Share this on social media
Coal-state Democrat set to scupper Biden clean energy plans
(The Guardian, 16 Oct 2021) White House forced to rewrite domestic bill as it makes late bid to secure backing for international deal.
President Joe Biden is likely to abandon a clean energy programme that was the centrepiece of his efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions at home, US media reported, because of opposition from a swing-vote Democratic senator from a state with a historically large coal industry.
Funding to replace coal- and gas-fired plants with wind, solar and nuclear generation was part of a massive budget bill that Biden is struggling to get through Congress.
The New York Times reported that White House staff members are now rewriting the legislation without the $150bn clean energy provision, on the expectation that they will not be able to pass the original version because of staunch opposition from the West Virginia senator Joe Manchin.
The news is the latest blow to hopes for the United Nations summit on climate change, Cop26, due to be held in Glasgow in two weeks’ time.
External link
The Guardian, 16 Oct 2021: Coal-state Democrat set to scupper Biden clean energy plans
