Inslee Releases ‘Gold Standard’ Plan for Ending the Era of Fossil Fuels

Today, Jay Inslee released his Fossil Fuel Free plan, in which he commits to end federal support for oil, gas, and coal expansion, phase out drilling, fracking, and mining for fossil fuels nationwide, hold fossil fuel polluters accountable for contributing to the climate crisis, and support workers in the transition to a clean energy economy.

This makes him the first 2020 candidate to release a detailed plan to phase out oil, gas, and coal production and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its role in creating the climate crisis. As a result, he also became the first candidate to earn an “A” grade in Greenpeace’s 2020 climate ranking [1].

In response, Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner Jack Shapiro said:

“The science is clear — a sustainable future for people and the planet cannot include fossil fuels. Inslee’s new plan is the most comprehensive to date to end the fossil fuel industry’s stranglehold on our democracy and clear the way for a future built on clean, renewable energy. This is now the gold standard that all other candidates must meet if they hope to win over the millions of voters and young people demanding climate leadership from the next president.

“For too long, our government has let fossil fuel executives stand in the way of climate action. Not anymore. We need a president with the courage and moral clarity to stand up to the corrupt billionaires willing to wreck the planet for their profit — one who will align their positions with the science that says we can’t have fossil fuels and a safe climate at the same time, not the polluters who say we have no other choice.”

A Greenpeace report [2] released earlier this month found that the United States must pair new investments in renewable energy with a responsible phase-out of oil, gas, and coal production in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The analysis showed that the United States could run on 100 percent renewable energy and still export enough oil to undermine global progress on cutting carbon emissions if the country does not reduce domestic production, as Inslee’s new plan promises to do.

ENDS

Notes:

[1] The interactive candidate scorecard is available here, a detailed breakdown by candidate is available here, and the scoring methodology is available here.

[2] The report “Real Climate Leadership: Why The Next President Must Prioritize A Fossil Fuel Phase Out” is available here.

To maintain independence, Greenpeace USA does not endorse or oppose any political party, candidate, or elected official. We work to hold all candidates for office to the standard that science says is necessary to avert climate crisis, which means supporting a Green New Deal and ending fossil fuels.