Once upon a time (2015), North Carolina electronics millionaire Jay Faison sold his business and used $165 million to start the ClearPath Foundation. Ever since, there has been a steady stream of stories claiming that Republicans are dropping their (electorally toxic) climate denial, and they all bear the fingerprints of Faison's funding.
What they don't show, however, is any actual progress in getting Republicans to change their pro-polluter, fossil-fuel-loving policies. Because, as they've admitted for anyone who cares to remember, this is only a change in rhetoric, to mask that they're just trying to "double down" on Trumpian energy policies supporting the fossil fuel industry at the climate's expense.
The Houston Chronicle's James Osborne is the latest to take the bait, with a piece suggesting Republicans will pursue "a more nuanced approach" to energy policy now that they'll run the House of Representatives, "a shift away from the climate denialism to which many Republicans had long clung." In its place is, per Osborne, "a more moderate strategy that acknowledges mankind is contributing to climate change."
But just like every single sentence that begins with "I'm not a racist, but…" the GOP's supposedly nuanced and moderate strategy also came with a 'but.' The approach accepts climate change is real "but challenges the notion society can shift rapidly away from oil and other fossil fuels without driving up energy prices."
Oh, okay! Their nuanced new position is exactly the same as their old position, but now they pretend to care that their position is what's known in the scientific literature as wrong.
And what do you know, Osborne quotes Rich Powell, CEO of Jay Faison's ClearPath, saying that "there are still deniers, but they're a smaller and smaller voice every year within the caucus and certainly not in leadership."
Per the guy whose job it is to make Republicans appear less beholden to the fossil fuel industry to win over climate-concerned suburban women voters, "there's been a huge amount of work across this Congress from leader McCarthy on down to try and get a governing framework (on climate change) together should they win the House."
Oh word? For real?
Yes, and, Osborne notes casually as though it doesn't entirely destroy the narrative of the story, "at the center of their strategy is a focus on technologies that allow for the continued use of fossil fuels, such as clean hydrogen fuel and carbon capture."
Don't worry, everyone! Republicans have totally changed. They're not saying climate change is a hoax to justify further government handouts to the fossil fuel industry (unless you count Donald Trump and his fans as Republicans, of course). NO! They're saying climate change is real, which is what justifies further government handouts to the fossil fuel industry.
And that's not all they're saying! How moderate does picking "a fight over 'woke capitalism'" sound? Because that's what Republicans have in store: attacking radical extremist liberal pro-LGBTQ+ brands like Walt Disney. (Also, looting.)
Then there's fighting for the right to lie to the government about permitting issues, because that's on the docket too. Industry/conservative voices are opposing a draft rule proposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that would require a "duty of candor" in filings to make it official that companies shouldn't omit relevant facts or otherwise attempt to mislead regulators.
Republicans are promising to continue lying, inciting more violence against marginalized communities and propping up the fossil fuel industry. And as long as they still have Faison's millions to play with, ClearPath is going to keep trying to convince reporters that a foaming-at-the-mouth Republican saying, "I'm not rabid, but…" means the party is on the path to "a more nuanced approach" and "moderate strategy" for their policy platform of banning water and biting children.
