BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Steve Inskeep on NPR’s Morning Edition and discussed tackling climate change. Excerpts and the full video are below.
On Fossil Fuels:
“I reject the notion that you have to stop all fossil fuel production and all fossil fuel use in America to solve climate change. Let’s not be so focused on ‘I hate coal,’ and focus on ‘let’s reduce emissions.’ We need to be in a transition, and I think people feel that. What fuels should we reject as part of that transition? I don’t think we need to reject any of them if we have the technology that can clean them all up.”
On Renewable Energy Subsidies:
“Let’s not forget, the reality is the American people have been paying for the advancement of solar and wind for decades. We need grid resiliency and that of course includes things like a steady, reliable, 24 hours, 7 days a week energy source on the grid. There are very few of those. Coal and nuclear are what will allow the innovations to continue and what will allow the American economy to continue. And by the way, we do it pretty well in the United States.”
On an America First Climate Agenda:
“I don’t think we should yield to China. This is why I think a geopolitical climate agenda promoted by the United States of America has to include getting much of our supply chain back as possible. That includes things like uranium, which China also has a big chunk of along with Russia and Kazakhstan. As well as lithium and other mining of critical minerals for batteries.”
“I think we are the leader already, but maintain that leadership in new innovations that will be good for climate and cleaning up the environment. We do mine things like natural gas and oil in a much cleaner way than most of our competitors around the world.”
On Climate Change:
“The vast majority of people that we work for, that would be our constituents, believe that there is climate change, it is going in the wrong direction in terms of the temperature of the earth, and they want us to do something about it. My starting point is that it’s not near the crisis alarmists make it out to be. But at the same time, nobody is going to solve the problem except humans. Other than God himself, we’re the only ones in a position to contribute or lower our contributions whatever that may be. Our constituents expect us to do that.”
“The earth has gone through cycles for as long as there’s been creation. What I would also tell them is ‘we can’t destroy ourselves in the process of trying to save the earth.’”
On Legislation
“I’m always interested [in] being at the table until it gets ridiculous.”
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