Texas Democratic Party’s Bold Clean Energy Plan Reflects Texan Values

A New Era: Texans Back Clean Energy Over Fossil Fuels.

I’ve followed author and journalist Chris Tomlinson for some time. His book, Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth, is a must-read for all Texans. Today, Tomlinson published a column in the Houston Chron titled, “Texans will remember 2024 Democratic convention for drag artist, greater spending, less fossil fuels.”

He got many things wrong in his daily column, like nowhere did Texas Democrats call for greater spending. Tomlinson equated the Democrats’ position on teacher pay raises to higher spending and taxes, which would only be true if we kept the Republicans’ funding mechanisms in place. On the contrary, we know that Republican school funding mechanisms lead to higher property taxes and underfunded schools, so when Democrats finally take control, they will fund it adequately in a way that will lower property taxes.

Not to get into the weeds too much over Tomlinson’s column, but his assertion in his column, then later in a video on Twitter, was that the Texas Democrats’ positions would frighten away the moderate and independent voter. While I’m not going to refute every point Tomlinson made, I want to bring attention to his talking points about “less fossil fuels.”

For the record, I still like Chris Tomlinson. He’s still a great reporter, but his take on the Texas Democratic Party platform was off-base.

An estimated 72% of Texas adults think global warming is happening.

That’s according to this 2023 Yale Program on Climate Change Communication survey. Furthermore, from the same study:

• 56% of Texans believe human activities cause climate change.

• 52% agree that most scientists think global warming is happening.

• 60% of Texans believe that climate change is affecting the weather.

• 45% of Texans believe they have personally experienced the effects of climate change.

• 68% of Texans believe that climate change will harm future generations.

• 61% believe climate change will harm people in the US.

• 48% think it will harm them personally.

• 76% of Texas adults support funding research into renewable energy.

• 71% of Texans support regulating CO2 as a pollutant.

• 66% support taxing fossil fuel companies while equally reducing other taxes.

According to this Yale survey, the majority of Texans believe that climate change is a real issue and that we should be moving away from fossil fuels.

Another poll from the Pew Research Center shows two-thirds of Americans support prioritizing the development of renewable energy sources.

Source

The same Pew Research Center poll showed that Democrats and Republicans have grown further apart over the last decade in their assessments of the threat posed by climate change.

Source

Is Texas uniquely different because of the oil and gas industry?

This is true if you consider how deep the oil and gas industry has its hooks in Texas politics and Texas politicians (especially Republicans). While there are some fossil fuel loyalists in the Democratic Party, their support is waning. Conservative Texas politicians have been enriching themselves with dirty fossil fuel money ever since the Lucus Gusher at Spindletop.

The thing that sets Texas apart is the number of Texans dying and suffering each year in the Cancer Belt and the various cancer clusters around the state due to decades of unregulated fossil fuels.

Did you know that Texas is the largest annual emitter of carbon dioxide in the United States, emitting 683.2 million metric tons in 2019? Texas would be the world’s eighth-largest emitter if it were a nation. We’re leading America in killing our planet.

But oil comes from Texas. That’s why we’re now plagued with zombie wells, are seeing regular earthquakes, and all of our waterways are poisoned.

Doesn’t Texas have some of the highest employment related to fossil fuels? The oil and gas industry employs more than 480,000 Texans. That’s 1.6% of the population. No one is saying let’s turn off all the lights and throw 1.6% of the population into unemployment.

So, what does the Texas Democratic Party (TDP) platform say regarding the climate crisis?

You can find the full platform here. Here is the preamble under “Energy and the Environment:”

Climate change is real, and it threatens all we value. Full stop.

For Texans who haven’t already been impacted by the climate crisis and think it won’t affect them, they are going to have a rude awakening a lot sooner rather than later. Waters across the Atlantic’s tropical belt are hotter now than in any other late May on record, with over 90% of the area’s sea surface engulfed in record or near-record warmth. Scientists are predicting a record-breaking hurricane season, putting the Texas Gulf Coast at risk of a major hurricane this year.

