Democrats Energy Platform Remains Vague on Policy Specifics

The Democratic party released a platform Aug. 18 promising a continuation of Biden administration energy policies, Platts said.

• However, proposals within the platform remain vague and will maintain uncertainty as to a President Harris’ approach to fossil fuels.
• Conversely, The Republicans’ 2024 platform supported "terminating the Socialist Green New Deal" and vowed to "lift restrictions" on energy production.
• On oil and gas, the Democrats’ platform emphasised efforts to prevent “price gauging” by energy companies.
• The platform also highlighted Biden’s release from the SPR, vowing to keep that option open. Biden released 180m bbl in 2022 and subsequently repurchased 45m bbl.
• It also praised Biden for increasing oil, gas, and clean energy production.
• The platform promised to eliminate billions of dollars of “unfair” oil and gas subsidies.
• However, there was no mention on more contentious topics such as phasing out oil and gas drilling or limiting fossil fuel infrastructure approvals.