Climate 411

New TV Ads Fight Misinformation From Big Polluters

Environmental Defense Action Fund’s latest TV ads are setting the record straight about capping carbon pollution.

The ads counter misleading claims from oil companies and special interests — and let viewers know that we can reduce pollution while also creating new jobs if we pass the clean energy bill.

As EDAF’s Keith Gaby said:

Businesses, citizens and environmental groups around the country are working hard to support Congress in this effort, and the biggest obstacle they face is that big polluters are spreading outright lies. It’s time they stopped making up facts.

The ads are already running in more than a dozen TV markets around America.

Posted in Climate Change Legislation / Comments are closed

Duke Energy Bails Out of Coal Industry Group

Last time the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) was in the news it was for a scandal involving forged “constituent” letters urging members of Congress to vote against the clean energy bill.

Today, ACCCE got more bad news (which is good news for the rest of us): Duke Energy is dropping out. Check out some of the articles about the politics behind their decision:

Duke has already severed ties with another of its former coalitions — the National Association of Manufacturers.

Duke is a member of USCAP, which is fighting for passage of clean energy legislation and a cap on carbon pollution. As a fellow member of USCAP, we here at EDF are happy to see Duke chose to stick with the right side in this debate.

Posted in News / Comments are closed

America’s Veterans Speak Up for Clean Energy

America’s military leaders and veterans have been telling us for a while that developing clean energy is key to our national security. Now there’s a new voice that’s spreading that message.

The Partnership for a Secure America will host an event next Tuesday in Washington, DC, to call for bipartisan action and a “unified American strategy” on climate change, energy and national security. Here are the event details, and more about who’s involved.

Posted in Partners for Change / Read 1 Response

Auto Labels: Grades Make Consumer Sense

Courtesy of EPA

EPA Label Option 1

This week, U.S. EPA proposed something that could change the way consumers spend car-buying dollars—labels that make sense.

For 30 years, the federal government has required new cars and light trucks on sales lots to carry labels that show consumers the miles-per-gallon performance of that particular car or truck model. These labels have been somewhat helpful, but they don’t provide as much information as this consumer, at least, would like.

Now the agency is preparing to improve the label performance. It has unveiled two proposed approaches. Both of the new labels would tell consumers how the vehicle stacks up against others for greenhouse gas emissions and other tailpipe pollution. Both of the proposed labels also report how much it costs to fuel the vehicle each year. Only one of the labels—dubbed Label Option 1 by EPA—provides two other very important pieces of information: It also tells how much a consumer will save in fuel costs over five years, and it provides a letter grade that reflects how the vehicle performs on tailpipe emissions and efficiency.

Think about how this grading system could affect you. You could shop for a car without bringing along back issues of Consumer Reports or reams of computer printouts about auto efficiency comparisons. You could quickly scan the field and go for the A and B cars and avoid the D vehicles that spew more pollution and will cost more to fuel.  If you do happen to want a bit more information than is available on the label, EPA has taken care of that too.  Each label contains a QR code that allows many smart phones to access a web page where buyers can compare cars and personalize estimates based on their own driving habits. Department of Energy also provides some really helpful information on its fuel economy website, fueleconomy.gov.

Great idea? We think so. But the auto industry is already complaining about the grading system, trying to compare it to childhood memories of failing or passing.

Courtesy of EPA

EPA Label Option 2

We think of this system as being more comparable to the grading system health departments have used for restaurants for years. You’ve probably noticed the placards. They protect diners from unhealthy food preparation practices and encourage high performing restaurateurs to keep up the good work.

Grades mean something. They’re easy to read and understand. They can steer you quickly toward a smarter car purchase. They are, in short, consumer friendly.

Some states already require cars and light trucks to carry information about pollution levels on their sales labels. EPA’s proposal significantly improves on that model.

You have a chance to weigh in on all of this. EPA is inviting everyone—not just policy wonks and auto industry representatives—to voice an opinion about the labels. The agency needs to hear from consumers who care about good value and a clean environment. The agency will be taking comments for 60 days, which means you need to submit your thoughts by the end of October.

The final version of the new label will be adopted by the end of the year, and the new label will appear on new cars and light trucks beginning in the 2012 model year.

Posted in Cars and Pollution / Comments are closed

Yet Another Poll: Americans Want Clean Energy

Everyone’s talking about the latest poll from the Washington Post, which shows Americans support reforming U.S. energy policy and capping greenhouse gas pollution.

  • NRDC points out that support for energy policy is slightly higher than it was in June… after a summer’s worth of industry attacks.
  • NWF reminds us that it wasn’t just this summer — Americans have been “hit from all sides” by industry-funded campaigns for a year and a half.
  • And Climate Progress has this key takeaway: “A lot of people understand energy prices are going up if we do nothing.”

The new poll has a lot of juicy data for clean energy supporters. Here are some of our favorite tidbits:

  • 57 percent support the proposed changes to U.S. energy policy being developed by Congress and the administration, and even better —
  • When asked if they would support a cap and trade program that lowered greenhouse gases but raised electric bills by $10 month, Americans supported the move by 58 percent to 40 percent.  ($10 is the total cost to households estimated by the Congressional Budget Office)
  • The Post says “GOP criticism of the House energy and climate bill appears to have primarily influenced Republicans themselves.” Support for cap-and-trade dropped among Republicans, but rose among independents.
  • 36 percent think changes to U.S. energy policy would add more jobs in their state. Only 15 percent think it would cause job losses.
  • An amazing 9 out of 10 people support further development of solar and wind power, while 8 out of 10 support development of electric cars.

All this support is wonderful, but our work is far from done. The Wall Street Journal‘s Environmental Capital reminds us that opponents are in the minority, but they are adamant.

Your Senators need to know that these aren’t just poll numbers — they are real voters who care about clean energy. Please call today!

Posted in Climate Change Legislation, What Others are Saying / Read 2 Responses

What Does the Global Warming Bill Have to Do With Foreign Oil?

Most Americans can get behind the goal of importing less oil (though we don’t always agree on how to get there). One of the great strengths of the climate bill is that it’s the most effective and responsible way to make real cuts in imported oil. Two releases this week shed light on how:

  • We just posted a quick summary of how the climate bill will reduce oil imports. Short version: No matter how much we drill, the U.S. burns more oil than we have in our borders, so we import it. The climate bill will cut use of ALL oil, so we can get away with importing less.
  • The Center for American Progress just released a report on reducing oil dependence [PDF]. It has nice graphs outlining recent trends, discusses specific measures to reduce oil use, and notes how the climate bill encourages those measures.

It’s no surprise that Big Oil has put its resources to work against this bill. Climate Progress takes a look at the history and recent political activity of the oil industry.

The Wall Street Journal‘s Environmental Capital notes that other buyers can keep the oil-producing states in business without us. But in any case, we can be more secure if we reduce our own dependence on imported oil. The climate bill gives us a strong start.

Posted in Energy, What Others are Saying / Read 1 Response