Manchin claims to be a moderate on climate, but supported a nominee who aims to destroy the coal industry.

Senator Joe Manchin Votes to Confirm Biden Nominee with Radical Climate Proposals

Senator Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) has been ramping up criticisms of his party’s radical climate proposals as he prepares for a tough reelection battle in 2024. However, the West Virginia Democrat recently voted to advance a Biden nominee who wants to eradicate the coal industry, mandate that corporations become “carbon neutral” by 2025, and has urged activists to “name and shame” energy companies.

David Crane’s Radical Climate Proposals

David Crane, a former director at the state-owned Saudi Electricity Company, wants to eradicate the coal industry, mandate that major corporations become “carbon neutral” by 2025, and urged activists to “name and shame” companies that fail to fall in line. Crane called for the top 100 corporations in America to become carbon-neutral by 2025, a measure that he acknowledged would be “rough” on the companies. He endorsed the Green New Deal in 2019 and acknowledged that air travel and meat consumption may have to be curtailed to fight climate change.

Despite Manchin’s criticisms of the Biden administration’s climate policies, he voted to confirm Crane as undersecretary for infrastructure at the Department of Energy. Manchin asserted that Crane “is well qualified” for the job, which will oversee infrastructure projects under the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Manchin’s vote highlights the tightrope he’s tried to walk as a red state Democrat facing a difficult election year. Manchin, who has a 55 percent disapproval rating in his home state, blasted the Biden administration this month for failing to develop offshore oil and gas but voted last year against a measure that would do just that. Manchin recently threatened to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, a massive climate-heavy spending bill that he negotiated last year with Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).

Potential Consequences for Senate Democrats

Manchin is not the only embattled Senate Democrat whose support for a Biden nominee could come back to bite them next year. Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.), who is up for reelection next year, voted to confirm Jared Bernstein, the nominee for chairman of the White House Counsel of Economic Advisers. Bernstein complained that the price of gasoline “is too low” to curtail climate change. Bernstein has also opposed the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that Tester supports.

It remains to be seen how Manchin’s vote for Crane will affect his reelection campaign in 2024. However, his support for a nominee with such radical climate proposals may not sit well with his constituents in West Virginia, where the coal industry contributes $14 billion to the state’s economy.