When it comes to advancing our clean energy economy, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senator J.D. Vance have diametrically different records. Walz has championed clean energy and highlighted the economic benefits clean energy expansion creates for Minnesotans. In contrast, Vance spread misinformation that clean energy was a “scam” and repeatedly made unfounded claims that the clean energy plan hurt America’s economy, despite companies announcing plans to create over 330,000 clean energy jobs since its passage.

The Contrast: Clean Energy

Walz has a long record of championing clean energy and frequently promoting the economic benefits of clean energy expansion. As Governor, Walz signed legislation to establish a carbon-free electricity standard in Minnesota and supported efforts to ensure all Minnesotans benefit from the new job opportunities in the clean energy economy. While serving in the House of Representatives, Walz supported a range of clean energy expansion efforts, introducing legislation to ensure all Americans benefit from clean energy’s cost savings. Senator JD Vance, on the other hand, repeatedly spread misinformation about renewable energy, including claims that wind energy couldn’t charge cell phones. In addition to parroting unfounded claims that clean energy hurt the economy, Vance pushed for repealing the clean energy plan – which has already spurred $372 billion in investment and created over 330,000 clean energy jobs across the country.

Walz Celebrated Clean Energy’s Economic Benefits

• Walz has long argued clean energy is good for business, noting that tens of thousands of Minnesotans work in the clean energy industry.
• In 2024, Walz announced $2.7 million in grants to build career pathways for people of color and low-income Minnesotans for union trade jobs in construction, clean energy and energy efficiency.
• In 2018, then-Congressman Walz cosponsored the Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act, which would require the Department of Energy to provide grants for projects that improve the energy efficiency of small- or medium-sized manufacturers and develop technologies to reduce electricity or gas use.

Walz Ensured Americans Accessed Lower Energy Costs Through Clean Energy

• In 2014, Walz introduced the American Energy Opportunity Act, which would extend tax credits for renewable energy and electric vehicles, and tax deductions for energy efficiency upgrades.
• In 2008, Walz cosponsored legislation encouraging Americans to use their rebate checks to invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient upgrades.

Walz Supported Clean Energy

• In 2023, Walz signed legislation that established a carbon-free electricity standard. The law to move to carbon-free electricity began at 80% of retail sales for public utility customers in 2030 and increased to 100% by 2040. 
• In 2024, Walz signed legislation to accelerate renewable energy projects and move Minnesota utilities to 100% clean energy generation by 2040.
• In 2017, Walz opposed Trump’s executive order rolling back the Clean Power Plan, saying the order failed “to keep us in the driver’s seat” and denied “the very existence of climate change.”
• In the House of Representatives, Walz was a stalwart supporter of clean energy. In 2014 and again in 2016, Walz cosponsored the Renewable Fuel Utilization, Expansion, and Leadership Act (REFUEL Act), which would establish a grant program to fund renewable and alternative energy infrastructure projects. In 2010, Walz cosponsored the Renewable Energy Expansion Act to extend and expand renewable energy tax incentives. 
• In 2007, Walz cosponsored legislation to establish a federal renewable energy portfolio standard for electric utilities, which specified a schedule for increased power generation from renewable energy sources.

Vance Supported Repealing The Clean Energy Plan, Which He Falsely Claimed Hurt The American Economy

• Vance said he wanted to eliminate “a lot” from the clean energy plan, including support for the nation’s booming clean energy industry.
• Vance also claimed the clean energy plan would “make us all poorer.”
  • Vance falsely claimed Harris’ clean energy plan caused energy costs to increase by 28.5 percent and have made Americans “poorer.”
• Vance incorrectly stated that clean energy made Americans “more vulnerable to extreme weather.” 
• Vance falsely claimed the Biden-Harris administration’s clean energy investments came “at the expense of the industrial heartland.”
• Vance claimed that Harris’ clean energy plan has caused manufacturing companies to ship jobs to China and increased oil and gas prices.
  • Since the clean energy plan was signed, companies have announced more than 330,000 jobs, and while Harris has been in office, the U.S. has gained almost 800,000 manufacturing jobs. 
• Vance attacked Harris for voting to pass the clean energy plan, and “destroying energy jobs.” 
• Vance has repeatedly said Harris has “gone to war against American energy,” and claimed she was “dedicated” to destroying the energy and manufacturing economy. He claimed the Biden-Harris administration’s budget proposal would shift money towards clean energy and cause 660,000 job losses. 

