Climate 411

On Grist, Frank Senso asks why the Gulf oil spill hasn’t done more to advance comprehensive climate and energy legislation. “A few weeks ago we talked to John Pemberton of Southern Company, who says that instead of furthering the debate over a climate bill, the oil spill as stalled it. The emotional power of the disaster will make congressional members less likely to compromise and take “small steps forward”: “We still have a long term energy debate in congress that is not going to solved with short term political decisions.”

Over at Treehugger, Brian Merchant speculates if utilities are supporting climate legislation in hopes of getting trading their support for exclusion from new EPA Clean Air Act regulations. Needless to say, he is opposed to this deal: “Giving the biggest, dirtiest polluters in the nation a license to dodge regulations in exchange for that is a tradeoff that’s simply not worth making.”

Christian Parenti of The Nation has a (lengthy but) good piece on Huffington Post stating that “the fastest, simplest way” to spur innovation and growth in clean energy and technology and away from fossil fuels, “is to reorient government procurement… to use the government’s vast spending power to create a market for green energy. After all, the government didn’t just fund the invention of the microprocessor; it was also the first major consumer of the device.”

Pocono Record- “It’s time to end our oil addiction”

By Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network

“We need a structural shift to make our economy oil independent. This starts at the grassroots level by mobilizing our family, friends and neighbors to support federal, state and local solutions to our oil dependence. We need a clean energy and climate proposal that is comprehensive and ambitious enough to incentivize real energy independence.”

“We need to make a statement to the oil companies and the government that American society can no longer afford to depend heavily on oil.”

NY Times- Editorial: “A Tale of Two Targets”

“The Senate spent this week searching for ways to water down the modest greenhouse gas emissions targets in the House-passed energy bill, which opponents claim — wrongly and shortsightedly — will injure the economy.”

“Nobody expects the Senate to go as far as the European ministers advocate. But there is no excuse for the Senate’s backward march. We all live on the same planet, and it is getting warmer.”

The Voices of a New Clean Energy Future is a series 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.

Politico– “The Science behind Climate Science”

By James McCarthy, Lisa Graumlich, Chris Field, and James Hurrell

“Today, a large body of evidence has been collected to support the broad scientific understanding that global climate warming, as evident these last few decades, is unprecedented for the past 1000 years — and this change is due to human activities.”

“The biggest question is what choices we and our children should make about energy use. The more dependent we are on carbon-emitting energy sources, the more our climate will change.”

The Huffington Post– “The Dance of Renewable Energy”

By Allan Gerson, lawyer and former Counsel to the US Delegation to the UN

“Dependency on oil also affects the ability of the West to adjust its foreign policy at will. The good news is that today the emergence of a human dimension in the quest for a more humble and sustainable lifestyle is leading to a readjustment of energy dependency on the macro-scale.” 

“The stage is set for a more graceful, less dominating dance between man and nature. All it takes is the courage to cut the habit of dependency and embrace a more natural approach. As the 2010 Assilah conference pointed out, if man makes that fateful decision the scientific and engineering know-how is there to enable him to make the leap.”

The Voices of a New Clean Energy Future is a series 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.

This post is by Dan Grossman, EDF’s Rocky Mountain Regional Director.

You turn on a tap, and water pours out.  You decide on the temperature – hot  or cold.  You decide on the speed – fast or slow.  This is not a luxury, just an activity of daily living.

In Boulder, we are studying how to keep that water flowing in the future  –  and we’re paying close attention to federal clean energy and climate legislation because it can protect water in Western states.

A new report documents more evidence that clean energy and climate policy is also smart policy for water management in the West.

The link between energy, climate and water is not new, but droughts are now a daily reminder of the urgency to connect the dots with federal policy.

The report’s release coincides with the U.S. Senate’s return to Washington to take up energy and climate legislation this week.

Clean energy sources emit fewer greenhouse gas pollutants and save water, which means more water for Western cities, agriculture, businesses and recreation.   National climate policy will add weight to the worthy measures that westerners are already pursuing.

Repeat after me: clean energy and climate policy is smart water policy.  Now pass that message along to everyone you know.

Richmond Times-Dispatch– “Today’s Political Leaders Face Choices”

By Jay Fisette, Times-Dispatch Columnist

“According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, to spur job creation the U.S. must invest more and compete for a share of the potential $500 billion global clean energy market.”

“And last month, after all of their work, the senators [Kerry and Lieberman] introduced the American Power Act, receiving unprecedented support from industry and the environmental community — for taking the first serious step toward passing legislation that will reduce America’s dependence on oil and boost production of clean domestic power.”

The Huffington Post– “Owning Up to Our Oil Addiction”

By Tom Schey

“Americans have had a longstanding, reckless love affair with their autos. It’s an abusive relationship that has almost single-handedly dismantled one of our strongest and — at one time — most prideful industries.”

“The time is now. If the calamity in the Gulf doesn’t paint a clear enough picture and sense of urgency, what the hell will? Enough of watered down politics; this is a matter of survival for generations to come. Let your congressman/senator know. It’s time to be bold; enough with the compromises.”

 The Voices of a New Clean Energy Future is a series 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.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune– “Put drilling ban on ballot”

By Heather Dunhill, columnist for Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“To be sure, drilling fever has subsided in the wake of the April 20 BP well blowout, which occurred in federal waters 50 miles off Louisiana. The oil disaster has fouled shores in the Gulf states; caused untold damage to the environment and the regional economy; and tarnished faith in the safety of offshore oil exploration.”

“A constitutional amendment against drilling has value. But leaders, lawmakers and voters must keep pushing for real alternatives to oil.”

Louisiana Weekly– “Demand a new energy policy and climate bill”

By Madeline Ostrander

“Today, the destructive effects of our fossil fuel economy on our coasts and rivers have never been clearer.”

“Most Americans can recite the reasons why we need to move away from the fossil fuel economy — climate change, dwindling supplies of easy-to-access oil, dependence on foreign sources of energy — but much of the damage caused by our fossil-fuel addiction is hidden from view.”

The Voices of a New Clean Energy Future is a series 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.