Bernie Sanders takes on energy industry in Houston, not the workers

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at Discovery Green on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Houston. Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at Discovery Green on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Houston. Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Bernie Sanders takes on energy industry in Houston, not the workers 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Sen. Bernie Sanders pledged to thousands of Houstonians on Wednesday that a proposed green energy stimulus package would not burn workers in the region's fossil fuel industry.

About 3,000 people, among them industrial workers, flocked to Discovery Green Park to see the Democratic 2020 contender from Vermont speak for the first time in Space City since his 2016 presidential bid.

He called for dramatic carbon emission cuts with a sweeping shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy with the Green New Deal that progressive lawmakers, such as himself and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have supported.

"I know what city I'm in," Sanders said.

"I also know we're not here to blame the workers in the fossil fuel industry," the senator said. "They are not our enemies, but what our enemy is, is climate change."

SHE THE PEOPLE: Eight Democrats vying for the White House were in Houston on Wednesday. Here’s where they stand in this HoustonChronicle.com report.

The proposed policies, as described by Sanders, would allow workers forced out of the job because of the legislation to receive new job training, education and extended unemployment benefits.

The gesture was not lost on Dan Carr, who brandished a Sanders campaign sign despite working in the chemical manufacturing industry. He agreed that workers, such as those at the site of the fatal KMCO chemical explosion in Crosby, should be supported.

"I think folks at the sites are trying to do well," Carr said. "I think we need to make a change, but we need to be serious about the long term changes."

He also felt that Pasadena ISD trustee Mike Floyd, who was among the speakers who opened for Sanders, earlier demonized the industry.

Floyd pointed to the blue skies over downtown Houston and said a month ago, those same skies were marred by the "toxic death cloud" from the Intercontinental Terminals Company blaze in Deer Park. Floyd also commended Sanders for standing up for tougher environmental and corporate accountability policies to prevent climate change and future industrial accidents.

"It's heart felt for the folks who live close to the plants," Carr said.

Pasadena ISD was among several school districts that closed because of possible air contamination from the ITC fire.

The proposed bill, renewable energy worker Justin Heller said, would need to protect the workforce in order to come to pass.

"I think having a Green New Deal that hurts people makes it impossible," Heller said. "You can't put people out of work."

The message was a new one from when Sanders last spoke in Houston — a rally that drew 5,000 people at the University of Houston. Terri Tilden missed that campaign event and pledged to not make the same mistake.

"If I didn't have a heart attack first," said Tilden, who requested time off from work to see Sanders. She was the first in line at 12:45 p.m., she said.

"The last time, I didn't know he was here until two weeks later," she said.

STAY IN THE KNOW: Get caught up on what's going on around Houston. From sports to news and entertainment, check out the newsletters we're offering.