Biden’s Endorsement of Manchin’s Dirty Deal Undermines Commitments to Environmental Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House this week voiced its support for Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) permitting reform proposal that would authorize completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline and would set maximum timelines for permitting reviews, similar to a legislative package that failed last year. In response, David Arkush, director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program, released the following statement:
“Ripping up environmental safeguards to fast-track dirty fossil fuel projects puts the nation’s most vulnerable communities at risk and sets us back in fighting the climate crisis. This dirty deal, along with the administration’s approval of a massive oil and gas drilling project in Alaska and promotion of methane gas exports, undermines positive achievements such as today’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to tighten greenhouse gas standards for power plants.”
“The White House is trying to sell Manchin’s fossil fuel giveaway by claiming it would speed the construction of power lines needed to bring renewable power to market. But this dirty deal is a bridge too far. There is no room for new fossil fuel development if we are to meet Paris climate goals. And allowing fossil fuel executives to speed projects past vulnerable communities undermines the core commitments made by the President to uphold environmental justice priorities at a national level. We hope Congress rejects this dirty deal.”