SUMMER 2008     

Two organizations, one powerful collaboration
Fresh Energy and 1Sky team up to fight global warming

Kate Ellis leads Fresh Energy's 1Sky Minnesota project. Before joining Fresh Energy, Ellis put her organizing skills to use for the Minnesota Farmer’s Union, Growth and Justice, and Grassroots Solutions. Her work is inspired by the ways environmental solutions can spur economic development.

We are pleased to announce that Fresh Energy is collaborating with 1Sky. 1Sky is an exciting national campaign pressing the federal government to take bold action on global warming by passing aggressive, science-based emission reduction policies. Fresh Energy is working with 1Sky to promote policies that

• create 5 million green jobs to spur America’s economy
• freeze global warming pollution levels now, then cut them by at least 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050
• prohibit the construction of new coal plants that emit global warming pollution and instead promote investment in renewable energy

These proposals are grounded in scientific necessity—they are essential steps for dramatically reducing global warming emissions while maximizing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and breakthrough technologies. They also represent significant economic promise. By pivoting to a clean energy economy, we can relieve our dependence on foreign oil, unlock the potential of sustainable industry, and usher in a new era of prosperity.

The 1Sky Minnesota effort, led by Fresh Energy’s newest staff member Kate Ellis, is engaged in an unprecedented national collaboration with a number of allies. They include state and local organizations; business, religious, health, social justice, and military leaders; scientists; economists; elected officials; and citizens across the state. Fresh Energy and its allies have led the way in crafting smart energy policy in Minnesota, setting the stage for 1Sky success.

1Sky Minnesota will be organizing citizens throughout the state to build support for global warming solutions. For more information or to become a 1Sky partner, please contact Kate Ellis at 651-294-7143 or ellis@fresh-energy.org and visit the 1Sky Web site: www.1Sky.org.

Federal climate bill makes headway

In a debate that lasted nearly a week on the floor of the U.S. Senate, America’s Climate Security Act (S. 3036)—sponsored by Senators Warner (R-VA), Lieberman (I-CT), and Boxer (D-CA)—made significant strides as the first bipartisan climate bill to receive serious attention by Congress. The bill eventually stalled in early June because a vote to end the filibuster failed. But senators from across the country sounded a clarion call for an aggressive federal program to limit and lower global warming pollution.

Most supporters see America’s Climate Security Act as a strong framework for reducing global warming emissions—with room for improvement. Fresh Energy is working with Minnesota’s federal senators and representatives to strengthen the most critical provisions, including requiring economy-wide, science-based emission reductions of at least 80 percent by 2050; ensuring that emission reduction targets can be strengthened as scientific understanding increases; and eliminating free global warming emission allowances for polluters.

Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar (D) voted to continue a meaningful debate on the bill. Senator Norm Coleman (R) was absent for the vote, but sent a statement of support for continued discussions.