{"id":432505,"date":"2026-03-19T18:48:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T17:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=432505"},"modified":"2026-03-19T18:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T17:48:10","slug":"democrats-retreat-from-climate-activism-energy-affordability-electability-in-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=432505","title":{"rendered":"Democrats Retreat from Climate Activism (energy affordability, electability in play)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From Master Resource<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Robert Bradley Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c[New York Governor] Hochul\u2019s shift could become a blueprint for Democrats across the country as they desperately try to convince voters they\u2019re aggressively tackling cost-of-living concerns \u2014 including energy bills \u2014 ahead of the midterm elections.\u201d \u2013 Politico<\/em>, March 7, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Next time you hear that climate policies are affordable or that wind and solar save money, look out the window. What are consumers saying? What are politicians under affordability pressure saying? No quantity of studies or fearmongering about climate can refute what is happening in the real world. Energy prices, energy economics<\/em>, matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NY Governor Kathy Hochul<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Democrat politicians today are retreating from heady climate goals of the past. Consider this article in Politico, \u201c\u2018Hurting peoples\u2019 pocketbooks\u2019: Hochul pushes to pare back landmark climate law<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe New York governor is pushing for changes to the state\u2019s landmark climate law because of affordability concerns, reflecting a national clash between high energy prices and environmental goals,\u201d Marie French reports, adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s a major shift for Gov. Kathy Hochul, who once championed New York\u2019s climate efforts on a global stage<\/a> and rejected permits for gas power plants<\/a>. The moderate Democrat has laid the groundwork to seek changes in secretive, closed-door budget negotiations in Albany in the coming weeks. The state\u2019s Green New Deal embodied in 2019 legislation is in trouble. In Hochul\u2019s words: \u201cThere were so many unforeseen factors. There\u2019s going to be enormous costs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

New York State\u2019s retreat\u2013\u201cit could be the most significant rollback on climate action in a liberal bastion since progressives embraced the \u201c\u2019Green New Deal\u2019 concept\u201d\u2013is part of something bigger. French:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hochul\u2019s positioning reflects a national shift among Democrats on energy as they refocus on affordability amid near-term implementation challenges and seemingly insurmountable federal opposition to clean energy. Likely 2028 presidential contenders \u2014 Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and California Gov. Gavin Newsom \u2014 have also slowed or abandoned some climate-friendly proposals.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, reports French, \u201cHochul\u2019s shift could become a blueprint for Democrats across the country as they desperately try to convince voters they\u2019re aggressively tackling cost-of-living concerns \u2014 including energy bills \u2014 ahead of the midterm elections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as cost-inflation, what opponents call \u201cGreen New Deal Scam,\u201d Hochul warns that CO2 pricing could increase gasoline prices by increase gasoline prices by $2.23 cents per gallon and home heating fuel costs above $3,000 per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics of the the rollback concede that energy affordability (social justice?) is important. But they fallaciously contend that wind, solar, and other forced climate policies are money-savers. Nope: listen to the public and your own politicians for a change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheldon Whitehouse Holds Out<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story was similiar in another POLITICO article, \u201cDemocrats are shying away from climate messaging. One of their own is fighting back<\/a>\u201d (January 25, 2026). \u201cOne of Congress\u2019 loudest climate hawks is trying to fend off a push within his party to abandon calls to combat climate change as left-leaning agenda-setters are plotting to reclaim both chambers of Congress in the midterms,\u201d Amelia Davidson<\/a> and Kelsey Brugger<\/a> begin. The political problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now Democrats are increasingly showing they have decided it\u2019s a losing message to tout the ways in which they\u2019d curb fossil fuel production to thwart the most dire effects of climate change. Instead, they\u2019re choosing to focus on policies that would lower energy costs and lean hard into affordability talking points embraced by Trump and congressional Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The retreat of climate activism as a kitchen table issue has been increasingly noted. \u201cIs this really the climate movement\u2019s next chapter?\u201d asked<\/a> Stephen Lacey, cofounder and executive editor of Latitude Media<\/a>, a publication \u201ccovering the new frontiers of the energy transition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Davidson and Brugger continue:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If so, it will end in nothing more than further alienating voters. The progressive approach to climate mobilization has largely failed to build durable coalitions and policies. The election of Trump clearly showed that kitchen table issues matter most. We are in an extraordinary moment where people are struggling to pay their energy bills \u2014 and this is the answer? I agree with Michael Liebreich<\/a> that we need a deep, pragmatic climate reset.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A Megatrend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MasterResource has followed the shifting politics of climate alarm and forced energy transformation. Note these posts from the last year alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n