Former Vice President Joe Biden suggested last year that, if elected, his administration would seek to fight climate change by any possible measure, including jailing fossil fuel executives for excessive pollution.
Biden, who is under fire for his position on fracking in the closing days of the presidential contest, made the comments during a campaign swing through New Hampshire in 2019 ahead of the state’s first in the nation primary.
During an event with supporters in Peterborough, the former vice president was asked about what the consequences to America would be if the country did not stop using fossil fuels in the future–to which Biden responded, “we’re all dead.”
“We have to set sort of guide rails down now, so between the years 2021 and 2030, it’s irreversible, the path we set ourselves on. And one of which is doing away with any substance for fossil fuels – number one,” Biden said during the event.
“Number two, holding them liable for what they have done,” the former vice president said of fossil fuel executives, “particularly in those cases where your underserved neighborhoods and – you know the deal, okay. And by the way, when they don’t want to deliver, put them in jail. I’m not joking about this.”
.@JoeBiden on fossil fuel execs: “We should put them in jail” for pollution pic.twitter.com/OLqZMwi4E5
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 29, 2019
Biden’s comments from 2019 come back into the spotlight as the Democrat nominee is facing criticism from Republicans and voters, alike, over his shifting stance on fracking.
During the final presidential debate of the general election earlier this month, the former vice president asserted that he did not support a ban on fracking, but did admit that the United States would have to transition from oil at some point in the near future.
The remarks quickly were seized upon by Republicans, who claim that the Democrat nominee’s position on energy is in line with more progressive elements of his party, which favor banning fracking and programs like the Green New Deal.
Despite Biden’s assertion on fracking, the former vice president’s climate change proposal states that, if elected, his administration would adopt a 100 percent clean-electricity standard by 2035. A similar idea was initially raised by Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) last year during his own ill-fated run for the Democrat nomination.
If implemented, it would ensure that all electricity produced in the United States would be “carbon-free.”
This would likely have a massive impact on the coal and natural gas industries that, according to the Energy Information Association, produce around 63 percent of all electricity in the country.
Biden’s climate change plan also calls for the creation of a new division within the Department of Justice to combat pollution and advance “environmental and climate justice.”
The division will be responsible for cracking down on the businesses and corporations, including their executives, that contribute to pollution.
It will be empowered to pursue pollution “cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and, when needed, seek additional legislation to hold corporate executives personally accountable–including jail time [when] merited.”
Read more at Breitbart
“Number two, holding them liable for what they have done,” the former vice president said of fossil fuel executives, “particularly in those cases where your underserved neighborhoods and – you know the deal, okay. And by the way, when they don’t want to deliver, put them in jail. I’m not joking about this.”
“… when they don’t want to deliver…”
Sounds like he’s making a reference to a situation in New York State a bit over a year ago. A natural gas utility had applied for a new pipeline. It was denied. They then refused to take on any new customers – “Our existing pipeline cannot deliver enough gas to supply new customers.”
Governor Cuomo stepped in – “You will supply gas to new customers”.
The utility did so – by bringing in gas in tanker trucks. So much for “Green”.
Bring it on! Bring it on! The defence would expose the alarmist lunacies. The trial must be held in a northern USA court with the heating turned off.
A trial by the Back to Nature Freaks from Greenpeace,Friends of t ehe Earth,Sierra Club Etc and lead by Robert Kennedy Jr as the Chief Prosicuter
Putting people in jail for activities that are perfectly legal has been the mode of operation of Nazi and Communist governments. I think this is the sort of thing we can expect from Biden. Yet, people who have committed real crimes in the climate change issue are immuned. I’m thinking of the people who while on the government payroll fraudulently altered historical climate data to support the cause.
Randy, they have good reason to stir up emotion. If someone comes to a conclusion based on emotion they will not change their mind when present with facts.
David, I certainly understand how emotion clouds any reasonable analysis or discerning judgment. I was involved in public affairs since the early 80″s with the domestic oil industry and I witnessed with my own eyes the increasing rise of “fanaticism” at public meetings & hearings. I also saw over the past 20 years the evolution of the Environmental NGO’s from (primarily) conservation focused organizations to pure ZEALOTS that have no capacity to see anything POSITIVE about oil & gas, outside of outright ERADICATION of the industry. Where all this “implodes” is they have no constructive alternative to REPLACE 65% of our domestic primary energy. Basically, the “Biden Energy Plan” and as it “morphs” into the Green New Deal is your proverbial high wire act WITHOUT a net. GLAD I’m retired from the oil & gas industry. Dealing with fanatics gets EXHAUSTING…
And i would take all the leaders of the various Eco-Freak Groups and maroon them on a Island for a month or two without any Parazzii
Biden’s really pandering for the greenie vote.
Forgot to mention. Seems like these days, if you want to get traction in the media & stir up negative emotion & promote division, your blanket defaults seem to be “impacts on underserved communities,” “social &/or environmental justice” and “environmental racism.” Instead of promoting a thoughtful, well informed and sensible debate on the energy transition, many seem to resort to what appears as the lowest common denominator. What a terrible disservice to our country…
Since when did responsible development of oil & gas resources become jail worthy? Extraction & production of oil & gas is a long promoted LEGAL activity fully sanctioned at the federal, State & (often) local levels of government. There are a BUNCH of federal environmental laws and attendant regulation, not to mention State oil & gas regulatory agencies that have long standing operational & environmental requirements that strictly govern O & G operations. This well established & existing regulatory framework contains considerable civil & criminal penalties for non-compliance & reckless conduct, especially on environmental pollution matters. As a former industry regulatory professional, I was (also) subject to a signed Code of Conduct where my own company could pursue litigation against ME personally for willful misconduct in performance of my duties. So, what the hell is this all about? Jail oil executives for what…providing energy & useful products that form the foundation for every American’s modern way of life? One other key question. If all oil & gas is TAINTED, then is the federal government going to “fess up” to their role in the conspiracy and all the DIRTY bonus & royalty money in the (now) several TRILLIONS of dollars they have collected over the past 80-90 years? How ridiculous can you get…