During a campaign event in California Friday afternoon, President Joe Biden vowed to end all coal in America in favor of inefficient electric and wind power.
BIDEN ON COAL:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 4, 2022
"We're gonna be shutting these plants down all across America, and having wind and solar." pic.twitter.com/JXIZxDzvsu
Just three days ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, where Democrats are expected to take major losses in the U.S. House and Senate, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is firing back. Specifically, he's blasting Biden's "disgusting" and "cavalier" attitude about "the loss of coal jobs for men and women."
“President Biden’s comments are not only outrageous and divorced from reality, they ignore the severe economic pain the American people are feeling because of rising energy costs. Comments like these are the reason the American people are losing trust in President Biden and instead believes he does not understand the need to have an all in energy policy that would keep our nation totally energy independent and secure. It seems his positions change depending on the audience and the politics of the day. Politicizing our nation’s energy policies would only bring higher prices and more pain for the American people," Manchin released in a statement.
My statement on comments President Biden made about shutting down coal plants: pic.twitter.com/LEeqrGdwqm
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) November 5, 2022
“Let me be clear, this is something the President has never said to me. Being cavalier about the loss of coal jobs for men and women in West Virginia and across the country who literally put their lives on the line to help build and power this country is offensive and disgusting," he continued. "The President owes these incredible workers an immediate and public apology and it is time he learn a lesson that his words matter and have consequences.”
In August, Manchin worked with Biden to pass major legislation that not only exacerbates inflation, but funds the war on coal and other conventional energy sources. From Forbes:
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the most significant climate legislation in United States history. Energy Innovation Policy and Technology LLC® modeling finds the IRA’s $370 billion in climate and clean energy investments could cut U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Though the clean energy transition is happening, coal retirements must be accelerated to reach our climate goals. The IRA will speed the shift from coal to clean and support a just transition by providing $5 billion to back $250 billion in low-cost loans for utilities to reduce coal debt and reinvest in clean technologies. Another provision provides $9.7 billion in financial assistance for rural electric cooperatives to move toward clean energy sources.