Climate 411

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.

Also posted in News, Policy / Comments are closed

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.”

Also posted in News / Comments are closed

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.”

Also posted in News, Policy / 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.”

Also posted in News, Policy / Comments are closed

The latest on the climate bill

Climate Progress has a new poll from the Wall Street Journal showing yet again that Americans support a comprehensive climate and energy bill. A thousand people were asked:

“Do you support or oppose an energy proposal designed to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, even if it means an increase in the cost of energy?”

The majority said they would support the proposal. Treehugger also has the details.

Mother Jones highlights the joint statement issued by state and national environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, urging Senators to act on climate.

“With millions of gallons spilled in the Gulf of Mexico and a billion dollars a day going overseas for imported oil, we can no longer afford to delay our transition to clean energy. As President Obama told the nation last Tuesday night, “For decades we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires” and we must not “settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom.” The time has come to act.”

E2 reports that Thursday’s democratic caucus was a huge success.

“’A number of senators said this was the best caucus they’ve ever attended,’ Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said at a press conference after the meeting. ‘It was really very, very powerful. It was inspirational, quite frankly.'”

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New Report Provides Comparison of Energy, Oil Savings and Climate Policies

A new report by Resources for the Future, “Toward a New National Energy Policy: Assessing the Options,” provides a thorough analysis of the various energy, oil savings and climate policies currently under debate. The analysis is especially helpful because it employs an “apples to apples” comparison approach by running differing policies through the same economic model and scoring them on the same two effectiveness metrics:“reduction in barrels of oil consumed and reduction in tons of CO2 emitted.” The model also tallies the projected costs of each policy allowing for a cost-effectiveness analysis.  The report does not allow for political calculations but does provide a good basis for policy comparisons.

Also posted in Economics / Comments are closed