The first of the back-to-back Democratic debates in July included spin from the candidates on gun violence, Republican tax cuts, climate change, manufacturing jobs and more.
FactChecking the Second Democratic Debate
Issues: green jobs
Jay Inslee’s Green Jobs Claim
In an op-ed and at a town hall, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has claimed that the top two fastest-growing jobs in the United States are in clean energy: solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine technicians. That’s not the case — at least not yet.
Al Gore Cherry-Picks Green Jobs Data
Former Vice President Al Gore said there has been an “88 percent growth in green jobs, year over year, over the past year.” That’s misleading. Gore cited data on job openings, not actual jobs, and the data was for two quarters, not a full year, and more than a year old.
PAC’s Email Spreads Energy Conspiracy Theory
In a fundraising email, a conservative PAC claims President Barack Obama is raising natural gas prices to pay for failed green energy companies. But the letter offers only false claims and twisted facts to support this conspiracy theory.
The email says Solar Trust of America, a now-bankrupt company, received “the second largest loan ever handed out by the Department of Energy.” STA never took a government-backed dime. The firm was conditionally approved for the financing, but ultimately turned it down.