Biden Says ‘Climate Change is an Emergency,’ Stops Short of Formal Declaration
President also announces Gulf of Mexico opened to offshore wind farms that could power 3 million homes
President Joe Biden on July 20 stated “climate change is an emergency,” leaving open the possibility of additional executive actions aimed at mitigating it after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) shot down climate and energy programs advocated by Democrats.
“Climate change is an emergency and in the coming weeks, I’m going to use the power I have as president to turn these words into formal official government actions through the appropriate proclamations, executive orders, and regulatory power that the president possesses,” Biden said during a brief speech, which he delivered at a former coal-fired power plant, Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, Massachusetts.
The president announced the opening of offshore areas in the Gulf of Mexico to wind power.
“These areas cover 700,000 acres and have the potential to power over 3 million homes,” an accompanying White House fact sheet stated.
In addition, Biden noted that he would allocate $2.3 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, for what he described as infrastructure to withstand “extreme heat, drought, flooding, hurricanes, [and] tornadoes.”
He also drew attention to $385 million in spending for the Department of Health and Human Services, largely for community cooling centers and air conditioners.
Biden spoke after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre ruled out an immediate emergency declaration during a July 19 press conference.
“I would not plan an announcement this week on [a] national climate emergency. Everything’s on the table. It’s just not going to be this week on that decision,” she said.
“Taking action is something he will do if Congress won’t.”
Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and others also released a letter concurrent with Biden’s speech, asking the president to declare
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