Alabamans are Sending an Anti-Fossil Fuel, Climate Activist to the Senate

Democrat Doug Jones who defeated Republican Roy Moore during Tuesday’s special Senate election in Alabama campaigned on a decidedly anti-fossil fuel message that included support for the Paris climate accord.

Allegations of child molestation against Moore drove most of the dialogue during the campaign, which overshadowed Doug Jones positions on energy. Jones published his environmental positions on his website but did little to publicize them in Republican-leaning Alabama.

“The consequences of our unchecked use of fossil fuels for our planet and our health have been clear for decades. Period. Clean air and clean water are not controversial,” the website states, adding that Alabama must shy away from coal production and promote green energy investments.

Jones also campaigned on inching the U.S. back toward the Paris climate accord, a non-binding deal President Donald Trump believes hurts American businesses and does little to affect climate change. The president pulled the country out of the agreement earlier this year.

“By withdrawing from the Paris Accords, the President has moved us further from the international community. I know that we can provide economic prosperity to our citizens AND be a beacon of democracy and human rights for the world,” Jones’ website states.

He emphasized that he’s the grandson of a coal miner and empathizes with those in the industry who have been left unemployed in Alabama, which as of 2015 was the nation’s 15^th biggest coal producer, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Trump formally endorsed Moore who was largely skeptical about the causes of global warming and was a supporter of coal producers in the state.

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