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RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of June 29, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:29:00 -0500

Upper Midwest Unites, Supports the EPA’s Move to Clear the Air

ElenaVelkov — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:42:07 -0500

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2009
Contact:	Illinois James Gignac, Sierra Club 312-251-1680 x147 (office) 312-771-9991 (cell) james.gignac@sierraclub.org	Iowa Nathaniel Baer, Iowa Environmental Council 515-244-1194 x206 (office) 319-321-8449 (cell) baer@iaenvironment.org
Michigan Danielle Korpalski, National Wildlife Federation 734-887-7138 korpalskid@nwf.org	Minnesota Michael Noble, Fresh Energy 651-726-7563 (office) 612-963-1268 (cell) noble@fresh-energy.org	North Dakota Verle Reinicke, Dakota Resource Council Board Member 701-250-0630 lindaverle@bis.midco.net
Ohio Jen Miller, Sierra Club 614-461-0734 (office) 614-563-9543 (cell) jennifer.miller@sierraclub.org	Wisconsin Katie Nekola, Clean Wisconsin 608-251-7020 x14 (office) 608-212-8751 (cell) knekola@cleanwisconsin.org
Upper Midwest Unites, Supports the EPA’s Move to Clear the Air Fifty organizations in the Upper Midwest- representing more than 450 staff members- have signed on to a public comment letter for the Environmental Protection Agency, supporting its move to regulate global warming pollution on the ground that it is detrimental to public health and welfare. The organizations come from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. “The Administration's historic greenhouse gas regulation policy shift marks the beginning of a healthier American population and American economy,” the public comment letter reads. “The United States, once the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, can be a leader in the transition to safer and more efficient forms of energy to fuel the future of America's economy. We in the Midwest hope to play a major role in this transition.” The eight states comprise a regional network of organizations called RE-AMP. It aims to reduce global warming pollution 80 percent by 2030 through renewable energy, reduced coal, energy efficiency and better transportation choices. The EPA issued a proposed report in April, finding that six greenhouse gases endanger human health (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride). If finalized, the document would legally bind the EPA to regulate global warming pollution through utilities, automobiles, and other large polluters. The public comment period ends today (June 23). The group welcomes the EPA’s measure, as it will help the Midwest capitalize on its renewable energy potential. “We believe that the Midwest has the human and natural resources to thrive in a low carbon energy future,” the letter reads. “Our farmers will benefit from the development of wind energy and biofuels, our builders will build new high-speed rail systems, we will train an army of workers to retrofit our buildings for maximum energy savings, and our manufacturing facilities will provide the supply chain for the wind turbines, solar panels, and clean, efficient automobiles that we need in this Century.” The 50 organizations that signed on to the public comment letter include the following: 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Alliance for Sustainability, Citizen's Utility Board – WI, Clean Water Action – Michigan, Clean Water Action – Minnesota, Clean Wisconsin, Dakota Resource Council, Ecology Center, Environment Illinois, Environment Minnesota, Environment Ohio, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Faith In Place, Fresh Energy, Garfield Foundation, Global Exchange, Growth and Justice, Honor the Earth, Illinois PIRG, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Intertribal COUP, Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Policy Project, Iowa Renewable Energy Association, Izaak Walton League of America - Midwest Office, LEED Council - Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative, Michigan Energy Alternatives Project, Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Land Use Institute, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Minnesota Project, Ohio Environmental Council, Plains Justice, Renew Wisconsin, Sierra Club - Iowa Chapter, Sierra Club - John Muir Chapter, Sierra Club – Illinois Chapter, Sierra Club Michigan, Sierra Club - North Star Chapter, Sierra Club Ohio, The Green Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists, Valley Watch, Will Steger Foundation, Wisconsin Environment, Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, WISPIRG. ###

RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of June 22, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:45:33 -0500

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RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of June 15, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:29:50 -0500

RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of June 8, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:49:21 -0500

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RE-AMP RoundUp Week of June 1, 2009

RickFuentes — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:44:14 -0500

RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of May 25, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:46:25 -0500

RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of May 18, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:02:28 -0500

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Ground-Breaking Compromise Leads to Oil, Electric, Enviro Agreement on Climate Policy

ElenaVelkov — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:08:51 -0500

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2009

Contact:
Keith Reopelle
Clean Wisconsin, MGA Advisory Committee Member
614-214-9888

Becky Stanfield
NRDC, MGA Advisory Committee Member
312-890-3984

Zoe Lipman
National Wildlife Federation, MGA Advisory Committee Member
734-834-9344

Ground-Breaking Compromise Leads to Oil, Electric, Enviro Agreement on Climate Policy

MINNEAPOLIS – Environmental groups, utilities, oil companies, and manufacturers have agreed on a draft of final recommendations for the first Midwest cap and trade program.

“This is an important package that should inform the federal debate and create a critical backstop in the event the federal debate is stalled,” said Keith Reopelle of Clean Wisconsin. “A strong cap and trade program to limit and lower global warming pollutants is important not only to protect public health and resources but also to create jobs and economic stimulus through the manufacturing of clean energy technologies.”

In November, 2007, the Governors of Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, and Wisconsin as well as the Premier of Manitoba signed an agreement to develop and implement a regional cap and trade policy by 2012. A 42-member advisory committee of governor appointees has been meeting since then and has crafted a draft policy to return to the governors. The advisory group and participating government staff recommend a federal approach to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but the group also drew up a final draft policy in case the federal government fails to act.

The policy indicates that the states will cut global warming emissions from all sources 18-20 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2020, including transportation, manufacturing, and energy production. An economy-wide cap would set pollution limits, and emission allowances would be sold at below auction price to emitters. After the year 2021, the emission allowances would transition to an auction market. Companies may reduce emissions by purchasing offsets of up to 20 percent of their total amount.

“People were skeptical that a group like this from the Midwest, including the most fossil-fuel intensive industries would come up with a strong agreement,” said Rebecca Stanfield of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The Midwest is ready to act on global warming. We’ve put together detailed recommendations on how to do that in a way that really benefits the Midwest economy and environment.”

The Midwest Governors will return their recommendations to Congress to inform federal policy. If Congress fails to act, then the governors will implement the program on a regional basis through rules that have to be adopted by each state.

Environmental and conservation groups invited to be a member of the accord’s subcommittee include, Izaak Walton League, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, Clean Wisconsin, Union of Concerned Scientists, Environment Ohio, and Climate and Energy Project (CEP), Land Institute.

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RE-AMP RoundUp: Week of May 11, 2009

ElenaVelkov — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:00:41 -0500