"The West Virginia Democrat told the White House he is firmly against a clean electricity program that is the muscle behind the president’s plan to battle climate change."
"WASHINGTON — The most powerful part of President Biden’s climate agenda — a program to rapidly replace the nation’s coal- and gas-fired power plants with wind, solar and nuclear energy — will likely be dropped from the massive budget bill pending in Congress, according to congressional staffers and lobbyists familiar with the matter.
Senator Joe Manchin III, the Democrat from coal-rich West Virginia whose vote is crucial to passage of the bill, has told the White House that he strongly opposes the clean electricity program, according to three of those people. As a result, White House staffers are now rewriting the legislation without that climate provision, and are trying to cobble together a mix of other policies that could also cut emissions.
A White House spokesman, Vedant Patel, declined to comment on the specifics of the bill, saying, “the White House is laser focused on advancing the president’s climate goals and positioning the United States to meet its emission targets in a way that grows domestic industries and good jobs.”"
Coral Davenport reports for the New York Times October 15, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"Democrats Weigh Carbon Tax After Manchin Rejects Key Climate Provision" (New York Times)
"As Manchin Blocks Climate Plan, His State Can’t Hold Back Floods" (New York Times)
"Buttigieg Warns Manchin Of Resistance To Biden’s Climate Plan: ‘It Will Cost Lives’" (Guardian)
"Is Joe Manchin Aware That His Favorite Climate Technology Is a Total Bust?" (New Republic)
"Climate Activists Target Manchin" (The Hill)
"Kerry Says Legislation Not Essential To Climate Goals" (E&E News)
"Chopping Block Angst Grows As Dems Eye End-Of-Month Deadline" (E&E News)
"Manchin’s Opposition May Doom Clean-Power Plan Biden Backs" (Bloomberg Environment)
"Democrats Lean Toward Dropping Clean-Electricity Plan From Budget Package" (Wall St. Journal)
"Joe Manchin Reportedly Wants to Kill Our Best Tool to Cut Carbon Pollution" (Earther)
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