Vance Falsely Claimed Clean Energy Wasn’t Reliable

• Vance was a vocal critic of clean energy and repeatedly called renewable energy a “scam.”
• Vance alleged that Harris’ environmental policies have shuttered coal and natural gas plants and halted transmission infrastructure while promoting “less reliable” energy sources like wind and solar. 
• Vance criticized wind and solar energy, falsely arguing that neither could meet electricity demand. He falsely claimed that wind turbines couldn’t generate enough electricity to charge cell phones.

The Contrast: Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Governor Walz has a strong record of supporting electric vehicles, highlighting their role in lowering climate pollution. Under his leadership, Minnesota invested over $216 million in EV charging networks, provided $15 million in rebates for first-time EV owners, adopted stringent cleaner car standards, and set a goal for 20 percent of the state’s cars to be electric by 2030. In the Senate,  Vance introduced legislation that would repeal subsidies for EV purchases and replace them with tax credits for gas-powered vehicles. Vance often repeats false claims that EV investments would destroy the auto industry and only benefit Chinese companies, despite automakers saying U.S. manufacturers would be outcompeted without federal support.

Walz Supported EVs And Clean Transportation

• In 2023, Walz signed a bill into law that provided over $216 million to support statewide EV charging and over $15 million in rebates for first-time EV purchases.
• Walz supported measures in Minnesota’s clean cars standard that encouraged electric vehicle expansion, and his climate plan sought to increase electric vehicles to 20% share by 2030. 
• In 2022, Walz rolled out a climate action plan with the goals of increasing the share of electric vehicles to 20 percent by 2030, slashing carbon pollutionby 50% by 2030, and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 
• Minnesota became the first state in the Midwest to adopt more stringent pollution standards for cars and trucks, which will reduce carbon pollution by 2 million tons by 2030. 
• Walz signed legislation to reduce carbon intensity in transportation fuels by 100% by 2050.

Vance Wanted To Repeal The Clean Energy Plan’s EV Tax Credits

• In 2022, Vance said the clean energy plan subsidized rich people to buy EVs while harming Ohio’s auto industry.
• In September 2023, Vance introduced legislation to replace the clean energy plan’s EV subsidies with subsidies for U.S.-manufactured gas-powered vehicles.
• Vance claimed Harris raised taxes to give to “Chinese companies” building electric vehicles.
  • If a Trump-Vance administration is elected, they have promised to gut the clean energy plan – including investment in battery manufacturing – putting hundreds of thousands of good-paying, American manufacturing jobs at risk and guaranteeing that China dominates the electric vehicle industry.

Vance Claimed EVs Destroyed The Auto Industry

• In 2023, Vance tweeted that “the premature transition to EVs is destroying the auto industry in our country.” In the same tweet, Vance praised President Trump for “saying what needs to be said” about the EV transition.
  • Trump is openly saying we should let China win the race and then inviting them to come build their auto plants here in America.
• Vance said the EV transition amounted to the “political leadership’s green war” on the auto industry and its workers.
• Vance falsely claimed the clean energy plan was part of a wider push to replace gas-powered cars with electric vehicles. 
• Vance said Harris’ clean car rule would ship American manufacturing jobs to China. Vance said that Harris wanted to make “every trucker” drive an electric vehicle. 

• During Trump’s presidency, America lost more than 86,000 auto jobs, including 10,000 jobs that were outsourced to other countries.