Outside Pallone Event, Activists Rally for Bold Climate Action

EDISON, NJ – Climate activists rallied outside an appearance by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Rep. Frank Pallone this afternoon, calling on both to champion more aggressive climate action and end their support for fossil fuels.

The pair were appearing at a local business to promote the White House’s infrastructure plan, which has been roundly criticized by climate activists as an inadequate response to a global crisis. Secretary Granholm has consistently voiced support for expanding fracked gas exports, which would increase domestic fracking and other dirty infrastructure projects. Activists have mobilized to oppose the planned Gibbstown liquified gas export terminal in south Jersey, as well as a new fracked gas power plant proposed in Woodbridge.

Rep. Pallone’s signature climate bill, the CLEAN Future Act, has been criticized by hundreds of organizations and climate advocates for advancing weak goals. The legislation counts fracked gas as a form of ‘clean’ energy and relies on essentially non-existent carbon capture schemes to reduce emissions — strategies that will keep the country hooked on fossil fuel pollution for years to come.

“Representative Pallone and the Biden administration have offered weak, watered-down policies that are no match for the mounting climate catastrophe we are seeing from coast to coast,” said Food & Water Watch New Jersey State Director Matt Smith. “Instead of trying to placate Republican lawmakers, we need President Biden and leaders like Frank Pallone to support a rapid and just transition off fossil fuels. We must stop extracting and burning fossil fuels as soon as possible. There is no time to waste propping up the fossil fuel industry with carbon capture fantasies or re-branding fracked gas as clean energy.”

“One of the most impactful actions we can take this year is ending fossil fuel subsidies — the billions of dollars our federal government gives away each year to oil, gas and coal companies to keep poisoning our planet,” said Morgan Spicer, organizer with Our Revolution Monmouth County. “It is unconscionable that even in the middle of a devastating climate crisis, highly profitable oil and gas corporations are still receiving taxpayer funding. We call on the Biden administration, Rep. Frank Pallone, and the rest of Congress to use the budget reconciliation process to end handouts to this industry and instead use those billions for real climate solutions now.”

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Food & Water Watch is a member of the Build Back Fossil Free campaign, working with hundreds of organizations to pressure the Biden administration to end the era of fossil fuels.