Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a longtime advocate for climate change action, responded to inconsistent climate comments from President-elect Donald Trump.
“Our country must develop reasonable policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance the goal of energy independence for our nation,” Collins told the Bangor Daily News earlier this week. “That is why under the new administration, I will continue to work to advance legislation that would promote clean energy initiatives, improve the energy efficiency of vehicles and buildings, and support the development of deepwater offshore wind power.”
Likewise, in neighboring Vermont, incoming Republican Governor-elect Phil Scott said “we have to deal with reality” and “look for ways to work” with Trump, whom he did not support through the primaries. In response to appointment of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott said he “would prefer that it was an appointment that believes” in climate change.
“I believe that climate change is real. I believe that it’s man-made,” he said.