O'Rourke in Iowa

I’m at the @dmpl, where Democratic presidential candidate @BetoORourke is scheduled to hold a roundtable discussion about climate change with local stakeholders + renewable energy leaders at 1 p.m. Climate change has been the focus of this trip. #iacaucus https://t.co/6xHh64GBzJ

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

O’Rourke is starting off the event with a discussion of his recent visit to Pacific Junction, which was devastated by flooding earlier this year and is still recovering. #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

Now he’s tying the flooding in Iowa to floods in Texas and droughts and wild fires in California.

“We are seeing climate change in action right now.” #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

O’Rourke is going into the details of his climate plan: Net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and halfway there by 2030. #iacaucushttps://t.co/TUamRmUZ7A

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

O’Rourke says his plan will include “listening to, learning from and following the lead from farmers who can play such a fundamental role in helping us meet this challenge.” #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

Channing Dutton, a lawyer and environmental activist, is asking @BetoORourke a question: “Is 2050 too late?” #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

.@BetoORourke is answering the question about whether a goal of net zero emissions by 2050 is too late.

“2050 has to be the absolute backstop. If we can achieve this before that, we absolutely must.” #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

O’Rourke says a voter told him Kansas now generates the most wind energy as a share of its total power. Panelists here tell him that’s right.

“Well, Iowa needs to catch up,” @BetoORourke says, to laughs. #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

O’Rourke says it’s interesting to see two states that are not reliably blue, Kansas and Iowa, fighting to be first in wind.

“I think we can show that this cuts across party lines, this cuts across geography, any of the other differences that might otherwise define us.” #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019

.@BetoORourke says we need to make sure communities that are hurt most by climate change, farmers, low-income communities and minorities, are put first in terms of who benefits from renewable energy and new jobs. #iacaucus

— Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) May 6, 2019