RUTHFULLY YOURS

Declaring that the “reality of climate change is unforgiving — no matter what the deniers say,” Hillary Clinton unveiled a climate agenda Monday that industry critics immediately branded an “energy poverty agenda.”

“I know there are still people who would rather not hear this.  Some deny climate change exists at all.  Others throw up their hands and say, ‘Sorry, I’m not a scientist,’” Clinton said today in Des Moines.

“Well, I’m not a scientist either. That’s why I think it’s important to listen to scientists. It’s important to heed the warnings based on extensive scientific research to see what’s going on here in our own country and certainly around the world.”

She called climate change “one of the most urgent threats of our time, and we have no choice but to rise and meet it.”

“First, we need to have more than half a billion solar panels installed across the country by the end of my first term,” Clinton said. “Second, we’ll set a 10-year goal of generating enough renewable energy to power every single home in America. Not some homes. Not most homes. Every home in America.”

Clinton added that she’ll reveal her detailed plan on how to achieve these goals and “make America the world’s clean energy superpower” over the next few months.

“And even as we face the threat of climate change head on, we cannot close our eyes to the challenges facing hard-working families in Coal Country, who kept our lights on and our factories running for more than a century. We should guarantee that coal miners and their families get the benefits they’ve earned and the respect they deserve,” she said.

“…I refuse to turn my back on what is one of the greatest threats and greatest opportunities America faces. I refuse to let those who are deniers, who disagree with what we need to do to rip away all the progress we’ve made and leave our country exposed to the most severe consequences of climate change. America needs to lead this fight, not go MIA.”

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s campaign quickly jumped in with his own climate pledges, vowing to go 100 percent renewable energy and end all reliance on fossil fuels.

“Governor O’Malley is opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline because we can’t move to a clean energy future if we continue to rely on dirty, short-term fossil fuel fixes,” said deputy campaign manager Lis Smith. “Real leadership is about forging public opinion on issues like Keystone — not following it. Every Democrat should follow his lead and take a stand to commit to ending our reliance on fossil fuels.”

American Energy Alliance president Thomas Pyle said Clinton’s plan “will raise energy prices on all Americans, especially poor families, the elderly, and those who are still struggling to find work in the Obama economy.”

“Electricity from new wind facilities is three times more costly than existing coal and four times more costly than existing nuclear plants,” Pyle said. “This obvious pander to the national environmental lobby may benefit those bankrolling her run for the White House, but everyday American families will be stuck paying for her ill-conceived policies.”