The NRDC Action Fund Tuesday endorsed Democratic presidential candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, marking its first ever endorsement. “Hillary Clinton understands the environmental challenges America faces, and her approach to solving them is grounded in the possibility and promise our democracy affords us,” the organization, which is affiliated with but separate from the Natural Resources Defense Council, announced in a release.
Under Clinton’s energy plan, more than 500 million solar panels would be installed across the country by 2021, and by 2027 the nation would generate enough clean, renewable energy to power every home. “She understands the enormous potential of the growing clean energy economy, which has already created millions of jobs and is helping end our addiction to fossil fuels. We will fight with her to expand access to renewable energy from the sun and wind, and put Americans to work transforming our country,” the release says.
The organization also took the opportunity to warn against a Trump presidency, noting a recent speech by the Republican candidate in which he said he would remove hurdles for fossil energy use in the U.S. and would “cancel” the international Paris climate change agreement. “If he wins, Donald Trump’s plan for his first 100 days would take us back 100 years. His nomination by the Republican Party puts one of the most anti-environment presidential candidates in history a step closer to the Oval Office,” the release says.
Clinton has nearly clinched the Democratic nomination, needing only 71 more delegates to do so. Monday’s endorsement did not mention contender Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “In 160 days, voters will face a choice between two major party nominees in the 2016 U.S. presidential contest: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump,” the announcement said. The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
