Climate & Clean Energy

Michael believes we owe it to the next generation to tackle climate change head-on and lead a responsible, rational transition to a clean energy economy. In Colorado and across the West, severe drought and record wildfires threaten our farmers, ranchers, homes, and businesses. Climate change endangers Colorado’s vital water supplies, more than 22 million acres of forests, and outdoor recreation economy. 

To protect the American West as we know it, Michael believes we need to meet the goals science tells us are necessary: including net-zero emissions by 2050. He supports a comprehensive, common-sense approach to reducing climate pollution, advancing clean energy, removing emissions from the atmosphere, increasing local community resilience, and growing the economy. He recognizes this moment as an opportunity to modernize our energy system, strengthen America’s energy independence and leadership, build critical domestic supply chains, and provide reliable, clean, and affordable energy to all Americans.

From his seat on the Senate Finance Committee, Michael has consistently pushed to extend and expand clean energy tax credits and boost domestic clean energy manufacturing to secure American supply chains and help us compete with China. From his seat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, he champions policies to support conservation, forest health and restoration, and rural clean energy. He also believes we should enact a policy that would put a price on carbon pollution across the economy.

In 2022, Michael helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – the most significant climate legislation in the planet’s history. Michael successfully pushed for the IRA to include long-term tax credits for domestic clean energy manufacturing and to deploy wind and solar energy, electric vehicles, and electric grid storage, as well as provisions to support the transition to clean energy in rural America. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included Michael’s priorities to expand financing for carbon capture technologies, protect our electric grid, and develop a national charging network for electric vehicles. Michael also supports strong greenhouse gas standards for vehicles and power plants, and oil and gas methane rules modeled on Colorado’s leadership. 

Michael strongly believes that working hand-in-hand with local energy communities across America must be at the heart of our clean energy transition. These communities have powered our nation for decades, and we must ensure they have the resources to diversify economically and thrive in a new economy. Michael introduced legislation to create long-term sustainable funding for communities that have historically relied on revenue from fossil fuel energy production and face mine or plant closures. 

Michael knows we must do more to ensure a safe and healthy planet for our children and future generations. He will work with anyone to break through the Washington gridlock to protect our communities, public health, climate, and environment.