Companies extracting oil, gas and coal from U.S. federal lands will see royalties due to the government increase if Hillary Clinton becomes the country’s next president, the candidate’s campaign said. The current 12.5-percent rate would be raised to be in line with the 16 percent to almost 19 percent that some states already impose, in a promised move the Clinton campaign described as only “fair”. Beyond that, Clinton would also determine new oil leasing on federal lands based on how fast renewable energy is developing—presumably to ensure that renewables outpace oil and gas. In other words, renewables would be given preference on federal lands. It goes far beyond what President Barack Obama has done. Clinton has discussed similar policy changes in the past, but this is the first time she has provided specific details of the proposal. Environmental groups had been lobbying the likely Democratic nominee to […]