Where the Candidates Stand On Energy: Republican Nominee for US Senate in Georgia Kelly Loeffler

In this blog, we examine the policies and positions of Kelly Loeffler, incumbent and Republican candidate running for the open (Class III) U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. Also in this series we profile Rev. Raphael Warnock, the Democratic candidate for the same U.S. Senate seat in Georgia.

Guest Blog | November 11, 2020 | Elections, Energy Policy, Georgia

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 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 Kelly Loeffler, incumbent and Republican candidate running for the open (Class III) U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. Also in this series we profile Rev. Raphael Warnock, the Democratic candidate for the same U.S. Senate seat in Georgia. On January 5, 2021, the same day as this U.S. Senate runoff election, there is a separate runoff election being held for Georgia’s other U.S. Senate seat (Class II) between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican David Perdue, which you can read about in our already published “Where the Candidates Stand” blog on those candidates. 

Kelly Loeffler grew up in Illinois on her family’s grain farm, where she worked and was active in 4-H. She earned her bachelors’ degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA from DePaul University. She moved to Georgia in 2002 and started Intercontinental Exchange, a financial services company. Loeffler is also co-owner & co-chairman of the Atlanta Dream of the Women’s National Basketball Association. She was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in January 2020 to fill the remaining term of former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson until a special election could be held. Her campaign website is kellyforsenate.com.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

While we were unable to confirm the candidate’s position specific to renewable energy or energy efficiency in published media, public records, or the campaign website, Loeffler was named to the Georgia Power Board of Directors in 2019 due in part to her past experience “investing and trading within the energy sector and carbon markets.”

Climate Change

While Loeffler has not said much about her official position on climate change during her time in Congress, 10 years ago, while Loeffler was a top executive at Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE), the company advocated for cap-and-trade climate change legislation in Congress. ICE runs financial markets, and between 2003 and 2010, had a partnership with Climate Exchange PLC, which ran Europe’s largest carbon emissions credit market and the Chicago Climate Exchange, the nation’s only voluntary carbon credit market.

When the primary narrowed the special-election field down to two candidates for the January runoff, Loeffler had this to say at her victory party about her stance on the government: “I’m a businesswoman. I’ve lived the American dream. That’s why we have to make sure that we put Americans at the center of our policymaking, not the government, not socialized medicine, not the Green New Deal, not high taxes and excessive regulation that crushes jobs and opportunity that lifts everyone up.”

Electric Transportation

In April 2020, Loeffler announced that the Chatham Area Transit (CAT) has received a $1.8 million grant to purchase new zero-emission electric buses. Loeffler sent a letter in support of the grant to the U.S. Department of Transportation noting “I am glad to see CAT receive this grant which will help purchase three new zero-emission buses that will improve reliability and reduce pollution.”

Energy Equity and Energy Burden

We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on this energy-related issue in published media, public records, or the campaign website.

High-Risk Energy (Coal, Nuclear, Oil, and Gas)

We were unable to confirm the candidate’s position on these energy-related issues in published media, public records, or the campaign website.

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

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