Proponents Of Green New Deal Struggle To Explain Phase-Out Of Combustion Engine

WASHINGTON, DC — The Green New Deal championed by Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez officially rolled out Thursday afternoon, but some proponents of the bill appeared unable to explain how commercial and private air travel will survive, should the legislation ever become successful. (RELATED: Does Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal Outlaw Every Building In The Country?)

Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal calls to:

“Totally overhaul transportation by massively expanding electric vehicle manufacturing, build charging stations everywhere, build out high-speed rail at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary, create affordable public transit available to all, with goal to replace every combustion-engine vehicle.”

The Daily Caller spoke with Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, a major supporter of the package, about the lack of the combustion engine in the future, as well as how the airline industry would be affected by the plan.

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) hold a news conference for their proposed “Green New Deal” to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

“The legislation calls for the elevation of all technologies which are technologically feasible. So, for example, the airline industry has already cut their greenhouse gases by 80 percent,” Markey said. “They’re investing in new technologies. So, in that one instance, it would call for them to do what is technologically feasible. You know, as we’re moving forward.”

When asked what exactly he meant by “technologically feasible,” he replied, “That’s to be determined over the next 10 years. That’s what the legislation calls for.”

Markey later added, “It doesn’t actually have a specific technology that it talks about.”

The part of the Senate resolution related to vehicles with combustion engines states:

Green New Deal Resolution 2019

Green New Deal Resolution 2019

Democratic Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva mocked critics of the Green New Deal, who said the airline industry would be negatively affected, saying jokingly, “I heard that at the hearing that, you know, the planes will fall from the sky and our cars will stop…”

When pressed further about the package’s phase-out plan of any vehicle with a combustion engine, Grijalva responded, “I didn’t say get rid of airplanes…let’s just say it’s an ambitious (plan).”

The Green New Deal also includes “economic security for all who are unable or unwilling to work.”

When asked about this measure, Grijalva responded, “I support the fact that some communities are going to be impacted and will be impacted more severely by climate change and that there has to be supplemental support to them. And that is based on both location and income. And that’s my priority. The other stuff is not a priority to me.”

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Kerry Picket is a host on SiriusXM Patriot 125