Since arriving in Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) has created waves with her progressive ideologies and proposed legislation, most prominently the Green New Deal, co-introduced by Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). The deal has two main aims: to move away from fossil fuels and to create jobs related to research, implementation and production of clean energy sources. The possibility of job creation was greatly stressed by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) in an interview with Bold TV.
“[Ocasio-Cortez] has gotten the entire of Congress’ attention on the Green New Deal…She has been bold in ways others haven’t,” Khanna said of the freshman congresswoman. The congressman said the Green New Deal as “a proposal that could help create millions of jobs, in helping create the new smart grade, helping create electric vehicles, bringing advanced manufacturing, finding clean technology.”
Critics have argued that the 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez does not have the relevant experience to lead such a big movement because she is only a freshman in Congress without any experience in clean energy policy implementation. Democratic 2020 presidential candidates have been quick to endorse the proposal, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
In addition to creating new jobs, the Green New Deal seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero in 10 years. Ocasio-Cortez has said that the Federal Reserve could extend credit to power these projects, just as it did for the New Deal after World War II.
Does funding the Green New Deal come with financial risk? Experiments in Europe have cost tax payers billions of dollars a year in fossil fuel subsidies. However, Khanna highlighted the successes achieved in California and Iowa so far. Both states have achieved clean energy levels of 33 percent and 40 percent respectively.
“We can be making investments that are smart in electric vehicles, and smart trade, also being consistent with job creation.” said Khanna.
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