In this blog, we examine the policies and positions of Jon Ossoff, the Democratic nominee for Georgia’s Class II U.S. Senate seat. Also in this series we profile David Perdue, the Republican nominee for Georgia’s Class II U.S. Senate seat. Neither candidate secured 50% of the vote in the November 3, 2020 general election, so they advance to a January 5, 2021 runoff. Note: more than 20 candidates ran in the open primary for Georgia's Class III U.S. Senate seat to fill the remaining two years of former Sen. Johnny Isakson's term. On November 3, 2020, no candidate received more than 50% of the vote and so the top two candidates - Raphael Warnock and Kelly Loeffler - will advance to a run off on January 3, 2021. Profiles of Warnock and Loeffler are also covered in this blog series.
Guest Blog | August 6, 2020 | Elections, Energy Policy, Georgia
This post is part of a series of blogs examining where 2020 Southeastern candidates for state and federal offices 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.
READ THE ‘WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND’ BLOG SERIES
In this blog, we examine the policies and positions of Jon Ossoff, the Democratic nominee for Georgia’s Class II U.S. Senate seat. Also in this series we profile David Perdue, the Republican nominee for Georgia’s Class II U.S. Senate seat. Neither candidate secured 50% of the vote in the November 3, 2020 general election, so they advance to a January 5, 2021 runoff.
Note: more than 20 candidates candidates ran in the open primary for Georgia’s Class III U.S. Senate seat to fill the remaining two years of former Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term. On November 3, 2020, no candidate received more than 50% of the vote and so the top two candidates – Raphael Warnock and Kelly Loeffler – will advance to a run off on January 3, 2021. Profiles of Warnock and Loeffler are also covered in this blog series.
In 2017, Ossoff was the Democratic candidate for the 2017 special election in Georgia’s 6th congressional district and has been the managing director and CEO of Insight TWI, an investigative television production company, since 2013. Ossoff earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a Master’s of Science from the London School of Economics.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
In an interview with CNBC, Ossoff said “I will fight for a massive investment in clean and renewable energy and transitioning away from carbon-emitting energy production.” Ossoff’s campaign website states one of the reasons he is running is to “deliver historic investments in clean energy and infrastructure.” He continues on his website to say, “We can meet our energy needs without destroying the environment – but only by rapidly transitioning to clean energy sources, dramatically reducing carbon emissions, and increasing energy efficiency.” Ossoff also stated on his website that he plans to “reverse the Trump Administration’s rollbacks of clean air, clean water, and fuel economy standards – and then to strengthen them.”
Climate Change
Ossoff states his concerns about climate change on his campaign website: “We face an urgent environmental crisis as out-of-control pollution is fast changing the climate, destroying ecosystems, killing off species, and damaging human health.”
Electric Transportation
We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on this energy-related issue in published media, public records, or the campaign website.
Energy Equity and Energy Burden
When asked about what changes should be made for our health-care system to prepare for the impending climate crisis, Ossoff responded by saying, “The evidence is clear and has been clear for decades that if we don’t get greenhouse gas emissions under control and if we don’t decarbonize energy production, then climate change poses a dire threat to our health, to our economy, and to our security… I will fight for dramatic Medicaid expansion to break the link between health and wealth.”
High-Risk Energy (Coal, Nuclear, Oil, Gas)
On his campaign website Ossoff states, “The scientific consensus is unambiguous: if pollution from fossil fuel combustion is not controlled, the consequences will be dire.” Ossoff has condemned fossil fuels and plans to reduce carbon emissions.
If you are interested in learning more about where your state’s candidates for federal and state office stand on energy, click here to access the entire 2020 blog series. The voter registration deadline for the U.S. Senate runoff elections in Georgia is December 7 and early voting begins December 14, 2020. Election Day for all runoff elections is January 5, 2021. For voting information in Georgia, including updates about the impact of COVID-19 on voting, click here.
READ THE ‘WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND’ BLOG SERIES
#CandidatesOnEnergy2020
This blog was researched and co-written by Suzanne Hollis, a rising junior at the University of North Carolina studying environmental science quantitative energy systems and physics and by Jennifer Rennicks, former Senior Director of Policy & Communications at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.