Given Rubio’s past positions on energy policy, it’s unlikely that his national energy platform will support clean-energy policies or address the serious threat posed by climate change. Instead it’s more likely that his “plan” will rely heavily on dirty, non-renewable fossil fuels that only contribute to oncoming climate disaster.

Rubio’s abysmal climate record reveals that he:

• Denied that human activity contributes to climate change;
• Voted against tax incentives for biodiesel;
• Voted against legislation that would have extended the wind power tax credit;
• Supported phasing out the Renewable Fuel Standard;
• Supports the Keystone XL pipeline.

Unlike Marco Rubio and the Republican presidential field, Hillary Clinton has a bold renewable energy plan to create clean-energy jobs and modernize America’s energy infrastructure, while also combatting the harmful effects of climate change.

For a more in-depth comparison of Marco Rubio and Hillary Clinton’s records on energy policy, see Correct The Record’s full analysis below:

Boosting alternative energy power.

Hillary Clinton repeatedly voted for legislation that extended the production tax credit for electricity produced from renewable energy sources and she proposed making tax credits for wind and solar production permanent. Hillary also teamed up with Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to create new job-training programs for renewable energy workers.

Fighting for cleaner energy.

Hillary Clinton repeatedly cosponsored the Clean Power Act to get power plants to cut back on air pollution that contributes to both global warming and health problems. The 2007 legislation would have increased renewable energy use by launching the goal of generating 20% of our electricity from renewables by the year 2020 – the so-called Renewable Portfolio Standard. Hillary also pledged to support a goal of generating 25% of our electric power from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Using excess oil profits to develop new energy technologies.

Hillary Clinton proposed getting big oil companies to reinvest some of their excess profits to help reduce American dependence on oil. These investments – combined with the savings gained by repealing tax breaks for oil companies – could have directed $50 billion into a new Strategic Energy Fund geared towards researching and developing smarter energy technologies like more fuel-efficient cars and trucks, and wind and solar power.

Modernizing buildings to save energy and money.

Hillary Clinton worked across the aisle to get the federal government to expand the use of geothermal energy in powering its buildings. She introduced legislation to make federal buildings more energy efficient and she proposed making energy efficiency “a core mission” of the General Services Administration. Hillary also introduced legislation to help states upgrade school buildings to make them more energy efficient.

Getting cleaner vehicles on the road.

Hillary Clinton cosponsored the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to allow more investment in technologies to reduce pollution from diesel-powered trucks and other modes of transportation. She procured funding for the creation of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Hillary also passed legislation to reduce air pollution from construction equipment used on highway projects, and she even teamed up with one of the Senate’s climate change deniers to fund cleaner school bus emissions across the nation.

Bringing America’s power grid into the 21^st century.

Hillary Clinton cosponsored the Electric Reliability Act to give the federal government more authority to make America’s power grid more reliable and efficient. She advocated moving more aggressively towards smart grid technology and called for a nationwide net metering standard so that “families and companies that install these new technologies can sell power back to the grid for a fair price all over the country.”

Prioritizing cleaner energy worldwide.

Under Hillary Clinton, the State Department joined the Department of Energy and other U.S. government agencies in a regional partnership with countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean to promote clean energy development and smarter growth policies. Through this program, the U.S. has collaborated with other countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promoted cleaner energy through the Peace Corps, and connected public and private-sector officials across the hemisphere with renewable energy companies in America.

Getting smarter energy projects off the ground in Africa.

Hillary Clinton helped launch a new partnership – the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative – to jump-start private sector investment in cleaner energy projects and sustainable development across Africa. Funding provided through the initiative sparked wind, solar and hydro-powered projects in several African nations bringing electricity to thousands of homes.

Finding common goals with China to address access to reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy.

Hillary Clinton spearheaded U.S. relations with China to enhance cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment. Under bilateral agreements, the U.S. and China established frameworks for increasing access to reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy as well as connecting businesses and government to support energy and environmental goals.

