American Power Act
The release of the “American Power Act” (APA) by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is a necessary first step toward delivering critically needed climate and energy legislation. With the true cost of our addiction to fossil fuels now appallingly visible in the Gulf of Mexico, it is absolutely critical that we put a price on carbon. Every day that we do not pass strong, comprehensive climate and energy legislation, we put our economy, our security, and our environment at greater risk.
Preliminary Analysis of the Kerry-Lieberman Bill by 1Sky
Recent Visit to Senator Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray Office
Kimberly Christensen and Terri Glaberson with family in tow
CoolMom and other like minded environmental organizations visited Senator Cantwell and Senator Murray's Offices on Friday, June 4, 2010 to send a message that we want a strong Climate and Energy Bill. Individuals, families, friends and neighbors dropped by their offices with letters, momentos and messages encouraging the Senators to be leaders and support what we the people want, a price on carbon, clean energy and green jobs.
Kimberly's son is holding one of two vases that Kimberly put together out of a reused canning jar, ribbon and pinwheels from the CoolMom wind farm created on April 18 th as part of an Earth Day celebration and Coal Free Washington Campaign. The pinwheels are symbolic of clean renewable energy.
Members, friends and concerned citizens also signed a "If Not Now, When?" T-shirt that was sent to both Senators on Monday. Here is what it said.
What you can do to help ensure
a Strong and Comprehensive Climate and Energy Bill
Making the Call
When you call your senators, tell them we need steep cuts in global warming pollution and provisions that crack down on old, dirty coal power plants.
The next big challenge on our way to passing strong climate and clean energy legislation will be keeping Big Oil and Dirty coal from watering down or killing this bill.
Don't let dirty energy drowned out your voice! Be loud and clear that you want a clean energy bill NOW.
The next few weeks will be among the most critical ever for our planet. Make a quick call to your senators now: www.1sky.org/call
After your call, ask your friends, family, and neighbors to make the call. Thanks again for keeping up the push on the Senate bill.
Visiting a Senator's Office
Taking your family to visit your Senator's Office with letters, momentos and reasons why a strong Climate and Energy Bill is essential for our economy, our health and our children's futures is a strong message. Our legislators appreciate our visits and want to hear from us.
Not sure what to say? Take this with your signed named and information to your Senator's Offices.
Writing A Letter
Sample Letter to the Editor:
Dear Editor,
I am worried. With the disappointment of the failed passing of a comprehensive climate and energy bill by the Senate, each day we move farther away from clean energy and a safe and strong economic future that jeopardizes the health and saftey of our children.
I speak to you first as a mother. The importance of strong comprehensive climate and energy bill is paramount to our children's futures.
I know when my daughter was born life changed for me. Each and everything I did had an impact on her life and it still does. I look at her and see so much potential and life ahead of her. But if we don’t ACT now, there won’t be a tomorrow for her or any of our children.
Polls decisively show Americans want more clean energy solutions because it will set off a wave of innovation that will create millions of American jobs, reduce the stranglehold that fossil fuels has on our economic and national security, and it will address the global climate crisis head on. Moms, Dads and families are hungry for leadership, and as the debate continues in the Senate. I urge Senators Cantwell and Murray to be leaders and to ensure a federal climate bill Now.
Thank you,
Terri Glaberson
CoolMom Member
[Don't forget to include your address, email and phone number]
Where to send them
What’s the “ask?”
We need our Senators to pass a climate and clean energy bill that:
Creates clean energy jobs for America
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Cut global warming pollution at least 20 percent by 2020 – limiting carbon is the best foundation for the growth of a fair, competitive market for clean energy and energy efficiency.
- Support programs that create clean energy jobs, and train workers to fill them.
- Establish effective renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives that spur development of clean, renewable energy, save consumers money, and get us off the fossil fuel roller coaster.
