Southern State Energy Officials Celebrate Fossil Fuels Despite Climate

"The message from the industry-supported meeting: Push as much deregulation as possible while Trump is in power and never apologize for promoting oil, gas and coal. "

"LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — The contrast could not have been greater between the political and economic conversations at the Southern States Energy Board meeting here Tuesday and Wednesday and the global chorus of urgent calls for action on climate change at the United Nations in New York.

While dozens of world leaders committed at the UN to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, here at Louisville's opulent Seelbach Hilton Hotel, officials from more than a dozen southern states huddled up in a fossil fuel bubble that blocked out the sense of urgency found in the scientific consensus on climate change.

More than 100 lawmakers, state and federal bureaucrats, representatives of the oil, gas and coal industries and two governors from the region attended a program with speakers who urged states to relax environmental regulations as much as possible while the fossil-fuel friendly Trump administration is still in power—and to never apologize for supporting burning coal, oil or gas."

James Bruggers reports for InsideClimate News September 26, 2019.

Source: InsideClimate News, 09/27/2019