Target: Doug Burgum, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Goal: Don’t put up roadblocks to solar and wind clean energy projects.
In a highly contentious address to the United Nations (UN), President Trump made several inflammatory insults and comments to allies. But arguably his most damaging statements came when he outright dismissed the existential threat posed by the planet’s biggest and most pressing challenge: climate change. During the rambling speech, the leader of the free world stated, “It’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion. Climate change, no matter what happens, you’re involved in that. No more global warming, no more global cooling.” The president also ranted once again about windmills. The latter statements, although seemingly random, are particularly troubling because they are the latest in an ongoing trend to discredit wind and solar power, which have been identified as key tools in combatting the climate crisis.
In the weeks leading up to the UN speech, the president posted the following on his social media platform: “We will not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar. The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!!” This declaration followed the demanded ceasing of tax credits for renewable energy projects. The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) also put in place new rules that make it much harder for wind and solar power projects – even private ones – to get approval. Most projects must now go through a lengthy and cumbersome departmental review process, placing projects once left to localities and states under federal control. The delays and uncertainty will call into doubt if these projects will ever come to fruition.
Sign the petition below to demand this agency stop signing off on the intentional eradication of clean, renewable energy.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Burgum,
Renewable energy, despite assertions from some individuals to the contrary, has the biggest potential to ease electricity demands in the coming months and years and in the process ease financial pain for consumers. The burdensome new requirements for solar and wind projects implemented by DOI, however, will hurt this potential. Even if the federal government is not interested in investing in the technologies that will put other nations ahead, they should not take this opportunity away from states and localities…especially if said government claims to be behind states’ rights.
Whether this administration and its actors wish to acknowledge it or not, the “predictions” made by scientists regarding climate change are coming to fruition every day and with every record-setting heat wave and destructive storm. The president recently claimed, “If you don’t get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail.” If this department continues with this dangerous line of thinking, then you are setting the entire United States up for the ultimate failure.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pixabay
