A report recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration concludes that carbon emissions from fossil fuels in the United States are expected to increase, highlighting the urgency for passing federal comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation this year that will limit and lower carbon pollution and put America on a path toward a clean energy economy. An excerpt from the report:
"Estimated U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels, which declined by 7.0 percent in 2009, are expected to increase by 3.2 percent and 1.6 percent in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as economic growth spurs higher energy consumption."
A new Wall Street Journal-NBC Poll reveals overwhelming support for comprehensive clean energy legislation that includes carbon pollution reductions, even if that means increases in the price of energy.
Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman and co-founder, intends on presenting a plan to Congress and the White House on how to change the way Americans consume energy. Gates recently appeared on ABC News to talk about his vision of a clean energy future and why government leadership is so important. He also participated with other business executives in the American Energy Innovation Council's report, "A Business Plan for America's Energy Future."
Posted by: Alison Lindburg in news on
Jun 16, 2010
J. Drake Hamilton of Fresh Energy will be on MPR this morning, Wednesday, June 16 at 11AM. She will discuss Minnesota's energy future, the president's oval office address on the oil spill, and climate and clean energy legislation. Listen to it live (click LISTEN NOW in the blue box on the page). A recording of the broadcast will also be available online if you miss the live program.
Over 6,000 companies are calling on Congress to enact meaningful and effective energy and climate legislation. The American Businesses for Clean Energy (ABCE) and We Can Lead, an organization of Business Leaders in Support of Strong Energy and Climate Policy, took out an ad in POLITICO magazine to highlight their strong support. The ad states that "when our leaders in Washington drag their feet, America falls behind."
Posted by: Alison Lindburg in climate bill on
Jun 4, 2010
State representative Jeremy Kalin (DFL - North Branch) spoke out in support of passing clean energy and climate legislation during an MPR Midmorning show and a press conference on Harriet Island in St. Paul yesterday. Representative Kalin is the chair of a nationwide coalition of 1,210 state legislators who called on Congress and the president to adopt a comprehensive climate and energy bill.
Over 1,200 organizations have signed a letter to President Obama calling for his leadership to help pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year. Fresh Energy is proud to be among them.
President Obama announced his intention to sign a Presidential memorandum that would improve vehicle emission and fuel economy standards, effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions nationwide.
A new study released by the nonpartisan
Peterson Institute for International Economics projected that the American Power Act would generate an average of 203,000 new jobs annually above business-as-usual between 2011 and 2020.
The Peterson Institute study looked at possible impacts of the proposed legislation to the economy, employment, energy security, and the environment. Besides reducing U.S. GHG emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, the study projects that if passed, the bill would reduce U.S. imported oil purchases by $51-$93 billion annually.
The
National Research Council recently released three new reports that provide strong evidence for an immediate need for action to reduce emissions and begin adapting to impacts. The reports are part of a Congressionally-requested suite of five studies known as
America's Climate Choices and are considered the organization's most comprehensive study of climate change to date. Two other reports will be released later this year.
"Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for - and in many cases is already affecting - a broad range of human and natural systems," says Advancing the Science of Climate Change, one of the new reports.
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