Rock the Vote’s Heather Smith

The Green Guru, League of Conservation Voter’s Gene Karpinski, stood at the podium to kick off an event on the West Lawn of the capitol this morning, rallying the crowd for clean energy jobs now.

In front of a group of the clean energy and climate movement’s biggest leaders, Karpinski harkened back to 40 years ago, the first year of Earth Day and said that despite the many victories that we have had, a major one remains.

The “big enchilada”, was how Denis Hayes, Earth Day director and part of the original day some 40 years ago put it. He talked about all of the accomplishments, but said we, along with generations after us, will look back on our success around the 40th Earth Day.

A comprehensive clean energy and climate bill is the only thing that will be make this Earth Day and celebration. Said Hayes: “It’s time to get angry. It’s time to say that if you’re not right on climate, you’ll be out of office.”

Hayes was preceded at the podium by Karpinski, Truman National Security Project COO Jon Powers and several others. Three are of particular note, however.

Head of the Washington chapter of the ACLU, Hilary Shelton, gave an impassioned speech about getting ourselves out of this paradigm of joblessness in our communities and bringing together coalitions that are unprecedented in the movement. Just seeing Shelton, along with the familiar face of the Hip Hop Caucus’ Rev. Lennox Yearwood speaks to how broad the support for clean energy is today.

Green Guru Gene Karpinski signs the declaration.

Rev. Yearwood was his usual self, of course. He told the crowd that future generations are counting on us. He renewed his call, saying this fight is about humanity. One of the most inspiring speakers in the movement, Rev. Yearwood said that there are no petty divisions on this issue. The future of our country, our health, our way of life is at stake.

However, it was a youth leader that stepped up to the podium that really put this into perspective. She was very frank: “this issue affects our generation more than any other.”

Heather Smith, Executive Director of Rock the Vote, looked into the crowd to say that the youth of this country have taken notice and we don’t like what we see. We are engaged, we are voting, we have a voice. And we better, since this is our future.

When the talking was done, the speakers all signed a declaration, calling for Clean Energy Patriots to start an Earth Day Revolution and pass comprehensive legislation.

Forty years ago, Earth Day because reality, providing momentum for decades of environmental policy. Now we stand in the face of our greatest environmental challenge, something with fingerprints all over our economy and national security.

In this we cannot fail. For this, we need a revolution.

Courtesy: Politico

The New York Times had a great piece today, breaking down where the wavering Senators on comprehensive climate legislation park their interests.

Citing E&E, the article assumes there are 41 “yes” votes and 29 “no” votes in the upper chamber, leaving exactly 30 to be had, of which 19 are need to reach the magical number of 60.

Most of the fence-sitters call states with significant coal interests home, something probably not good given attempts to curb greenhouse gas pollution in the bill. The leader has to be Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who has introduced legislation to prevent the EPA from enforcing regulations itself. Obviously the senior senators from that state, Robert Byrd, is also a question mark, as well as Montana’s Max Baucus.

But others have been much more hostile. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) disagrees with the push for a climate bill and instead prefers an energy-only approach. Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) have questioned the economic costs of moving too fast and too aggressively.

And Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) has even unveiled a campaign ad touting her opposition to cap-and-trade legislation, a point not lost on Democratic leadership.

Many sit firmly in the nuclear field as well, none more than one of the leading trio, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Graham is not a fence-sitter, but his ability to please some others that feel nuclear energy is the best way to go carbon neutral (the French plan), will prove invaluable.

My favorite of this group is Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), listed as being on the fence. He is of course the same Senator who wants to build 100 nuclear plants in the U.S.

Eighteen of the 30 senators on E&E’s list come from states that are home to commercial nuclear industries: Arizona’s John McCain (R), Arkansas’ Lincoln and Mark Pryor (D), Florida’s George LeMieux (R), Louisiana’s Mary Landrieu (D), Massachusetts’ Scott Brown (R), Michigan’s Levin and Stabenow, Missouri’s Claire McCaskill (D), Nebraska’s Ben Nelson (D), New Hampshire’s Judd Gregg (R), Ohio’s Brown and George Voinovich (R), Pennsylvania’s Specter, Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander (R) and Bob Corker (R), Virginia’s Jim Webb (D), and Washington’s Maria Cantwell (D).

Beyond tax incentives and loan guarantees, it is Graham’s idea of a renewable energy standard that allows power sources to use nuclear capacity to reach targets that will draw many of these members.

When it comes to trade-intensive industries, one big question remains: how do we protect American business?

[Sens. Bayh, Specter, Rockefeller and Byrd], for example, took the lead last summer in writing to Obama with a pledge to oppose any climate legislation that did not come with a “border adjustment mechanism” that would allow for trade sanctions on carbon-intensive goods from developing countries that do not have strong enough climate policies.

The big worry is that business will just produce elsewhere because they won’t have to deal with any regulation. No party wants to see that happen, meaning provisions in the bill preventing it are very likely.

But save the biggest, most financially influential industry for last: oil and gas. Home of 13 Senators according the story, the range of items on the wish list of this group is large, if not diverse. Sarah Palin hit it on the head: “Drill, baby, drill.”

