With A Bernie Sanders Candidacy, Clean Energy Technology Is Central To Policy Discussions

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

His campaign is about “transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice.” That includes a transition to 100% renewable energy, significant investments in clean energy technology, and transformations to a green infrastructure through energy efficiency, financial access to renewable energy, and green jobs.

(snip)

“The only way we will win this election and create a government and economy that work for all is with a grassroots movement — the likes of which has never been seen in American history,” Sanders continued. “They may have the money and power. We have the people.”

(snip)

It’s not just progressives who are drawn to Sanders’ message of clean US energy. Georgetown, Texas mayor Dale Ross was an unlikely environmentalist amidst a panel of activists, scientists, and legislators in Washington, DC at a December, 2018 climate change town hall hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders. “We’re at a tipping point right now,” said Ross, a Republican. “Coal cannot compete with wind and solar on cost.”

(snip)

If Sanders can bring Republicans like Ross to the proverbial clean energy table, then maybe Brooks’ hope for renewal, relationship, and community can become a political and environmental reality.

https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/23/with-a-bernie-sanders-candidacy-clean-energy-technology-is-central-to-policy-discussions/

This is a nice informative read.

[WordsMatter]

1. + 1 For Sanders...

Global Warming that produces Global Climate Disruption is a critical issue that needs
immediate attention and leadership.

In 2016, US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and a campaign member named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez initiated political discourse about a sweeping Green New Deal (GND) investment plan over a 10-year period. They said that the GND could create millions of good-paying jobs that would facilitate a just, rapid transition to 100% renewable energy and avert the worst of climate change.

Looks like Senator Sanders understands this issue and will address it.

[Uncle Joe]

2. That's one of the things I like about Bernie;

if he doesn't understand an issue, he works to understand it, not to mention that the critical issues and/or policies affecting the American people are his "North Star" and Bernie stays true to it despite corporate media conglomerate attempts to divert his focus.

[JudyM]

3. Looking forward to seeing where the candidates come out on the Green New Deal.

It’s great timing to get it out there as something of a blueprint to start shaping concrete discussion about goals and options for funding.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

4. I seem to remember that Senator Sanders proposed shipping the nuclear waste...

from Vermont and Maine to the very poor Latino community of Sierra Blanca, Texas.

Doesn’t seem like a “progressive” energy policy to me.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Your post is is mostly true but lacks great context.

Technically correct.

But the problem is that this was "low level nuclear waste". That sounds dangerous right? Well it really isn't.

"items such as scrap metal and worker’s gloves… as well as medical gloves used in radiation treatments at hospitals"

Yeah this "nuclear waste" is really just gloves and metals that have been in low radiation envoirnments. They are not dumping plutonium or something of that sort.

Parts of it is literally something that has been approved by doctors to WEAR on your skin.

And this would obviously not be dumped in highly populated areas but rather in an actual pit/landfill for the purpose:

Now while this lying around isn't going to actually harm anyone (even if you stood by it for a good long while but especially when buried) the local community was opposed to the project (even if it was for irrational reasons) and maybe there should have been more diplomacy.

Lastly you can hear what Bernie Sanders had to say about it:

"Let me address it from the perspective of someone who is an opponent of nuclear power, who opposes the construction of power plants and, if he had his way, would shut down the existing nuclear power plants as quickly and as safely as we could.

One of the reasons that many of us oppose nuclear power plants is that when this technology was developed, there was not a lot of thought given as to how we dispose of the nuclear waste. Neither the industry nor the Government, in my view, did the right thing by allowing the construction of the plants and not figuring out how we get rid of the waste.

But the issue we are debating here today is not that issue. The reality, as others have already pointed out, is that the waste is here. We cannot wish it away. It exists in power plants in Maine and Vermont, it exists in hospitals, it is here.

No reputable scientist or environmentalist believes that the geology of Vermont or Maine would be a good place for this waste. In the humid climate of Vermont and Maine, it is more likely that groundwater will come in contact with that waste and carry off radioactive elements to the accessible environment.

There is widespread scientific evidence to suggest, on the other hand, that locations in Texas, some of which receive less than 12 inches of rainfall a year, a region where the groundwater table is more than 700 feet below the surface, is a far better location for this waste.

This is not a political assertion, it is a geological and environmental reality. Furthermore, even if this compact is not approved, it is likely that Texas, which has a great deal of low-level radioactive waste, and we should make the point that 80 percent of the waste is coming from Texas, 10 percent from Vermont, 10 percent from Maine, the reality is that Texas will go forward with or without this compact in building a facility to dispose of their low-level radioactive waste."

From a pragmatic or realist point of view Bernie Sanders really did nothing to hurt that latino community or the envoirnment.

