On Friday, August 12, The House of Representatives followed the Senate in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which is, among other things, a climate and healthcare bill that will soon head to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
And for those who have been advocating for climate legislation, this is a truly historic moment that appeared to be dead in the water.
So to help us better understand where we are now, how we got here, what’s actually in the bill, and what we can expect going forward, we’re talking with Mario Molina, the executive director of Protect Our Winters. I also spoke with Mario about his own background in the outdoors, growing up in Guatemala and becoming a guide and outfitter, and, how he got involved in climate advocacy.
TOPICS & TIMES:
- Background & Climate Details of the New Bill (2:45)
- Consequences if this hadn’t passed? (10:34)
- The oil & gas leases in this bill (16:10)
- Mario’s Background (25:29)
- Climate advocacy: what has changed & what hasn’t? (33:15)
- Evolving to cleaner energy technologies (38:50)
- The bill: what should we be expecting now? (47:33)
- Stokethevote.com (55:00)
RELATED LINKS:
If the business case for renewables is so strong, the world would be lining up to make money hand over fist. That’s not happening because the business case, and technology are weak. The energy density and reliability of wind and solar just isn’t up for the task. Yes there are storage options but most aren’t practical outside of a fantasy. And electric cars are too expensive, most people can barely afford to eat, let alone go out and buy an electric car, even after government incentives.
The real solution to climate change is nuclear power and regenerative farming (which is a win-win-win). But the myopic focus on wind and solar by the climate change advocates refuses to consider anything else.
Hi, SDW – did you listen to the conversation? I’m not sure what would have given you the impression of a “myopic focus on wind and solar,” or “a refusal to consider anything else”?
Yes, I did listen to it. Lots of talk on solar, wind and EV’s, none on the real solutions.
What do you tell someone who is a climate change skeptic when they say “if climate change was actually serious we’d be pursuing nuclear energy because it’s the only way we can currently get off fossil fuel in any substantial way”? I honestly don’t have an answer because I can’t fathom how renewable energy like wind and solar will be able to make any notable difference in reduction of Co2 output. This among many other things has made me question the entire climate change narrative.
You could tell them you agree with them? Many other people & entities agree with them, too, and serious work is being done on this front right now.
World class interview, Jonathan. Thank you.
Mario’s use of Fredrick Douglas’s quote, “be radical in our ideas, but pragmatic in our politics”, shows he is the right man for the job.
this is a real liberal group…you actually believe all the crap about climate change.