Just last week, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said her vote was contingent on the opening of ANWR to drilling, something highly unlikely, but sure to be debated again, just to continue beating a dead horse.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, of Louisiana, is sure to call for the drills as well, but in the Gulf of Mexico, where she already 8.3 million acres of untapped water.

There is a difficult balance when drilling is involved, as it is mostly included to gain votes, but can cost votes if the actually activity is off the coast of a different state where a reliable “yes” vote lives.

While there will be also be issues about how to apply a carbon cap, something which has been a major part of the conversation recently, these have been the main issues since the debate began. The idea of regulating different industries differently will surely continue to be discussed.

With 30 votes sitting out there and 19 needed, much work clearly still needs to be done. By all accounts, the trio of Kerry, Lieberman and Graham are not only working tirelessly, but have enlisted the help of several other members. Lieberman has said he is aiming to have something out before Easter break, which is less than three weeks away.

President Obama met with Sen. Kerry and others at the White House on Tuesday.

While the Obama administration continues to push funding for clean energy jobs, from high speed rail to solar energy and job training programs, the president himself has also interjected himself into the legislative battle heating up in the Senate.

Yesterday Obama made himself a principle, inviting 14 members of the upper chamber, including the tri-partisan group of Senators John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, up to the White House for a meeting to assess the status of legislation.

According to Politico, the president was clear about his goal of a comprehensive bill.

In opening remarks, according to Senators in attendance, President Obama took the idea of an energy-only bill – the preferred approach of moderate Democrats – off the table, saying he wanted a “comprehensive” bill that includes a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

Obama also made it known that he wants the bill done this year.

Graham reiterated his earlier statements that he would only back comprehensive legislation, with the same colorful language, a stance he was happy the president took.

“I’m not going to support some half-assed reform,” he exclaimed.”

The meeting was bi-partisan, including Maine Senator Susan Collins, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and Richard Lugar of Indiana. Even Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski, author of the Dirty Air Act, was present.

According to news accounts, the meeting was extremely positive – Murkowski said it was a dialogue, not arm twisting – and Kerry plans a series of meetings next week.

Also at the meeting from the Obama administration were Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, top White House climate advisor Carol Browner and top economic advisor Larry Summers.

Graham has said he would like to have a proposal out before the Senate heads to Easter break, meaning that we could be pretty close. Having 14 Senators meeting in a positive light with the president can only serve to help the momentum.

We need a comprehensive bill now and cannot stop fighting.

Check out the news world today:

• Could we be looking at a “Gang of 14” to push this bill to passage? That was a major question coming out of yesterday’s meeting.
• Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana is drafting an “energy mandate” bill.
• An interesting New York Times look at many of the players still involved in the legislative process on climate.
• Senator Blanche Lincoln, absent from yesterday’s White House meeting, has become an opponent of climate legislation, bringing her a lot of recent attention.
• We have to “Seize the opportunity” and pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation.
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood, from the Hip Hop Caucus, writes for Huffington Post on how black voters want green jobs.
• China and India became the latest countries to sign onto the Copenhagen Climate Accord. Obviously that is a big step, being two of the world’s biggest emitters.

The meeting headlines the trio that has taken over the drafting of a bill, Senators John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, but also includes some important committee chairs.

Participants of the meeting include (via National Journal)

• Energy Secretary Steven Chu
• Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
• EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson
• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

• Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
• Sen. Joe Lieberman, I/D-Conn.

• Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.
• Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
• Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio
• Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.*
• Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
• Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine
• Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.
• Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla.
• Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska

Baucus was a late scratch because of a scheduling conflict.

Courtesy About.com

Noticeably absent from the list is the much-maligned Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln. The Democrat is a co-sponsor of Murkowski’s Disapproval Resolution and kicked off her re-election campaign by stating her clear opposition to cap-and-trade, as well as just about everything else.

Some also have said that Lincoln will be the one to actually introduce Murkowski’s bill on the floor when it gets to that point. Also, couldn’t help but notice that Murkowski herself is in the room, despite her attempts to destroy the Clean Air Act. Senator Jay Rockefeller, who has introduced his own efforts to block EPA regulation is also there.

We’re always taught that the game is played by those who show up. We’ll see how this meeting goes, but rest assured that Lincoln can’t say no without being in the room.

Instead, it became six days.

Starting on Monday, you, the youth in this fight, jumped the gun, making calls to kick things off and making your voices heard first.

On Tuesday the 72 Hours got underway in earnest, with thousands of calls being made over the first 24 of those hours. Several offices reported jammed voicemail boxes and staffers unable to handle all of the calls. One that I heard of added staff to the phones and still couldn’t field every call.

Over the planned three days so many people made calls and said they were going to continue making them that the 72 Hours was extended through Monday. One caller reported asking a Senate office to empty its mailbox – more people wanted to call and leave messages.

Youth from Consequence, Southern Energy Network, Student PIRGs and Campus Progress were part of the mammoth effort that led to more than 300,000 calls spread across Senate offices.

