Hillary Clinton recently unveiled a sweeping proposal to modernize North America’s energy infrastructure and to forge a continent-wide climate pact.
Among other initiatives, she would bolster pipeline safety by instituting the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations on automatic or remote-controlled shut off valves and leak detection standards. Pointing to the boom in US oil and gas production, Clinton is pledging that by the end of her first term, in 2021, the US would repair or replace thousands of miles of pipelines to improve safety and reduce methane risks.
Clinton has also called for creation of a new national infrastructure bank. She would award competitive grants to states and cities that invest in ways to reduce carbon emissions and help local communities fix pipeline leaks. More broadly, Clinton would open negotiations with Mexico and Canada with hopes of creating a new North American climate compact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This would include standardizing vehicle fuel efficiency standards, establishing continent-wide methane goals and targeting clean energy technologies and sources.