Moratorium on new polluting coal plants (March 17, 2008)
Friends,
No new, polluting coal-fired plants. Representatives Henry Waxman (CA) and Ed Markey (MA) have introduced a bill that would bar construction of new coal-burning power plants that do not capture and permanently store at least 85 percent of their greenhouse gas emissions. By preventing growth of climate-changing pollution, the "Moratorium on Uncontrolled Power Plants Act of 2008" (H.R. 5575) is an important step toward a clean energy future.
Introducing the bill, Rep. Waxman observed that, "Comprehensive economy-wide regulation to address global warming is coming soon. But new uncontrolled coal-fired power plants are being built today. My legislation says: 'No new plants without emissions controls.' The alternative is senseless - locking in decades of additional global warming emissions and requiring greater emissions reductions across the U.S. economy to compensate."
Please contact your representatives and urge them to co-sponsor this legislation.
Easter Recess Lobbying for Climate Security. Members of Congress will be home from March 15-31. This Easter recess provides an opportunity for you to talk with your elected officials about strengthening the bill on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that the Senate is planning to debate in the next few months. Find out why FCNL believes that the "Climate Security Act" (S. 2191) falls far short of what is needed and who else is lobbying Congress on this bill during the recess.
Young adults to lobby Congress on climate change. At FCNL's Young Adult Spring Lobby Weekend April 4-7, young adults from across the country will come to Washington to learn to lobby and use what they've learned to talk to members of Congress about climate change and energy issues. You can find more information about this opportunity for young adults to speak to Congress about the future of our planet. Register now
House passes renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives. In our last message, we asked you to urge your representatives to support the "Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act" (H.R. 5351) as it came up for a vote in the House. The House passed the bill which would extend and expand tax incentives for renewable energy production and energy efficiency improvements. See how your representative voted
2007 energy bill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. All of your efforts last year lobbying to raise vehicle fuel economy standards and set higher energy efficiency standards for lighting and appliances will pay off in the years ahead with reduced oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions! The U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (EIA), recently reported to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that key provisions from the "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007," will reduce U.S. oil imports from 60 percent of current consumption today to 51 percent in 2022 and reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 500 million tons below previous projections. See the EIA's Senate testimony