Conservatives in the media have a set of simple narratives that they are telling in this election cycle.  One is that Obama’s policies are unpopular, so Obama has become unpopular, so Democrats or Republicans who vote with him have become unpopular too.  Exhibit A is usually the health care law, but his clean energy proposal is also often thrown in.  This narrative would be very compelling in its simplicity if it were true.

Congress is considering clean energy legislation that would increase our security by cutting dependence on oil, reduce pollution that contributes to global warming, and create millions of new jobs. Yet this legislation, passed by the House and supported by President Obama, is stalled in the Senate. How can this be in an election year when once again, “It’s the economy, stupid”?

According to a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and released this week by the NRDC Action Fund, voters across the country by a wide margin are more likely to vote for someone who supports clean energy legislation — Virginians are no exception.

A new energy proposal by the American Enterprise Institute, the Brookings Institution, and the Breakthrough Institute has declared “Cap-and-Trade” dead. They may well be right about the use of this term as a policy label, but does this also mean the demise of clean energy policies that create jobs and address climate change? Hopefully not, at least if politicians want to follow the will of the American people.

This is the twenty-fourth article in a continuing series by the NRDC Action Fund on the environmental stances of political candidates in key races around the country.

This is the twentieth article in a continuing series by the NRDC Action Fund on the environmental stances of candidates in key races around the country.

Originally posted on The MarkUp.

This is the nineteenth article in a continuing series by the NRDC Action Fund on the environmental stances of candidates in key races around the country.

Originally posted on The MarkUp.

This is the eighteenth article in a continuing series by the NRDC Action Fund on the environmental stances of candidates in key races around the country.

Now that Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has announced her opposition on Proposition 23, this dirty energy proposition stands as the main issue that she and the Democratic candidate Jerry Brown agree on. While Whitman’s stance against Proposition 23 is good news for California, jobs and our strong clean air and health standards, it is troubling that she coupled her technical opposition while simultaneously announcing her intent to suspend AB 32 for at least a year if elected Governor. Her position sounds like she wants it both ways. Delaying AB 32 would throw a monkey wrench into the implementation of our clean energy polices, and significantly hamper the transition of the state – indeed, the nation – to a clean energy economy.

Originally posted on The MarkUp.

On Thursday, House Republicans issued their roadmap for the midterm elections and the next legislative session. It’s called the “Pledge to America,” but on energy issues, it sounds more like a pledge that makes powerful promises to the oil and gas industry.