“Energy cuts across the entirety of U.S. foreign policy. It’s a matter of national security and global stability. It’s at the heart of the global economy. It’s also an issue of democracy and human rights.”                                

– Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, 10/18/12

Elevated Energy as a Driver of Foreign Policy

Sec. Clinton significantly elevated the role of energy as a driver of foreign policy.

According to National Journal, “Over the last year, Clinton has significantly elevated the role of energy as a driver of foreign policy. Last year, Clinton created the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources, charged with forging energy-driven foreign policy around the globe. In the coming weeks, she said, she will be sending out policy guidance to U.S. embassies to elevate reporting on energy and increase outreach to international energy partners.” [National Journal, 10/19/12]

Sec. Clinton stressed energy’s importance to American foreign policy because the U.S. had an interest in “making sure that the American people’s access to energy is secure, reliable, affordable, and sustainable.”

In her remarks on energy diplomacy in the 21^st century, Secretary Clinton said, “Energy matters to America’s foreign policy for three fundamental reasons. First, it rests at the core of geopolitics, because fundamentally, energy is an issue of wealth and power, which means it can be both a source of conflict and cooperation. The United States has an interest in resolving disputes over energy, keeping energy supplies and markets stable through all manner of global crises, ensuring that countries don’t use their energy resources or proximity to shipping routes to force others to bend to their will or forgive their bad behavior, and above all, making sure that the American people’s access to energy is secure, reliable, affordable, and sustainable.” [Remarks on Energy Diplomacy in the 21^st Century, state.gov, 10/18/12]

Sec. Clinton created the Bureau of Energy Resources “for the purpose of channeling the domestic energy boom into a geopolitical tool to advance American interests around the world.”

According to the New York Times, “At the helm of the new energy diplomacy effort is Carlos Pascual, a former American ambassador to Ukraine, who leads the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources. The 85-person bureau was created in late 2011 by Hillary Rodham Clinton, the secretary of state at the time, for the purpose of channeling the domestic energy boom into a geopolitical tool to advance American interests around the world.” [New York Times, 3/5/14]

Sec. Clinton’s Bureau of Energy Resources helped European nations reduce dependence on Russian gas.

• According to the New York Times editorial board, “American officials should use natural gas exports as one component of diplomacy that also includes assisting other nations with conservation and renewable sources of energy like solar and wind. The State Department, under Hillary Rodham Clinton, set up the Bureau of Energy Resources to do just that; it has, for example, helped European nations reduce their dependence on Russian gas by, among other things, buying more gas from Africa.” [Editorial, New York Times, 3/7/14]

Sec. Clinton’s Bureau of Energy Resources lessened Putin’s leverage over Ukraine and Europe’s energy supply.

• On MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki, New York Times reporter Coral Davenport said, “Well, already actually, Putin has a little bit less leverage than he’s had in the past. The state department two years ago, under Hillary Clinton, created this bureau of energy resources which was aimed specifically at figuring out how to leverage this huge boom in U.S. natural gas as a diplomatic weapon. And already, this boom in U.S. natural gas, even though it’s not being exported to Europe, has loosened up a lot of supply around the rest of the world. Over the last couple of years, U.S. diplomats working on the ground in Ukraine and Europe have lessened Ukraine’s dependence on Russia for its natural gas from 90 percent to 60 percent… So, there’s definitely a strong diplomatic push to say, you know, if we can get some of that U.S. natural gas over to Europe or out in the global market, then in the coming years, we really could see Ukraine and Europe loosening that decades long chokehold that Russia has had on its energy supply.” [Up with Steve Kornacki, MSNBC, 3/8/14 (via Nexis)]

Iran sanctions were central to Sec. Clinton’s vision of energy diplomacy.

