New Energy Quieted By War

Amid War, Biden Reluctant to Unleash Clean Energy Rhetoric; The president has not followed Europe’s calls to produce more renewable energy to weaken Russia’s global influence

Adam Aton, March 7, 2022 (E&E News via Scientific American)

“Republicans are calling for more oil drilling. Europe says it’s doubling down on clean energy. [But as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into its second week, gasoline] prices have remained [President] Biden’s consistent focus…[and he has] avoided linking the diplomatic and economic isolation of Russia — one of the world’s top three oil producers — to his goal of decarbonizing the economy, as international allies and some other Democrats have. Nor has Biden heeded calls from industry, Republicans and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to jump-start domestic drilling to replace Russian oil…

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[M]ore drilling or more renewable energy would take months or years to come online. But some Democrats are beginning to worry they’re losing control of an important narrative — one that encompasses inflation, jobs, national security and other important issues — in the lead-up to an already tough midterm election…[Biden has] not argued that the United States should decarbonize to marginalize Russia… European leaders have been more direct. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on the eve of Russia’s invasion…

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…[Some U.S. clean energy advocates believe it would be bad strategy to turn] a conversation about Ukrainian sovereignty into one about clean energy…[but that has created an opening for] those who say the best way to ensure stable energy prices is to step up U.S. drilling…[The White House has continued to call for] accelerating the clean energy transition, while maintaining affordable and reliable energy supplies…” click here for more

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