|
This Month: > New Centrist Energy Plan Opens Door to Consensus Climate Legislation > Virginia News Highlights > Upcoming Events 
> New Centrist Energy Plan Opens Door to Consensus Climate Legislation On May 12th, the Senate took the first critical step toward passing legislation that will reduce America's dependence on oil and boost production of clean domestic power. The introduction of the American Power Act, with unprecedented support from industry and environmentalists, begins a sprint toward passage of a clean energy bill before summer recess. "This draft is an important step for senators to negotiate effective climate legislation that can cap carbon and create jobs," said Virginia Climate Initiative Director Rob Jones. "We urge Senators Warner and Webb to support efforts to develop meaningful legislation to move this vital initiative forward." "We've argued about oil dependence and producing more clean American power for decades," said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund. "Over the next eight weeks we'll see who is serious about solving this problem." Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman today unveiled draft legislative text that will serve as the vehicle for bipartisan negotiations over comprehensive energy and climate change legislation. The draft bill contains strong goals for reducing carbon emissions and protecting the climate, significant consumer protections against cost increases, and provisions to boost domestic energy production with environmental safeguards. "Their plan has the support of the key stakeholders because it strikes a balance," said Krupp. "They're offering more domestic energy production with environmental safeguards, strong environmental goals for the climate with more flexibility, and better economic protections. "There are some areas we think can be improved, and it's our goal to work with the authors and the Congress to find the best approaches to increasing our own energy supplies while protecting our environment." The draft bill unveiled today marks a significant shift from the climate energy bill passed by the House last year. It has a new and focused approach on individual economic sectors instead of economy-wide cap and trade, resulting in a system that is more streamlined and less complex than prior proposals. The draft maintains the fundamental climate protection goal of reducing carbon pollution by 17 percent in 2020 and by 80 percent in 2050, and aims for a higher level of economic certainty by managing the costs of emissions reductions. Importantly, it contains new authorities for states to protect their coastlines from oil spills. > Virginia News Highlights Climate change and energy issues have dominated the news in Virginia over the past month. Statewide and local politicians are evaluating the future of drilling off Virginia's coast in the aftermath of the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, a petition by Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli calling on the EPA to examine its finding that global warming is a threat to people has garnered national attention. Cuccinelli also is asking for a probe into the research of former U.Va. climate researcher Michael Mann. U.Va.is challenging the demand for research. Show your support for climate change legislation and for the advancement of renewable energy in Virginia. Climate change poses a serious threat to us all, and we must act now. To stay the most up-to-date on energy and climate news in Virginia and globally, check out the VCI Facebook page. > Upcoming Events Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative Symposium June 16th & 17th, Harrisonburg: James Madison University Green Job Fair - Info June 23rd, Washington D.C. GreenWorks Symposium June 28th-30th, Charlottesville: PVCC Powering Our Buildings with Clean Energy (VSBN) June 29th, Richmond: University of Richmond
Sponsored by VCN and the VA League of Conservations Voters 
|
|
|
Website News |
9 South 12th Street, Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23219 804.648.6299 |
|
