As many on the left expected, presidential hopeful Joe Biden is tacking to the center on climate in an attempt to appeal to blue-collar workers and the energy sector, setting the stage for a fierce debate among the Democratic primary contenders over pipelines and the future of the nation’s vast fossil fuel reserves.

On Friday, a Reuters report citing Biden campaign advisers suggested that the former vice president’s campaign is crafting a “middle ground” climate policy that would embrace natural gas, nuclear energy and technology that would reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel energy sources, rather than moving away from fossil fuels altogether.

In contrast, a number of high-profile Democrats have cosponsored…