Vice President Kamala Harris sparks controversy with her latest climate advisor appointment, raising concerns about potential gas stove bans and energy policies.
At a Glance
- Kamala Harris hires Camila Thorndike, former Rewiring America official, as climate engagement director
- Thorndike’s background includes advocacy for household electrification and gas stove restrictions
- Appointment draws criticism from energy stakeholders and conservative groups
- Move seen as potential signal of Harris’s alignment with aggressive climate policies
- Concerns raised about impact on energy independence and consumer choice
Harris’s Controversial Climate Hire
Vice President Kamala Harris has stirred up a political firestorm with her recent appointment of Camila Thorndike as “climate engagement director” for her 2024 presidential campaign. Thorndike, a veteran of the far-left climate movement, previously worked at Rewiring America, a nonprofit advocating for the complete electrification of the U.S. economy. This decision has raised eyebrows among energy stakeholders and conservative groups, who view it as a troubling sign of Harris’s potential alignment with anti-fossil fuel activists.
Thorndike’s background includes involvement with Bernie Sanders’ campaign and the Sunrise Movement, further cementing her credentials as a climate activist. Her appointment to Harris’s team has not gone unnoticed, with critics suggesting it could signal a shift towards more aggressive climate actions that may conflict with interests in maintaining energy independence and economic stability.
Kamala Harris's new "climate engagement director" was a top official at the group that pushed to ban gas stoves. story from @ThomasCatenacci https://t.co/kp8IN6OYqM
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) September 6, 2024
The Gas Stove Debate Reignited
At the heart of the controversy is Rewiring America’s central role in efforts to ban gas stoves, citing health concerns. The group has been influential in shaping Biden-Harris administration policies, including elements of the Inflation Reduction Act. Critics argue that this push for electrification and the potential ban on gas stoves represents an overreach of government power and an infringement on consumer choice.
“This is sadly par for the course,” O.H. Skinner from the Alliance for Consumers said, arguing that the left is targeting consumer choices with regulations.
The Department of Energy has already introduced a gas stove efficiency rule, requiring modest improvements by 2028. However, restrictions on gas stoves remain unpopular, with Republican attorneys general and energy advocacy groups viewing the proposal as government overreach into free market territory.
Implications for Harris’s Campaign
The hiring of Thorndike may lead to further scrutiny from pro-fossil fuel groups and the GOP. Jason Isaac from the American Energy Institute expressed concern about the implications of this hiring decision, stating, “If her campaign’s staff is any indication, we can expect Harris to continue pushing policies that harm American energy independence and target the livelihoods of countless workers.”
“We fully expect that a Harris-Walz administration would continue the exact same policies of the Biden-Harris administration,” Kathleen Sgamma said, highlighting the perceived continuity in climate policy approach.
Despite the controversy, Thorndike expressed enthusiasm for her new role, referring to Harris as a “future climate champion-in-chief.” This statement has only fueled concerns among conservatives about the potential for radical climate policies should Harris ascend to the presidency.