Cuts global warming pollution
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We need to go into the international negotiations in Copenhagen with a firm commitment to cut climate pollution by at least 20% by 2020. Any less will undermine American leadership and reduce our chances of a securing a strong global agreement in which all nations do their fair share.
- Minimize and tightly control use of offsets. We need real solutions that provide clean and efficient energy, not paper transactions that temporarily store carbon.
Transitions us away from dirty fossil fuels
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End the construction of new dirty coal plants, and ensure that the oldest, dirtiest coal plants reduce their global warming pollution.
Key points to remember:
Energy Efficiency
- Energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest, smartest and most readily available source of American energy—we must tap into its full potential.
- A new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) shows that efficiency provisions in ACES, with improvements, would result in an average, annual net savings of $200 for every Washington household and create over 14,000 net new jobs by 2020.By 2030, these benefits could increase to more than 24,400 net new jobs with over $640 in net savings per year, per household. (Source: http://www.aceee.org/press/e096pr.htm)
Clean Energy Economic Development Begins at Home
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In 2008, Washingtonians spent over $16 billion on imported fossil fuels. (Source: Sightline Institute) Reducing dependence on those fuels will drive economic recovery and give us more control of our energy future.
- We need clean energy that we make here in Washington. Federal energy and climate policy will.put clean energy on a level playing field, driving investment and jobs in our new energy economy while reducing the cost of wasted energy for families and businesses.
- Clean-energy investments create 16.7 jobs for every $1 million in spending. Spending on fossil fuels, by contrast, generates 5.3 jobs per $1 million in spending. (Source: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/clean_energy_factsheets.html)
- Clean Energy is the fastest growing sector in global investment. We need policies that drive those investments here in Washington and the United States, and don’t allow them to be exported over seas.
National Security
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Climate change poses a threat to global security, with potentially catastrophic effects around the world, and here in the US, if we don’t significantly reduce global warming pollution soon.
- A 2007 report by retired generals and admirals recommended: “The U.S. should commit to a stronger national and international role to help stabilize climate changes at levels that will avoid significant disruption to global security and stability.” (Source: http://securityandclimate.cna.org/news/releases/070416.aspx)
- “We will pay for this one way or another,” stated retired Marine Corps General Anthony C. Zinni. “We will pay to reduce greenhouse gas emissions today, and we'll have to take an economic hit of some kind. Or, we will pay the price later in military terms. And that will involve human lives. There will be a human toll.”
Health
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Climate disruption will have profound impact on the public health. We’ll see more frequent and intense heat waves, increased rates of asthma caused by air pollution, more vector-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, and more extreme droughts, flooding and wildfires.
- The World Health Organization estimates that global warming is already responsible for 150,000 deaths and 5 million illnesses each year. (Source: http://www.who.int/topics/climate/en/index.html )
Where to send them:
Seattle Times (200 words max)
opinion@seattletimes.com
Seattle P-I (200 words max suggested)
editpage@seattlepi.com
--East King County
Kirkland Reporter (200 words max) Print edition on Wednesdays; online LTEs printed daily
cwood@kirklandreporter.com
Redmond Reporter (no word limit, but they may edit) Print edition published Wednesdays & Saturdays; online LTEs printed daily
bchristianson@redmond-reporter.com
Bellevue Reporter (does not specify word limit but 200 is probably good.)
