Families and kids rallied outside the EPA this morning to urge them to keep children and communities safe from toxic coal ash that needs to be regulated. With just two days left before the end of the public comment period on choices between regulations, today CCAN helped with the Sierra Club to pull out all the stops in support of Subtitle C
The environment needs leadership
This letter to the editor appeared in the Annapolis Capital Gazette.
As an environmental advocate and lifelong Marylander, I was heartened to see strong environmental candidates prevail in many of Tuesday’s races throughout the state. However, conservationists didn’t fare so well across the country. Money from oil and coal companies lines the pockets of many of our newest members of Congress, dozens of who deny the reality of climate change.
The GOP is the only political party in the world that includes climate change denial as a fundamental component of its political platform. Republican legislators don’t just oppose climate action – they oppose the very idea of climate change. These individuals equate science and religion – they believe what they like and reject the rest. This denial persists despite the fact that anthropogenic climate change is one of the most agreed-upon theories in science. Consequently, strong federal climate change and clean energy legislation will likely be stalled for at least the next two years.
We must do at the state level what Congress will not – move away from dangerous and dirty fossil fuels in lieu of clean energy alternatives. Maryland should develop its substantial offshore wind power potential as soon as possible in a show of leadership.
Offshore wind has the potential to bring thousands of well-paying jobs to our state, while providing the equivalent of two-thirds of the state’s current electricity needs. Environmental and labor groups, as well as Governor O’Malley have already pledged their support for Maryland offshore wind. I encourage my fellow Marylanders to reach out to their state representatives to pledge their support as well. The Free State already boasts some of the nation’s most stalwart environmental laws. It’s time that we also take the lead on clean offshore power.
JAMIE NOLAN
Trappe
The writer is Communications Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
48 hours left to Tell EPA: Regulate Toxic Coal Ash! Take action now!
Toxic coal ash has been threatening lives, communities and impacting health across this country with little to no regulation for far too long.
Drought Disaster
Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli are making a name for themselves on the national climate denier scene. They’ve engaged Virginia in a lawsuit against the EPA and have gone as far as accusing leading scientist Michael Mann of fraud by seeking public funding for his research. So the irony was not lost when Gov. McDonnell yesterday announced that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has designated 59 counties as primary natural disaster areas because of the excessive heat we’ve seen in 2010. Farms in this area Continue reading
What should climate hawks do now?
Joe Romm has an open thread today at climateprogress.org, in which he asks, “What should climate hawks do now?“
Here is my suggestion:
As the Maryland campaign director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, I work with a coalition of climate hawks poised to move strongly forward at the state level as we determine the best next steps nationally.
Since this year’s failure to pass comprehensive climate legislation in the senate, a number of groups and individuals have discussed the need for state level action. At the state level, we can make real gains in renewable energy and emissions reductions, while tangibly showing that climate solutions work. Thank God California’s AB 32 law will continue.
In Maryland, we also have strong climate laws on the books, including a 20% RPS by 2022 and an emissions reduction goal of 25% below 2006 levels by 2020.
To meet these goals, action is still needed.
As an ocean state, offshore wind power currently has the highest potential for us to generate clean, renewable energy. That’s why we’re part of a strong coalition calling on the Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation that will bring us offshore wind parks as early as 2015.
Offshore wind will bring Maryland reliable jobs (thousands in construction, operations, and maintenance), reliable energy (Europe’s had offshore wind working since 1991 and we could get a third of our power in the region from the resource), reliable prices (we can lock in the price over 25 years as unlike fossil fuels, the wind is free), and a more reliable climate (reducing heat-trapping energy generation). It’s understandable why the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the National Wildlife Federation, Environment Maryland, The Sierra Club, the Maryland LCV, AND the United Steelworkers in Maryland are calling together for offshore wind power!
If you live in Maryland or in the area, here are a few ways you can help us win:
- Attend Wind Vision 2010 in Annapolis on December 4th: the first Maryland citizens’ conference on offshore wind. We’ll hear from inspiring leaders (like Lester Brown, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, John Passacantando, former director of Greenpeace USA, and CCAN’s inspiring leader, Mike Tidwell), and discuss how we can all help make it happen for Maryland in 2011. RSVP today at http://www.MarylandOffshoreWind.org!
