February 5, 2016

Clinton Calls Ban on Future Extraction on Public Lands a “Done Deal”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 5, 2016

Contact: Lindsay Meiman, (347) 460-9082

Clinton Calls Ban on Future Extraction on Public Lands a “Done Deal”

Durham, NH — Following the final Democratic debate before the New Hampshire primary, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton signaled her approval of banning fossil fuel extraction on public lands calling such a move “a done deal.”

Since Clinton’s first town hall in New Hampshire last July, individuals and organizers with 350 Action have pressed her to take stronger positions on climate, such as banning extraction public lands, refusing to take fossil fuel industry contributions, and supporting a ban on fracking.

When asked last night by Griffin Sinclair-Wingate, an organizer with 350 Action, how she expects to win over young people’s vote if she still supports fracking, Clinton claimed that it was not in the federal government’s right to impose such a ban. While the former Secretary of State has troublesome ties to fracking, she went on to identify key issues with the extreme extraction and to express her support of a ban on fossil fuel extraction on public lands.

“Young people are calling on the next leader of our country to take a firm stance against Big Oil and tell us exactly how they will keep fossil fuels in the ground,” said Yong Jung Cho, 350 Action Campaign Coordinator. “While we still have concerns about Clinton’s questionable ties to the fossil fuel industry, it’s huge for her to be calling for a ban on extraction in public lands. We look forward to continuing to hold her accountable.”

When asked to clarify what she meant by calling a ban on fossil fuel extraction public lands a “done deal,” Clinton told Coburn Blunt, a youth voter concerned about climate change, “that’s where the President is moving. No future extraction. I agree with that.”

This afternoon, Clinton got more specific when asked if she would end all coal, oil and gas leases on federal lands by firmly saying she would “impose a moratorium.”

The Paris Climate Agreement sent a clear signal that the age of coal, oil and gas is coming to an end. With the recent moratorium on coal and President Obama’s plan to fund a 21st century transportation system, the current administration is already setting up creative ways for the next president to fully transition away from fossil fuels.

Climate change continues to be a top tier issue in the 2016 election, as Democrats compete to see who has the strongest plan to take on the fossil fuel industry and Republicans tie themselves into knots trying to explain their climate denial.

Video: http://bit.ly/20e6CXV

Full Script:

Griffin Sinclair-Wingate: With so much of the environmental community opposing fracking, how do you expect to win over young people’s vote if you are still supporting fracking?

Hillary Clinton: You know, I have said repeatedly that we are going to move from fossil fuels to clean energy, and we’re gonna have to do it in a quick, but * way. […] The states have a lot of authority over fracking. I don’t think the federal government has that ability to just sign an agreement…

Sinclair-Wingate: To ban fracking…

Clinton: No, I don’t think that, I don’t think the president does, but what the government does have the ability to do is to impose very strict regulations on the chemicals that are used. Closing the Haliburton.* On the methane releases. There’s a lot we can do…

Sinclair-Wingate: But that doesn’t stop the CO2 from going into the atmosphere if we burn it.

Clinton: Well, we will get there, we will get there, but I think, I don’t want to mislead you and say ‘oh, I can ban *,’ that’s just not accurate…I don’t want to mislead you.

Sinclair-Wingate: Would you ban extraction on public lands?

Clinton: Yeah. That’s a done deal.

Follow-up Video: http://bit.ly/1S52WIH

Full Script:

Coburn Blunt: “What did you mean by extraction on public lands is ‘a done deal?’”

Hillary Clinton: “That’s where the President is moving. No future extraction. I agree with that.”

“Moratorium” Video: http://bit.ly/1UR8fcq

Full Transcript:

Adam Greenberg: Last night, when you said that you would end fossil fuels, and I loved what you said about fighting for our future and the youth. Would you end all oil, coal, and gas leases on federal lands?

Hillary Clinton: I want to impose a moratorium.

Greenberg: A moratorium on all oil, coal, and gas? That’s amazing news.

Clinton: Because there are legal issues you have to go through, you know all of that, but I would support a moratorium.

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350 Action has not endorsed any presidential candidate and is working in primary states to urge candidates for president to take bold action on climate change by pledging to keep fossil fuels in the ground and support a just transition to a 100% renewable energy.