Climate change is a pressing issue that poses a serious threat to the United States. It impacts national security, the economy, and financial stability, as evidenced by the strain on the home insurance market due to climate disasters. The transition to clean renewable energy, as proposed by the Biden administration, is crucial to addressing this crisis. However, the fossil fuel industry’s obstructionist tactics prioritize profits over American interests, despite the clear benefits of clean energy policies. The Inflation Reduction Act has already created hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs and is projected to create millions more by 2030. The act has also boosted U.S. battery manufacturing and introduced energy efficiency standards that will save billions on utility bills.
Big Oil’s claims that climate policies raise energy costs are dishonest, as evidenced by their price-fixing schemes that have inflated oil prices and cost American families billions. Despite this, they blame clean energy investments for higher costs, despite experts predicting a decrease in household energy bills. The argument that the Biden administration’s green industrial policy benefits China due to their advantage in solar panel and electric vehicle manufacturing is disingenuous and a result of Big Oil’s long history of climate deception. Fossil fuel companies have known about the dangers of their products since the 1960s but actively concealed this information to protect their profits and hinder the development of clean energy solutions. This has stifled American innovation and may lead to the loss of U.S. leadership in the global clean energy sector.
The challenge now is to shift from fossil fuels to renewables, as energy systems worldwide are moving in that direction regardless of the industry’s efforts to maintain the status quo. The Biden administration’s focus on clean energy is essential for America to compete in the new global clean energy economy and lead the transition away from fossil fuels. It is crucial to resist Big Oil’s propaganda and prioritize the long-term wellbeing of the country over short-term profits. The future of the economy, national security, and environmental stability depends on embracing clean energy solutions and mitigating the effects of climate change. Aaron Regunberg, a former member of the Rhode Island General Assembly, emphasizes the importance of these policies in the face of the existential threat posed by climate change.