Over six days clean energy was the major topic of calls to the Senate, something the effect of which cannot be underestimated. Senators see the reports and hear about the calls. They know the phone is ringing and they hear that it is supporters of clean energy legislation.

Over six days the U.S. Senate was the target of Americans who are ready to move to a clean energy future, the fate of which lies within that body. And today, many of those same Senators sat at the White House with President Obama to talk about just that.

The time to move to clean energy and away from the dirty fuels of the past is here. In the last week that message was delivered to Capitol Hill more than 300,000 times.

Until legislation passes, that number will continue to multiply. It was supposed to by 72 Hours. It will last until the president signs a bill and beyond.

It is really an exciting time to be working on clean energy and climate legislation. Now, let’s get it passed.

• In that effort, the president will meet with the Senate trio today, to talk about the legislation. Also present will be several committee chairs that could affect a bill.
• Sen. Kristen Gillibrand called for the president to make a “shoot-for-the-moon” type speech about green jobs, saying they are the “greatest market opportunity for the next generation.”
• The EPA defends capping greenhouse gases. Said Administrator Lisa Jackson: “At no point in our history has any problem been solved by waiting another year to act.”
• The Washington Post dishes another attack on youth engagement in climate change issues, using the same poll we took a look at last week.
• A clean tech conference in Boston will look at ways to make clean energy cheaper.

Odessa, the very definition of an oil boom town, experienced years of lavish living during boom times and a depression like economy during busts. The views of present-day, post-auto boom Detroit are eerily familiar to those knowing a century of bust in Odessa.

Crime is rampant. Poverty and illness define the population. One failed civic project after another holds the city in its place near the bottom of desired places to live in the country.

Now, as many other towns in the state realize the viability and consistency of wind power, Odessa is poised to follow suit. And reports that the state of Texas is setting records in wind power use are as encouraging as any we’ve seen.

Texas, the nation’s wind-power leader, set a new record for wind generation this morning, when — at 6:37 a.m. — about 19 percent of the electricity on the state’s main grid was supplied by turbines.

That was actually on March 5, when nearly one-fifth of the state main grid was powered by wind.

The state at times receives so much power from heavy winds that turbines have to be shut down because the grid is not yet able to handle it all. Texas is spending nearly $5 billion to help solve that problem.

At the same time, wind farms are popping up all over the place. Nearly 40 projects provide almost 10,000 MW of power, a number rapidly increasing as more are built.

This has been a state more reliant on oil production than nearly any other, but with so much capacity for wind, it could have the ability to drastically expand its energy porfolio using a renewable and constant source. There is no boom or bust with wind power, meaning decades-long busts can be avoided.

Cities like Odessa, which is bidding for a project of its own while still relying heavily on oil and gas production, will have a constant source of jobs and income, giving the city a chance to build itself.

Paired with some of that big Texas sunshine, renewable energy sources are the clear future of energy production in the state. The only thing really slowing the process is an insufficient grid, which the state is working on, but which can be heavily aided by the federal government.

One day there could and should be enough wind energy in Texas to export it to other states through a revamped, updated smart grid. Right now, Texas is showing just how soon that day could be.

What are you doing? Let us know. To the links:

• Great op-ed from Thomas Friedman on Saturday tells the story of two entrepreneurs working diligently to advance clean tech. His conclusion: we need a carbon cap.
• Senator John Kerry has begun his lobbying efforts around the new bill, which has yet to be released, but should be in the near future.
• More on Senator Kerry’s push for legislation.
• The International Monetary Fund is proposing that rich countries pool money to help the world adapt to climate change.
• An interesting look at climate legislation from the point of view of Royal Dutch Shell.
]]> http://consequence09.org/2010/03/climate-news-update-28/feed/ 0 http://consequence09.org/2010/03/climate-news-update-28/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Consequence09/~3/dGgBxu4W53g/ http://consequence09.org/2010/03/climate-news-update-27/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:59:33 +0000 Benton Strong http://consequence09.org/?p=1680 It’s Friday, which means very little, except that the official end of the 72 Hours for Clean American Power is over. That said, the fight does not stop, nor do the calls. We’ll have a wrap up later today of this highly successful three day event.

Some rather interesting news today, some of which comes to you straight from the climate politics section, by way of the Senator rapidly taking over the status of Queen Climate Denier, from James Inhofe.

• Senator Lisa Murkowski called Alaska, “ground zero for climate change,” in lauding the opening of a climate science center in her home state. Yes, this is the same Lisa Murkowski who’s denied climate change in her Dirty Air Act.
• Murkowski had earlier said that her vote hinges on allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refugre. According to Sen. Joe Lieberman, that isn’t going to happen.
• The tri-partisan group of Senators working on climate legislation are talking to another pro-drilling member, Mary Landrieu, about a gas “fee” to help garner more votes.
• Is the timetable shrinking? Scientists in Alaska may have found that methane is rising from the earth, an activity that would increase the rate of climate change.
• As I writer this, President Obama is speaking about clean energy job in Virginia. More on that later.
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