- Take a photo for our “Maryland: Got Wind?” Photo Mission! We’ll be sharing them with your state representatives. Find out how to submit a photo at our website and check out Maryland’s own superhero, Wonder Wind, fighting for wind all over the state!
- Share the conference and the photo petition links with all your friends on facebook and twitter!
On the national level, while things look bleak, we must find a way forward. There is a glimmer of hope for compromise that must at least be explored. Tom Daschle talks about the need for congressional compromise in a Washington Post op-ed today and mentions climate change as one of the national challenges we must address. We must also look to innovative solutions. CCAN has endorsed the cap and dividend model, which has bipartisan support. We must continue to develop innovative policy solutions that can garner bipartisan support: cap and dividend could be part of a new solution.
Finally, it is clear that we must do more on the grassroots. We clearly cannot rely on our elected leaders or media to carry the entire load in terms of creating a national debate on climate. Climate hawk groups and individuals must put in the grassroots organizing that is necessary.
Power Vote at the Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear
I went to the rally to restore sanity on Saturday. As pointed out by many who attended- the rally was somewhat ironically- insane. I went with Energy Action Coalition all-star Anjali Helferty to bring a little Power Vote magic to the proceedings! The crowds were overwhelming- it was difficult to make our way anywhere near the stage or jumbo screens. Instead we walked around the outskirts of the huge crowd in our Power Vote capes urging young people to get out and vote on Tuesday! Turns out this was a message missing from the rest of the rally- no mention of voting was made. So here it is- be sane on Tuesday and VOTE! And tell everyone you know to do the same!
Time for a Climate Reality Check
For the last several months CCAN has been actively involved with a new national alliance of climate, religious, environmental, labor, public interest and community-based groups. It was formed after the passage of the cap-and-trade, Waxman-Markey climate legislation in the House of Representatives last June to advocate for “solutions to climate change that withstand the reality check of the best scientific evidence, the precautionary principle, the values of fairness and justice, the polluter pays principle, and the need for U.S. policies to be consistent with robust international responses.”
The CRC alliance’s statement of purpose went on to say:
“We are committed to speaking out about these failures of leadership, supporting real progress from elected officials and regulatory agencies, and doing all we can to change our country’s political response until it is consistent with environmental justice and the reality of what is needed to avoid potentially catastrophic climate change and energy impacts.
“Our groups have a variety of strengths, and we believe that by working together, we can leverage these strengths to contribute to a broader movement for climate justice and true climate and energy solutions.”
One of CRC’s first actions was to organize an open letter to Senator Barbara Boxer and others in the Senate in late August, 2009 signed by close to 400 organizations. It called for Senate legislation on climate much stronger than Waxman-Markey, legislation that “provides the transformational change and greenhouse emissions reductions required to avert catastrophic climate impacts.”
In mid-July of 2010 CRC coordinated a July-August “No More Oil Spills” month of action, which included a demonstration on the three month anniversary of the BP Gulf disaster by about 150 people on Capitol Hill. CCAN played a major role in this action.
About 25 organizations have joined so far, with an outreach campaign to enlist additional groups about to be launched. Some of the member groups include: Friends of the Earth, Center for Biological Diversity, 350.org, Church World Service, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Greenpeace, Labor Network for Sustainability and Public Citizen.
The coalition has established several active committees to advance its work. It meets weekly via national conference calls. It is an important new development and shows every indication that it will be a growing and increasingly visible part of the climate movement next year and in coming years.
For more information go to http://www.climaterealitycheck.org.
Out with the old (coal), in with the new (wind)!
Coal is having a rough year.
The Battle over California's Future
On November 2, Californians will vote on Proposition 23, a ballot initiative to abolish the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act.
Powerful Images Address a Problematic Issue
One thousand artists from around the globe participated in the CoolClimate Art Contest to create an iconic, powerful image addressing the impacts of climate change.