Biden targets climate change with more executive orders

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on climate change and renewable energy at the site of the former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, Massachusetts, U.S. July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

President Biden’s latest executive order stopped short of making an emergency declaration about climate change.

Speaking Wednesday at the site of a former coal-fired plant in Somerset, Massachusetts, the President announced a package of executive actions and also promised more aggressive efforts in the climate change war.

“Since Congress is not acting as it should … this is an emergency and I will look at it that way,” Biden said. “As president, I’ll use my executive powers to combat the climate crisis in the absence of executive action.”

The steps include $2.3 billion in funding for a program to help communities prepare for disasters by expanding flood control and retrofitting buildings.

The funds will also be used to help low-income families meet their heating and cooling costs. Biden also directed the Interior Department to propose new offshore wind areas in the Gulf of Mexico. The plan would reportedly provide power to more than 3 million homes in the President’s zeal for clean energy.

Biden failed again to get the support of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin who holds a swing vote in the 50-50 Senate. The Democratic Senator said he won’t support major climate provision’s in the reconciliation bill, drawing anger from fellow Democrats.