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During an appearance Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., issued what appeared to be a repudiation of President Donald Trump’s views and policies on climate change.
“I don’t know because I can’t define their motives,” he responded when host Jake Tapper asked him why Trump and other Republicans deny the existence of man-made climate change.
“But I know this that there is — things happening with the climate in the world that is unprecedented,” he continued, seemingly contradicting Trump’s long-held belief that the doomsday scenarios touted by climate change activists are inaccurate.
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McCain then pivoted to turn the focus of discussion to energy.
“(W)e need to have, in my view, nuclear power as part of the answer,” he said. “It’s the cleanest, cheapest, in many ways, source of power. My friends in the environmental community refuse to make that part of the equation. I’m not saying it is the equation but I’m saying it has got to be part of it because they’re basically anti-nuclear.”
In late June, Trump announced his plans to “expand the nuclear energy sector by launching a ‘complete review’ of current policy to identify ways to revive the industry,” according to CNBC.
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McCain then brought the discussion back to climate change, arguing that common-sense measures must be taken to protect the American people.
McCain criticizes GOP colleagues for their denial of climate change https://t.co/BPGA42mp2jpic.twitter.com/LzSEURXc5h
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) September 11, 2017
“(W)e have to understand that the climate may be changing and we can take common-sense measures which will not harm the American people,” he said. “And in fact, solar and other technologies make it cheaper for energy for many of the American people, including a state like mine where we have lots of sunshine. So I think it’s time for to us sit down.”
The idea of investing in renewable energy also seems to contrast with Trump’s stated agenda. In early June, his administration announced major cuts to a division of the Department of Energy responsible for accelerating the growth of clean energy.
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These cuts were in line with Trump’s campaign statements during the 2016 presidential election.
“They want everything to be wind and solar,” he said during an interview last October with 2012 presidential candidate Herman Cain. “Unfortunately, it’s not working on large-scale. It’s just not working. Solar is very, very expensive. Wind is very, very expensive, and it only works when it’s windy.”
Trump made it clear during the interview he would rather focus on the coal industry by removing onerous regulations.
McCain made no mention of coal during his appearance on CNN’s State of the Union.
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