While discussing the 2024 budget request for the Department of Energy on Wednesday, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy grilled Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk for not knowing the answer to a $50 trillion dollar question.
From The Daily Caller:
Kennedy noted the budget requests a 38% increase in green energy funding while cutting nuclear energy funding with barely an increase fossil fuel energy. Kennedy then asked Turk for an estimate of how much it would cost to be carbon neutral by 2050, with Turk refusing to provide a number. Kennedy first said Turk’s colleagues have presented a figure in the range of $50 trillion before asking how much would temperatures be affected by that massive spending.
“If you could answer my question: if we spend $50 trillion to become carbon neutral in the United States of America by 2050, you’re the deputy secretary of energy, give me your estimate of how much that is going to reduce world temperature.”
“So first of all it’s a net cost, it’s what benefits we’re having by getting our act together and reducing all of those climate benefits, we’re seeing –” Turk said before Kennedy stopped him.
“I’m gonna ask again, maybe I’m not being clear: if we spent $50 trillion to become carbon neutral by 2050 in the United States of America, how much is that going to reduce world temperatures?”
“This is a global problem so we need to reduce our emissions and we need to do everything we can –”
“How much if we do our part is it going to reduce world temperatures?”
“We’re 13% of global emissions–”
“You don’t know do you?” Kennedy asked.
“You can do the math–” Turk answered.
“You don’t know do ya Mr. Secretary?” Kennedy again asked.
Watch the clip above.