hearing to tout the importance of fossil fuels during severe weather and GOP efforts to increase their production.
But Senate Democrats had an event of their own to trumpet renewables and accuse Republicans of making energy more expensive by undermining wind and solar, and going to war with Iran.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said his caucus would announce “a strong legislative agenda” on energy prices next week in collaboration with the League of Conservation Voters.
“Lowering costs will remain our North Star all year long. Donald Trump might think affordability is a hoax, he might be fixated on foreign wars, but Democrats understand that the cost of living is the number one issue on people’s minds,” Schumer said.
On the House side, Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) plan to introduce the “Energy Bills Relief Act” on Wednesday to reinstate clean energy tax incentives and encourage permits for wind and solar projects on public land.
Casten said he hopes the legislation is “a good messaging bill” for is party ahead of the elections. He also said, “[M]ore importantly, it’s good policy.”
In contrast, House Energy and Commerce Republicans took a victory lap over the significant role that fossil fuel energy played in keeping electricity running during Winter Storm Fern.
“One thing remains clear: Baseload and dispatchable resources saved the day,” said Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), who chairs the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy.
“In spite of generous subsidies and favorable public policy choices, intermittent resources were nowhere to be found when New England needed power the most,” he added.
Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said: “Every time we talk about this, we get accused sometimes, in this committee, of — ‘we are just here defending polluters,’ is what they say. Well, these people aren’t there to produce pollution, they’re here to produce energy. What if you didn’t have dispatchable power, the fossil fuels — what would have happened?”
But Energy and Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) shot back: “Grid reliability is a team sport. Every resource — including wind, solar, and storage — has a role to play. These resources were especially vital during Winter Storm Fern, as renewables in general exceeded expectations. They were able to take on more of a role than the grid operators required.”
Republicans have for years accused Democrats of raising energy costs and threatening reliability because of green policies. Now, Democrats say Republican attacks on renewables — including phasing out tax incentives — are leaving the nation vulnerable, and they point to higher electricity prices as evidence.
“Right now, Americans need more electrons, not fewer. They need cheaper electrons, not more expensive ones. And they need clean electrons, not worse pollution. The Trump administration is three for three going in the wrong direction,” Senate Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said.
The war in Iran, which has spiked oil and natural gas prices, has only helped Democrats make their affordability argument against the president and his defenders.
“The president has dragged us into an unnecessary war that is pushing oil prices higher. The last piece of our energy puzzle that hadn’t been experiencing out of control inflation is now rising dramatically, leaving American families to pay the price at the pump,” said Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said at the Democratic event.
Whitehouse and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) reintroduced their “Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act,” which would impose new taxes on the oil industry and use the money to sent rebates to consumers.
But Latta leaned on President Donald Trump and the Republicans’ energy dominance agenda to defend focusing on more oil and gas production. The United States is a net exporter of both, which has helped cushioned the blow from Middle Eastern instability.
“Given the military activity taking place in Iran and implications of energy markets through the Strait of Hormuz, now more than ever we need to utilize the bountiful resources we have here at home,” said Latta.
Andres Picon and Pavan Acharya contributed to this report.
