For weeks, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has been dodging the question on whether she opposes or supports the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, and all it took was one simple question from a Drake University student about it for Clinton to finally come clean.
“I oppose it,” Clinton said when she was asked her position on Keystone at a community forum in Des Moines Tuesday. “I think it is imperative that we look at the Keystone Pipeline as what I believe it is, as a distraction from the important work that we have to do to combat climate change and unfortunately, from my perspective, one that interferes with our ability to move forward to deal with all the other issues.”
Clinton went on to say that the pipeline does not have the best interest of protecting the climate, and she said she will be outlining her plan for a North American approach to fighting climate change and clean energy “in a few days.”
“For me, we need to be transitioning from fossil fuels, I know it will take time, to clean energy,” said Clinton. “That’s why I led with my two big proposals, namely, I want to see us by the end of my first term see us install over half a billion more solar panels, and by my second term, have enough clean power to run all the homes in America.”
The former Secretary of State said she even brags at other campaign events how Iowa is leading in the clean energy sector.
“I brag on you all, because a lot of people say how can we do that?” said Clinton. “And I say, you know, Iowa is getting 30 percent of its electricity now from clean energy.”
Building the Keystone XL Pipeline, Clinton argued, will tag on to an already-existing pipeline network.
“We already have a lot of pipelines that are leaking, they need to be repaired, they are dangerous,” said Clinton. “So I want to put thousands of Americans to work to not only fix those leaking pipelines, but the grid also has to be updated in order for it to be accessible. A lot of more jobs, from my perspective, on a North American clean energy agenda, than you would ever get from just one pipeline from crossing the border.”
Fellow contenders Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders commented on Clinton’s position – they both had come out strongly against it.
“I am glad that Secretary Clinton finally has made a decision and I welcome her opposition to the pipeline,” tweeted Sanders.
O’Malley’s campaign was more aggressive against the front-runner, however.
“On issue after issue–marriage equality, drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, children fleeing violence in Central America, the Syrian refugee crisis, and now the Keystone Pipeline, Secretary Clinton has followed–not forged–public opinion,” said O’Malley. “Leadership is about stating where you stand on critical issues, regardless of how they poll or focus group.”