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday described ‘energy diplomacy’ as a driving force behind U.S. foreign policy […] Mrs. Clinton detailed some of the highest-profile diplomatic efforts involving energy, including what she called the most important: sanctions on Iran’s oil sector. That required persuading Iran’s customers to stop buying its oil and oil producers to pump more to make up the difference. U.S. diplomatic efforts in Iraq helped unlock nearly a million additional barrels of oil a day, she said, helping make sanctions on Tehran workable and bolstering the Iraqi economy.” [Wall Street Journal, 10/18/12]

Advanced Energy Programs that Created Economic Opportunity

Sec. Clinton launched the Connect 2022 initiative to make “power more affordable, reliable, and efficient” and more economically viable in the Western Hemisphere.

According to Sec. Clinton’s remarks at the launch of the Connect 2022 Initiative, “The Connecting the Americas 2022 campaign aims to give every person the sustainable energy they need at a price they can afford, so they can live their lives, do their work, educate their children. We’ve set ourselves a deadline of 10 years. We know it won’t be easy. Those 30 million-plus who are not yet able to access electricity are the hardest to reach. Otherwise, companies like some of those represented here would’ve already gotten them power long ago. So we need to expand power grids, develop effective off-grid solutions to reach remote communities, and more broadly, modernize the power infrastructure throughout the hemisphere. So not only can we can make power more affordable, reliable, and efficient, but we can make it more economically viable to add renewable energy to the mix.” [Launch of Connect 2022 Initiative at CEO Summit, state.gov, 4/13/12]

Connect 2022 promoted “interconnection” of energy resources between countries which created opportunity for U.S. businesses and “ultimately lower the costs for the consumer.”

• In her remarks on energy diplomacy in the 21^st century, Secretary Clinton said, “Interconnection will help us get the most out of our region’s resources. It seems simple, but if one country has excess power, it can sell it to a neighbor. The climate variability across our region means that if one country has a strong rainy season, it can export hydropower to a neighbor in the middle of a drought. Plus, by expanding the size of power markets, we can create economies of scale, attract more private investment, lower capital costs, and ultimately lower the costs for the consumer. […] So one aim of Connect 2022 is to make sure that those 31 million people now do have power. With this single project, we will promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, fight poverty, create opportunity for energy businesses, including U.S. businesses, and forge stronger ties of partnership with our neighbors. It really is a win-win-win, in our opinion.” [Remarks on Energy Diplomacy in the 21^st Century, state.gov, 10/18/12]

Sec. Clinton launched the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative to drive private sector investment into Africa’s energy sector.

In remarks at the launch of the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative, Sec. Clinton said, “The U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative will help clean energy projects in Africa get started. This is an innovative partnership between three United States Government entities – the State Department, OPIC, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. We want to drive private sector investment into the energy sector. We plan to use an initial $20 million grant fund to leverage much larger investment flows from OPIC. That will open the door then for hundreds of millions of dollars of OPIC financing, plus hundreds of millions of more dollars from the private sector for projects that otherwise would never get off the drawing board.” [Launch of the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative, state.gov, 6/22/12]

Supported Renewable and Sustainable Energy Programs

Sec. Clinton promoted U.S. development of clean energy projects for Caribbean nations through the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas.

In her remarks on the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, Sec. Clinton said, “First, we will work to advance sustainable energy in the Caribbean. As I said, this is the area of the world most dependent on imported fossil fuels and suffering from the world’s highest electricity rates. That’s shameful in our hemisphere, and it shouldn’t be. The people of the Caribbean are creative, resilient; they’re able to lead the way in new forms of energy, and we want to be a partner. The United States will provide a grant to the Organization of American States to lend technical and legal expertise to any Caribbean country seeking to help get clean energy projects off the ground. We are committed to helping you with energy security. We think clean energy and energy security go hand in hand.” [Remarks on the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, state.gov, 4/15/10]

Sec. Clinton launched 11 EcoPartnerships with China that collaborate on “clean energy and sustainable development.”

