Climate 411

A note from our interns-send us your letters!

As interns for the National Climate Campaign, one of our responsibilities is to deliver letters from constituents directly to their senators.  We go to Capitol Hill everyday, carrying hundreds of letters and petitions, hoping to pass on the word to Senators that citizens in their states support comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation.

We all love being a part of this awesome process.   We know that people in the environmental community support a strong, comprehensive clean energy bill but we have been blown away with the influx of letters from Americans from all walks of life calling for clean energy.

Single moms, factory workers and concerned students alike are writing in to tell their senators that clean energy and climate are important to them.  And we’re just happy to be able to pass their sentiments along. Here is just one of the great letters we have come across so far:

Time is running out with the Senate vote set for mid-July.

Please go here for details on how to get your letters into Senators hands ASAP.

-The National Climate Campaign Interns: Olivia Rogan, Lian Han, Kyle Hertzberg and Anna Pickren

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June 28th, 2010 – The voices of a new clean energy future

ToledoBlade.com“Climate for change?”

Editorial

“Despite all the critics, the time is ripe to take comprehensive action on climate and energy.”

“Every day the Gulf of Mexico oil spill continues is a reminder of the perils of our addiction to carbon-based energy sources. Passing a bill will be tough, but doing nothing will be tougher on the nation.”

The Voices of a New Clean Energy Future is an ongoing series that draws attention to thoughtful pieces from individuals who understand the importance of passing comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation – business leaders, politicians, policy experts, and concerned citizens like you. EDF is proud to highlight their voices and contributions to the climate and energy debate.

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Latest on the climate bill and new economic study of ‘energy-only’ approach

On E2, Senate Democrats are ready to get to work on a comprehensive energy plan. This news

“comes a day after a Senate Democratic caucus meeting that, according to several lawmakers, revealed a strong interest among members in pressing ahead with legislation this year to boost alternative energy and reduce emissions.”

E2 also has a new study by the Center for American Progress warning that an “energy-only” bill will increase the budget deficit while a comprehensive approach would actually reduce the deficit. Study author and senior fellow Daniel J. Weiss notes that

“proposed global warming legislation…would actually generate enough revenue to reduce the deficit, prevent major price increases on consumers, and still invest in clean energy technologies. These bills would generate billions of dollars in revenue from the auction of ‘pollution allowances’ that the largest emitters must hold for every ton of greenhouse gas pollution emitted annually.”

Green Inc. asks “Is it energy’s turn now?” The answer seems to be yes, especially after the successful Democratic caucus on Thursday and the willingness of the President to throw his support behind the issue.

“President Obama hoped to give the matter a boost this week by calling a bipartisan group of senators to the White House for a pep talk, but he canceled at the last minute to deal with a crisis in his military leadership in Afghanistan. The president is now planning to host the energy meeting on Tuesday.”

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June 26th, 2010 – The voices of a new clean energy future

Winston-Salem Journal – “At first light

Editorial

“We can’t condemn the suppliers, but over time we can change the economic model. The notion of clean energy now holds a whole new meaning. It’s time to embrace it.”

The Ledger – “On Global Warming, Listen to NASA Rather Than Those Who Profit

By Debra Frances, resident of Lakeland, Florida

“Listening to ClimateDepot.com and Exxon Mobil on global warming is akin to listening to big tobacco in the 1980s tell us smoking is harmless…. I would rather listen to NASA any day. NASA reported that April this year was the hottest April on record. NASA says, “It is nearly certain that a new 12-month global temperature record will be set in 2010.” The last 12-month record was 2007. These record-breaking temperatures are coming thick and fast. We can discuss global means and record sets, but the overall trend is apparent.”

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Clean Energy Pioneers: Building a Stronger Western Economy

This post was written by Dan Grossman, Rocky Mountain Regional Director and Senior Counsel to the Land Conservation and Wildlife Program at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Westerners are pioneering a new frontier of economic opportunity through homegrown clean energy solutions. The Clean Energy Pioneers website chronicles the people, businesses and communities across the intermountain West who are laying the foundation for the nation’s clean energy economy.

A new publication out this week, Clean Energy Pioneers: Building a Stronger Western Economy [PDF], compiles some of these stories. Here are just a few:

The release of these inspiring stories coincides with the Western Governors’ Association annual meeting this weekend, where the governors will be gathering to celebrate “100 Years of Common Ground” in working together to protect the region’s natural resources.

Not only will clean energy conserve our natural resources and improve our air quality, it will also boost our local economies and strengthen our energy security.  According to Rich O’Connell, Director of the Logan County, Colo. Economic Development Corp and one of the pioneers quoted in the report, “Wind energy generates income for families and it grows the tax base to build roads, bridges, schools and social services.”

The West is investing in its future by establishing clean energy education and training programs at community colleges to help create the workforce of tomorrow.  New Mexico and Colorado are each home to over a half dozen of such educational centers.

As Tyson Ramseier, a pioneer featured in the report who will graduate in May 2011 from the Wind Energy Technician program at Colorado’s Northeastern Junior College, so cogently put it,

“[Renewable energy] will not only improve the economy by generating cleaner and cheaper electricity, but it also provides jobs as well.”

Clean Energy Pioneers:  Building a Stronger Western Economy complements the Clean Energy Pioneers multimedia project documented by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Western Resource Advocates and Environmental Defense Fund.

Download Clean Energy Pioneers: Building a Stronger Western Economy [PDF].

Posted in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Jobs, News / Comments are closed

June 25th, 2010 – The voices of a new clean energy future

The Times Ledger – “Country’s security dependent upon energy legislation

By Joseph O. Monitt, executive director of the Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council

“We must let our elected officials, specifically Sen. Arlen Specter, of Philadelphia, and Sen. Bob Casey, of Scranton, know that we need them to be leaders in passing strong climate and energy legislation, not simply energy legislation, and that we need it now. We cannot afford to wait for another environmental disaster to occur in order to move forward, toward a clean energy economy in America.”

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