In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Mark Green, incumbent Republican candidate running for U.S. House District 7 in Tennessee. Also in this series, we profile Odessa Kelly, the Democratic nominee for the same House seat. 

Guest Blog | October 24, 2022 | Elections, Energy Policy, Tennessee

This blog post was written by Brady Watson, former Civic Engagement Coordinator for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

This post is part of a series examining where 2022 candidates running for public offices in the Southeast stand on key energy and climate issues. Note: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Links to reports, candidate websites, and outside sources are provided as citizen education tools.

In this blog post, we examine the policies and positions of Mark Green, the incumbent Republican candidate running for U.S. House District 7 in Tennessee. Also in this series, we profile Odessa Kelly, the Democratic nominee for the same House seat. Election Day is November 8, 2022. 

Dr. Mark Green attended West Point and served in the Army until 1992. With his wife, Camilla, and children, Green came to Tennessee as an Army special operations flight surgeon assigned to the 160th Special Ops Aviation Regiment. He was sworn in as a Congressman from the 7th District of Tennessee on January 3, 2019. 

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

During an interview on Fox Business, Representative Green said about the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes tax credits and other investments in renewable energy, “I’m making fun of this IRA because they’re taxing oil and natural gas.” 

Climate Change

In response to a question about climate change during a speech at Vanderbilt University, Green said: “How do you address increased CO2? Plant a tree!” He also stated that increased CO2 is actually beneficial to the environment. He also mentioned carbon capture and sequestration technologies, and a tree-planting non-profit he helped start. 

Electric Transportation

In response to the tax credits for electric vehicles in the Inflation Reduction Act Green said: “70% of the people who currently get a tax credit, aren’t going to get a tax credit. So this whole notion of trying to incentivize people to move from fossil fuels to electric, now it’s a huge disincentive.” 

Energy Equity and Energy Burden

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High-Risk Energy: Coal, Nuclear, Oil, Gas

Green owns stock in several fossil fuel energy companies including USA Compression Partners, PBF Logistics, and Plains All American Pipeline. On Twitter, he said, “The U.S. must become energy independent. → We cannot rely on Russian oil when we have the ability to produce it safely and sustainably back home.”

Voter Information

Early voting in Tennessee runs October 19 – November 3. Election Day for the 2022 midterms will be held November 8, 2022. Find voting information in Tennessee.

Read the Where the Candidates Stand on Climate and Clean Energy Blog Series

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