Further reading:

• Public Citizen: Climate Change in Texas

• Phenomenal World: Global Boiling

In another month or two, we’ll also probably discuss record heat. It’s only going to get worse. We have to do something now. As the TDP Energy preamble said, “Future generations demand this of us, and we must deliver.”

Transitioning to renewable energy sources presents job creation opportunities across multiple sectors. Renewable energy jobs are more geographically dispersed and can economically benefit a wider range of communities. The potential job growth in the renewable energy sector far surpasses that of the fossil fuel industry.

A US Department of Energy report found that solar energy employs more workers than the coal, oil, and gas industries combined. As Texas continues to invest in renewable energy infrastructure, it can expect a substantial increase in employment opportunities, even if fossil fuel jobs are lost. This shift supports environmental goals and fosters economic growth and resilience in the face of global energy market fluctuations.

Texas can be a global leader in the clean energy revolution.

The Texas Democratic Party platform’s comprehensive environmental and energy plank outlines a bold vision for leading the global clean-energy revolution. Their ambitious strategy aligns with the preferences of most Texans, who increasingly recognize the urgent need for climate action and support the transition away from fossil fuels.

Their approach addresses environmental concerns and promotes economic justice by creating job opportunities in emerging industries. Recognizing the detrimental impact of fossil fuels, the TDP supports ending state and federal subsidies and tax incentives for oil and gas production. This is critical in reducing Texas’ carbon footprint and transitioning to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system. By treating fossil fuels as this century’s Big Tobacco, the platform highlights the urgent need to move away from practices that harm the environment and public health.

Most Texans support these initiatives, as evidenced by various surveys indicating widespread concern about climate change and strong support for renewable energy.

Pandering to centrists, moderates, or independents can be a double-edged sword for the Texas Democratic Party. It could potentially alienate the youth and progressive voters who already feel disillusioned with the political system.

An NPR/PBS, NewsHour/Marist poll found nearly 60% of those ages 18 to 29 believe climate change should be a priority, even at the risk of slowing economic growth.

Source

From Covering Climate Now: Americans who list climate and the environment as their top issues could swing the election — if they turn out and vote.

Texas has had one of the most dramatic increases in youth voting in the past three midterm cycles. CIRCLE estimates that just 8% of youth in the state voted in 2014; in 2018, an election cycle that set the bar for historic youth participation, 26% of young Texans cast a ballot. Youth turnout in Texas also doubled in the most recent presidential elections, from 28% in 2016 to 41% in 2020.

We have to get young people voting in Texas, and we do that by prioritizing issues they care about most but that we probably care about, too.

When the Democratic Party softens its stance to appeal to the center, it dilutes the progressive policies that energize and mobilize its base. This can lead to a perception that the party is more interested in maintaining the status quo than in championing the substantial changes necessary to address urgent issues.

Perhaps trying to appeal to the so-called moderates in a state with 9.5 million voters is a losing strategy.

Texas Democrats have been there, done that, and probably could write a book about it. They’ve done it for years, probably because of columns like Chris Tomlinsons’. A lack of robust progressive policies leads to decreased voter engagement, with many young and progressive individuals potentially opting to stay home on election day or supporting third-party candidates, thereby fracturing the Democratic vote and weakening the party’s overall electoral prospects.

By prioritizing investments in renewable energy, enforcing stringent environmental regulations, and ending subsidies for fossil fuels, the party aligns itself with the growing public demand for meaningful climate action.

By sticking to a strong, progressive platform, the Texas Democratic Party can inspire and mobilize a broader coalition, ensuring it meets its constituents’ immediate needs and builds a sustainable and equitable future. This approach acknowledges the critical role of youth and progressive voters in driving the party’s success. Vote early, vote often, just vote.

• 14 days left until the November 5 election!

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