Tim Walz on Energy & Oil

Climate change is real and urgent

Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says climate is changing naturally and human involvement is debatable.

Tim Walz (D): Yes. Sees climate change as real and urgent.

Q: Should the government limit the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

Johnson: No. Believes that a single country's efforts to mitigate climate change would have only a "small effect" & "we don't need to reorder our economy based on climate change."

Walz): Yes. Supported legislation to restrict carbon emissions. Opposed Trump's decision to withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Johnson: Questions Minnesota's mandates on producing renewable fuels like ethanol & biodiesel, but promises not to end them if elected.

Walz: Yes. Wants to expand the Renewable Energy Standard, so Minnesota will get at least 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030, up from 21% now.

Reduce our reliance on fossil fuels

Drill for oil & gas in offshore OCS & Eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Congressional Summary: House amendment to H.R. 5538, the Interior & Environment Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2017. This amendment would prohibit funds to be used to research, investigate, or study offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Heritage Foundation recommends voting NO: (7/13/2016): The Gulf of Mexico continues to be a very important asset for our energy future and it continues to produce significant amounts of oil and natural gas. Yet the Eastern Gulf of Mexico has not participated to this point despite its significant potential. A 2014 Heritage Foundation report said: `Excessive regulations and bureaucratic inefficiencies have stymied oil production and prevented the full effects of the energy boom.` This amendment would block any potential progress that could take place by preventing the necessary work that would need to be prepared in the East Gulf for potential lease sales and eventual production.

Sierra Club recommends voting YES: (1/12/1974): The Sierra Club believes that no offshore petroleum exploration should occur unless and until the following conditions are met:

• Strengthen the Coastal Zone Management System.
• Lease sales should be prohibited in areas that possess:
  • High seismic activity
  • Fragile or unstable geological structures
  • Proximity to particularly diverse or productive marine ecosystems, or marine sanctuaries
  • Where visual impact of offshore structures would significantly reduce aesthetic values
  • Where the risks are unusually high.
• Petroleum exploration and production must be subject to automatic, heavy fines for all oil spills regardless of cause.
• The Sierra Club opposes leasing of lands beyond 200 meters depth until international agreements [define] ownership of sea floor resources.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 185 to 243 (no Senate vote).

Include agricultural products in renewable fuels.

To amend the Clean Air Act as follows:
• Define `lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions` as the aggregate quantity of direct greenhouse gas emissions relating to the full fuel lifecycle, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy.
• The term `lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions` includes greenhouse gas emissions from all stages of fuel and feedstock production and distribution, from feedstock generation or extraction through the delivery and use of the finished fuel, accounting for the relative global warming potential of the greenhouse gases.
• Reassign the baseline for renewable fuels at 3 year intervals, beginning in 2008.
• Define `renewable biomass` as materials, pre-commercial thinnings, or invasive species from National Forest System land and public lands that:
  • are byproducts of preventive treatments
  • that are removed to reduce hazardous fuels; to reduce or contain disease or insect infestation; or to restore ecosystem health;
  • would not otherwise be used for higher-value products; and
  • are harvested in accordance with land management plans; old-growth maintenance; and large-tree retention; or
  • any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis from non-Federal land including renewable plant material; feed grains; algae; crop residue; vegetative waste material; animal waste and byproducts; food waste and yard waste.