According to a State Department fact sheet on the U.S.-China EcoPartnerships program, “The EcoPartnerships program is an innovative manifestation of U.S.-China cooperation on energy and environmental issues. Established under the U.S.-China Ten Year Framework on Energy and Environment Cooperation (TYF), EcoPartnerships establish formal collaboration between U.S. and Chinese stakeholders who work on clean energy and sustainable development. Eighteen partnerships already share best practices on preventing air pollution, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, protecting water resources, developing technology for electric vehicles, increasing energy efficiency, and safeguarding natural habitats.” [“The U.S.-China EcoPartnerships Program,” state.gov, 7/10/13]

Recently President Obama hosted the largest gathering of African leaders ever assembled by a U.S. President. The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit focused on issues critical for the future of our two continents, such as trade, collaboration, and investment. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton recognized that Africa’s fast-growing economies and markets presented enormous opportunities for engagement. Sec. Clinton led a delegation of U.S. executives to connect with African business leaders and built partnerships for increased entrepreneurship and economic opportunity, strengthening the economic ties between the United States and Africa. 

Strengthened the Ties between U.S. Businesses and African Countries

Sec. Clinton brought American CEOs to Africa, increasing U.S. focus on trade and investment.

According to New York Times foreign affairs editorial writer Carol Giacomo, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made no fewer than three trips to Africa during her tenure, including one last August that took her to nine countries over two weeks. As Mr. Obama is doing, she brought along a delegation of chief executives from leading American companies, a sign that U.S. priorities, like that of many African countries, had shifted from a preoccupation with humanitarian and development aid to trade and investment.” [Carol Giacomo, New York Times, 6/28/13]

Sec. Clinton: “I have delivered one consistent message, and that is we want sustainable partnerships in Africa that add value rather than extract it.”

According to Sec. Clinton’s remarks on the U.S.-South Africa Business Partnership, “I have delivered one consistent message, and that is we want sustainable partnerships in Africa that add value rather than extract it. And one of the ways we are building those partnerships is to look to enhancing and strengthening the ties between American businesses and African businesses because, as we look across Sub-Saharan Africa, we see enormous economic growth even as the global economy continues to struggle.” [Remarks at the US-South Africa Business Partnership Summit, state.gov, 8/6/12]

Sec. Clinton to business community: “Africa offers the highest rate of return on foreign direct investment of any developing region in the world.”

“In the past decade, trade between Africa and the rest of the world has tripled, private foreign investment has surpassed official aid, and it will surely keep rising. Because – and I want all of my fellow American citizens, particularly our business community, to hear this – Africa offers the highest rate of return on foreign direct investment of any developing region in the world.” [Remarks at the African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum to Mark Global Economic Statecraft Day, 6/14/12]

Launched Programs to Grow Economic Opportunity in Africa

Sec. Clinton launched the African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program to help women “get their own businesses in order, to learn how to better achieve what they’re hoping for.”

During an interview on Africa 360, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “Women small business owners, women small farmers are actually the backbone of a lot of the economic development that can and should occur inside Africa. […] So the United States has started a program called African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program. And what we are doing is helping African women, who are among the hardest working people on the planet, to get their own businesses in order, to learn how better to achieve what they’re hoping for. And I’m very proud that the headquarters will be right here in Lusaka.” [Interview on Africa 360, state.gov, 6/11/11]

Sec. Clinton launched the public-private U.S.-North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity to “better link entrepreneurs and business leaders.”

According to a State Department fact sheet on the U.S.-North Africa partnership for economic opportunity, “As a follow-up to President Obama’s June 2009 Cairo speech and his April 2010 Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, the Department of State is launching the U.S.-North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO), a new public-private partnership to better link entrepreneurs and business leaders in the United States and North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia). NAPEO will operate in close cooperation with Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) as the key regional entity to support PNB engagement in North Africa.” [“U.S.-North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity,” state.gov, 12/1/10]

Sec. Clinton launched the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative to drive private sector investment into Africa’s energy sector.

