Clinton signs Steyer’s ’50by30′ pledge

Source: Amanda Reilly, E&E reporter • Posted: Friday, January 22, 2016

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton signed a pledge yesterday from billionaire Tom Steyer’s political action committee to achieve 50 percent clean energy in the United States by 2030.

NextGen Climate has been pushing candidates for president in both political parties to sign the “50by30” pledge to move away from fossil fuels.

Clinton signed a pledge card and spoke with staff from NextGen while campaigning in Des Moines, Iowa, the Steyer PAC said.

“We are glad to have Hillary Clinton’s support for powering America with more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030, which will create over one million new jobs,” Steyer said in a statement. “We hope she will continue to talk about solutions that are critical to prevent climate disaster and ensure our economic security.”

Clinton’s primary rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), last month released his climate change plan calling for a shift to 100 percent renewable energy and the enactment of a carbon tax (Greenwire, Dec. 7, 2015).

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who trails both Clinton and Sanders in the Democratic race, was the first candidate to sign the Steyer pledge and says he would work to transition to 100 percent clean energy within 35 years.