IN-DEPTH: Manchin Vows to Stop Biden’s ‘Radical Climate Agenda’

Senator Manchin Takes a Stand Against Biden’s Climate Agenda

Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is not backing down from his fight against the Biden administration’s “radical climate agenda.” In a tweet on Tuesday, Manchin accused the administration of ignoring domestic energy security provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and pledged to do everything in his power to push back.

Manchin’s vote was crucial to the party-line passage of the IRA, which includes energy security-related language that he pushed to be included in the bill to boost investment in fossil fuels. However, he now accuses the Biden administration of focusing on clean energy and environmental parts of the IRA while slow-rolling the parts that call for investing in fossil fuels to bolster domestic energy security.

Manchin’s Fight for Energy Security

Manchin believes that the Biden administration is breaking its word to the American public by ignoring the text of the IRA to pursue its radical climate agenda. He says that he will do everything in his power to stop them, including voting to repeal the IRA.

“In the next 10 years, we are going to have enough fossil fuel to run our country and to help our allies around the world. We will also be investing in new technology for the future,” Manchin said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

Manchin accuses the Biden administration of failing to honor its commitments in the area of energy security by slow-rolling investment in fossil fuels while dialing up spending on green projects. He believes that the only person who can rein in this extremism is Mr. Biden.

Manchin’s Compromise

Manchin had previously announced that he had reached a compromise with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on the wording of the IRA and that he would vote for the bill. He supports a plan that will advance a realistic energy and climate policy that lowers prices today and strategically invests in the long game.

“As the superpower of the world, it is vital we not undermine our superpower status by removing dependable and affordable fossil fuel energy before new technologies are ready to reliably carry the load,” he added.

The IRA’s Provisions

Provisions in the IRA mandate that the Interior Department offers at least 2 million acres of public lands and 60 million acres of offshore waters for oil and gas leasing each year for 10 years before any new solar and wind projects could be built on public lands or waters. The energy-related parts of the IRA are expected to cost around $370 billion, with Manchin saying that the measure “invests in the technologies needed for all fuel types–from hydrogen, nuclear, renewables, fossil fuels and energy storage–to be produced and used in the cleanest way possible.”

“It is truly all of the above, which means this bill does not arbitrarily shut off our abundant fossil fuels,” he said.

Manchin’s Final Stand

Manchin is not afraid to take a stand against the Biden administration’s climate agenda. He believes that the IRA was balanced and that the Biden administration is disregarding it completely. He is willing to repeal his own bill to stop the administration from pursuing its radical climate agenda.

“Ignoring the debt and deficit implications of these actions as the time nears to raise the debt ceiling isn’t only wrong, it’s policy and political malpractice,” he continued, referring to the deadlock on Capitol Hill over raising the U.S. government’s borrowing limit, currently capped at $31.4 trillion.

Senator Manchin is fighting for energy security and the future of our country. Will the Biden administration listen?

The IRA’s Support for Fossil Fuels

The IRA includes provisions to support the coal and oil and gas industry, such as $5 billion in energy infrastructure loan guarantees for upgrades.