The only real critique i could think of making is that he wasn't awfully diplomatic with that community! But then again it wasn't even Bernie's bill so i am not sure how much you can expect of the guy!

Edit: By the way the landfill was never actually created in that location. Instead the landfill was placed somewhere in western Texas!

https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-Bernie-Sanders-ushered-a-bill-that-allowed-Vermont-to-dump-nuclear-waste-in-the-poor-Hispanic-community-of-Sierra-Blanca-Texas

[CrossingTheRubicon]

6. If memory serves, Bernie Sanders co- sponsored the bill.

As to you point about BS not being “diplomatic with the community,” I’d have to say that’s a tendency that has been displayed far too often for a person we might consider as a nominee.

[Uncle Joe]

7. That wasn't my opinion it was the author's and per the last two paragraphs of the OP

Bernie must have some diplomatic skills if he can persuade a Republican to come over to his clean energy town hall.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

8. Are you saying that BS has better diplomatic skills with Republicans...

and the sorts of people who are “uncomfortable” voting for black people, than he does with people of color?

Could be a serious liability in a Democratic Party primary.

[Uncle Joe]

9. I'm saying that Bernie Sanders has the diplomacy that even Republicans will listen

to the Democratic message transforming our nation to sustainable, clean energy in order to avert the catastrophic effects of global warming climate change.

This is particularly impressive considering the "socialist" boogey word being thrown about.

I have no doubt the 517 people (mostly Latinos) living in the small town that at one time was under consideration for the low level nuclear waste site will tremendously benefit from all the policies that Bernie is championing whether it be clean energy, Medicare for All, tuition free higher education, $15 minimum wage, etc. etc.

As for the primaries Bernie will do just fine, my opinion is that he is also the strongest potential candidate to face Trump in the general election should he be so fortunate to advance that far.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

10. You suggest that BS has great diplomatic skills...

But he has a poor record of diplomacy in the Congress, where he is a party of one.

Real accomplishments have been few.

Rather that being “diplomatic,” BS and his supporters have caused unprecedented levels of divisionism.

This dog won’t hunt.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Again your post has no context, Bernie strongly stood for the critical issues

which many Democratic candidates have now adopted, long before it was cool to do so, even among Democrats in Congress much less congresses dominated by Republicans.

As I posted in my post #1 Bernie has stayed true to his North Star issues and policy proposals and he has done it for decades even when very few in the Congress or the corporate media conglomerates wanted to discuss or cover them, so it should come as no surprise that Bernie's proposals which are now most popular with an awakening American People weren't passed by previous Congresses.

I believe the billion dollar question should be why weren't these policies passed or supported by more members of Congress before and why didn't the corporate media conglomerates cover these issues consistently and in-depth?

No dogs need to hunt, Bernie has many if not most of the answers to our nation's woes, too many politicians in government just haven't been listening but more are paying heed today so that's saying something.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

12. Nah. Democrats have been way in front of the issues that BS has tried to make his own and Democrats

have actual records of accomplishments, where Sanders has none.

He has been ineffectual. And a big part of his problem is lack of diplomacy and a seeming inability to work with others.

These are very poor qualities for someone who aspires to be the president.

Despite having signature issues, Sanders has no plans that can be vetted or analyzed. Look what happened when the NY Daily News pressed him to explain his so-called North Star issues beyond the usual platitudes. He had nothing. Absolutely nothing.

We need more than a sloganeer. Talk is cheap.

[ehrnst]

14. Indeed. (nt)

[ehrnst]

13. There is a notion that rigidity in one's opinions and believing one has nothing to learn

despite being shown new data is synonymous with strength, or ethics, or being a "north star."

[ehrnst]

15. Diplomacy?

Declaiming from a podium and working effectively with others towards a goal are not the same thing.

I seem to recall that you stated he was not diplomatic with Texas residents during the Sierra Blanca discussions.

“My position is unchanged and you’re not going to like it.” When asked if he would at least visit the proposed site in Sierra Blanca, he said: “Absolutely not. I’m gonna to be running for re-election in the state of Vermont.”

From what I have read, that style is another thing that has remained as 'constant as the North Star' concerning Senator Sanders.

It's also worth noting that Senator Paul Wellstone referred to the legislation as "environmental racism," Also, when the Senate first approved the deal in the spring, he attached a measure that allowed Sierra Blanca residents to file federal discrimination suits if they opposed the compact.

When the House and Senate hammered out a single bill, supporters of the compact won out, and the amendments were simply tossed aside.

https://archive.bangordailynews.com/1998/07/30/maine-vermont-nuclear-waste-compact-approved-by-house/