Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon WhitehouseSenate meltdown reveals deepening partisan divide Democrats: Roe v. Wade blow would fuel expanding Supreme Court Helping students make informed decisions on college MORE (D-R.I.) on Wednesday predicted that the Senate would see a “big fight” over carbon pricing but said he believes lawmakers will make progress on the issue this year.
Carbon pricing, which can raise the cost of fossil energy and give clean energy an edge, is something the White House hasn’t explicitly endorsed, but also hasn’t closed the door on.
Nevertheless, Whitehouse predicted during a conversation hosted by French Ambassador Philippe Etienne that there will be a major push in the Senate.
“There may be a very big fight in the Senate on this issue when we get to where the Senate has a role,” he said.
Asked whether there was a type of carbon pricing bill Senate swing vote Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinBiden calls out moderate Democratic senators, urges ‘action’ Infrastructure negotiations enter make-or-break week Biden puts Harris in charge of efforts to protect voting rights MORE (D-W.Va.) would support, Whitehouse said it’s “too early to tell.”
“I think of the end of the day the answer is yes, but we have to get to the end of the day,” he added.
He added that on the issue, he’d watch both the Senate and a global climate summit scheduled for later this year in Glasgow, but ultimately predicted it would be achieved this year.
“I think we get there once we get through our process, and I think we get there this year, but there’s my optimism right there,” Whitehouse said.
He added that there’s urgency to take this on now because Democrats have the Senate, the House and the presidency.
“There are a lot of us in the Senate who really think that this is our political moment. We may not have another chance. If we lose the House, if we lose the Senate, if Biden doesn’t win reelection in 2024,” he said.
Rather than a carbon price, the White House is endorsing carbon reduction through measures including a clean electricity standard, which would require electricity suppliers to get all their power from carbon-free sources by 2035.
National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy
Gina McCarthyBiden administration to suspend Arctic oil leases issued under Trump Biden adviser says reducing red meat isn’t sole climate change solution Overnight Energy: Judge denies tribal request for temporary Dakota Access Pipeline shutdown | Biden holds firm on climate provisions in infrastructure counterproposal | G-7 countries commit to restrict international coal funding MORE has told reporters earlier this year that she wouldn’t close the door on a carbon tax, but also stressed that a clean electricity standard is Biden’s preferred method.