letters@bellevuereporter.com
Bellevue Reporter
Circulation: 40,215
Published: Twice-weekly (Wednesday and Saturday)
cgroshart@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/east_king/bel&returnPath=/east_king/bel/
Mercer Island Reporter
Go to: http://www.mi-reporter.com/opinion/
Then to LETTERS and below that, “Send your letter to the editor”
Sammamish Reporter (150-200 words) Print edition Fridays; online LTEs printed every couple of days, unless it is notably urgent
jlynch@sammamishreporter.com
Issaquah Reporter
jlynch@issaquahreporter.com
Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter
editor@issaquah-reporter.com
Snoqualmie Valley Reporter/Valley Record (250 words max) Print edition on Wednesdays, must receive letters by Monday; online letters occasionally printed
editor@valleyrecord.com
Puget Sound Business Journal (no known word limit)
gerb@bizjournals.com
rsmith@bizjournals.com
Renton Reporter
Circulation: 31,085
Published: Weekly (Friday)
dradford@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_king/ren&returnPath=/south_king/ren/
Kent Reporter
Circulation: 30,211
Published: Twice-weekly (Wednesday and Saturday)
lpierce@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_king/ken&returnPath=/south_king/ken/
Auburn Reporter
Circulation: 29,422
Published: Weekly (Friday)
mklaas@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_king/aub&returnPath=/south_king/aub/
--North King County
Bothell Reporter/ Kenmore Reporter (250 words max) Print edition on Wednesdays; online letters once a week
anystrom@bothell-reporter.com
Everett Herald
letters@heraldnet.com
Bellingham Herald (200 words max)
letters@bellinghamherald.com
---Eastern WA --
Spokesman Review
editor@spokesman.com
Yakima Herald
If you submit the letter, please send it to: opinion@yakimaherald.com
Please put “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line and please add your name, address, day phone (and title if a pastor and that’s appropriate.)
To be considered for publication, letters must be no more than 200 words and may be edited for grammar and clarity. Longer letters, up to 500 words, will appear on yakimaherald.com.
Walla Walla Union Bulletin
letters@wwub.com
400 words or less
Wenatchee World
http://wenatcheeworld.com/section/EDITOR
300 words or less
--- South --
The Olympian 250 words via this site:
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/#lteanchor
Aberdeen Daily World
letters@thedailyworld.com
or via the web: http://www.thedailyworld.com/opinion/columnists/
Tacoma News Tribune
letters@thenewstribune.com
or via the web
https://secure.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters/
Letters should be limited to 250 words; those less than 150 words will be given – must have an account.
The Columbian
http://www.columbian.com/section/opinionlettersform
--Kitsap County
Bainbridge Island Review (250 words max suggested) Print edition Fridays; online LTEs also printed Fridays
editor@bainbridgereview.com
Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter (Same editor, make a note if you want it submitted to both – No word max given)
editor@bremertonpatriot.com
Kitsap Sun
letters@kitsapsun.com
(200 words max)
Parade of Reasons Visit to Cantwell and Murray's Offices, A Success!
CoolMom's Tara Reynold's and son, Hiram and Terri Glaberson, with daughter, Sydney were on hand to show off their artwork to be handed in to Senator Cantwell and Murray's Offices. What a great start to the morning! Over 40 people, including CoolMom Jen Bradbury and Cynthia Tamlyn and her two children, came to visit the Senator's offices to express their concern about passing a strong climate bill this year! Representatives from Washington Environmental Council, Fuse Washington, Climate Solutions, People for Puget Sound, Family Physician's group and many more joined together and asked for action on a climate energy bill that President Obama can take with him to Copehagen in December. Let's keep up the great work and make this happen!
Please let us know if you went to the Senator's offices today and tell us your experience!
Kimberly Christensen visited the Senator's offices today and this is what she said, "I brought the kids to both Cantwell and Murray's office today around 2 pm. Murray's folks were so friendly and one told me about the 40-50 people who had been there earlier!"
Missed today's Senate Office Visit, there are still things you can do...Write a Letter to the Editor
sample letter here.
At this defining moment, we know that inaction is not an option – we must act, and we must act now. The forces of the failed status quo – Big Oil, Dirty Coal, and their allies in Congress who dogmatically say “no” to anything that smacks of progress towards a clean energy future – are already pulling out all the stops to prevent a clean energy jobs bill from passing. We say yes to a new direction for our country, and we need a bill that:
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Maximizes Clean Energy Jobs for America
- Takes serious steps towards cutting global warming air pollution as soon as possible
- Transitions us away from the dirty coal and big oil fuels of the past and towards the clean energy of the future
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