President Joe Biden, speaking at a campaign rally in California on a Friday afternoon, threatened to phase out coal in favor of less efficient electric and wind power.
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is responding only three days before the 2022 upcoming elections, when his party is predicted to suffer significant losses in the U.S. House and Senate. A key point of his criticism is what he calls Biden’s “disgraceful” and “callous” attitude toward “the demise of coal employment for women and men.”
“Not only are the vice president’s remarks ridiculous and out of touch with reality, but they also completely disregard the enormous economic hardship that the American citizens are experiencing as a result of increased energy costs. The American citizens are losing faith in Vice President Biden because of comments like these, which give rise to the impression that he does not appreciate the importance of pursuing a comprehensive energy policy to ensure the continued security and independence of the United States. It appears that his stances shift depending on who is listening and the current state of politics. Manchin said in a statement that the country’s energy policy should not be politicized since doing so would lead to greater costs and more hardship for the American citizens.
Let us be quite clear: the President has never said anything similar to me. He went on to say, “It’s rude and despicable to be flippant about the loss of coal employment for women and men in West Virginia and around the country who put their lives on the line to help create and power this country.” “The President should learn a lesson that his comments weigh and have effects by publicly and immediately apologizing to these extraordinary employees.”
The main legislation that Manchin and Biden worked together to enact in August not only contributes to a rise in prices but also provides funding for the ongoing attack against coal and other traditional energy sources. Citing Forbes:
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was the most consequential environmental law ever passed in the United States. By 2030, the United States’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions might be reduced by as much as 43% below their 2005 levels because to the $370 billion invested by the IRA in climate and renewable energy, according to a study run by Energy Innovation Policy and Technology LLC®.
Even though we are in the midst of a clean energy revolution, we must speed up the retirement of coal plants if we are to meet our climate targets. By guaranteeing $250 billion in low-interest loans to utilities to pay down their coal debt and reinvest in clean technology, the IRA will expedite the move away from coal and ensure an equitable transition. To help rural electric cooperatives make the transition to renewable energy, another clause allocates $9.7 billion.