In her remarks at the launch of the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “The U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative will help clean energy projects in Africa get started. This is an innovative partnership between three United States Government entities – the State Department, OPIC, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. We want to drive private sector investment into the energy sector. We plan to use an initial $20 million grant fund to leverage much larger investment flows from OPIC. That will open the door then for hundreds of millions of dollars of OPIC financing, plus hundreds of millions of more dollars from the private sector for projects that otherwise would never get off the drawing board.” [Remarks at the Launch of the U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative, state.gov, 6/22/12]

“For this generation of Americans, climate change is our Space Race. It is our home-front mobilization during World War II and it is our response to the Great Depression. According to studies, the negative economic consequences of climate change will affect every part of our country, virtually every sector of our economy, and strain our local governments, cost jobs, and extract a horrific human toll.”

Hillary Clinton remarks, Council on Foreign Relations, 11/5/07

Secretary of State

Secretary Clinton appointed the first Special Envoy on climate change.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton named the first State Department Special Envoy on climate change. The appointment sent “an unequivocal message that the United States will be energetic, focused, strategic and serious” in addressing climate change. The Special Envoy would be “a lead participant” in the development of climate and clean energy policy.

Secretary Clinton launched the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas.

In 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) to fill “a critical niche” on climate and energy issues. Over the following two years, the United States and other governments “cooperated on 40 ongoing and completed ECPA initiatives.” These initiatives addressed sustainable energy in the Caribbean; energy security in Central America; advancing sustainable biomass energy; working with the Peace Corps to advance renewable energy; having American scientists consult with governments on energy programs and education; and promoting use of shale gas. Both the State Department and USAID partnered with countries and organizations like NASA to address energy and environmental concerns. 

Secretary Clinton promoted the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves to reduce pollution and improve health.

Secretary Clinton announced the creation of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a “public-private partnership… that will work toward the goal of 100 million homes adopting new clean stoves and fuels by 2020.” Smoke from dirty cookstoves “contains greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane” and contributes to climate change. Secretary Clinton wanted to reduce the millions of deaths each year from breathing “black carbon soot” coming from dirty cookstoves, cars, and the burning of waste. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves helped slow down environmental degradation from “cutting down of trees and using charcoal for fuel for cooking.”

Secretary Clinton launched 11 EcoPartnerships with China.

Under Secretary Clinton, the State Department had 11 EcoPartnership agreements with China. The partnerships shared best practices on “preventing air pollution, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, protecting water resources, developing technology for electric vehicles, increasing energy efficiency, and safeguarding natural habitats.” Through the EcoPartnerships, American state, local, and private sector organizations developed “mutually beneficial” solutions to promote energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability in both countries.

Senate

Senator Clinton fought to preserve America’s natural heritage and environmental quality for the next generation.

Hillary Clinton worked with her fellow Senators to protect and preserve some of America’s greatest natural treasures. Clinton joined with Chuck Schumer on legislation calling for the study and potential creation of a national heritage area surrounding Niagara Falls. Following the 2005 release of the study, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area was officially designated in 2008. Clinton also worked with Carl Levin to safeguard wildlife and promote sound water management in the Great Lakes region.

Senator Clinton helped start clean energy job-training and promoted energy efficiency in federal buildings.

Hillary Clinton worked with Democrats and Republicans alike to promote energy efficient federal buildings and create job-training programs in clean energy. Clinton joined with Bernie Sanders to create job-training programs in solar panel manufacturing and other energy-efficient industries. Clinton also worked with Jim Inhofe (a noted climate change skeptic) to expand the use of geothermal energy in federal buildings.

Senator Clinton stood up to polluters and fought to promote cleaner energy.

Hillary Clinton twice introduced bills to eliminate tax breaks for oil companies and prioritize investment in cleaner energy. She cosponsored multiple pieces of cap-and-trade legislation. She also signed onto legislation to reduce the worst air pollutants from power plants.

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