Keeping it Cap and Trade, not Bait and Switch
June 24th, 2010
This week has been a hot one, both outside with temperatures in the 90s for much of the country, and in the U.S. Congress. President Obama was supposed to bring a bipartisan group of Senate energy leaders to the White House to devise a clean energy bill in response to the Gulf oil disaster but the meeting was postponed as the President was busy with other matters (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/23/AR2010062300689.html ) Yesterday, COEJL co-sponsored a conference call with Senator Joe Lieberman’s office to discuss the American Power Act and how it reflects on our core objectives as a Jewish environmental organization – to reduce our dependence on foreign oil alongside our emissions of greenhouse gases. And today, the Senate Democratic Caucus will meet to decide its course of action.
Several energy and climate proposals are still out there and it looks like some folks on Capitol Hill advocate regulating energy generation utilities with a carbon-pricing mechanism alone will be enough of a possible first step. (For a good review of the pros and cons of such a plan go to: http://www.grist.org/article/2010-06-21-is-a-utility-only-cap-and-trade-bill-worth-passing.) COEJL, along with many other environmental organizations, wants to see a move toward carbon-pricing but is concerned that this limited approach may not go far enough. The utility sector is nothing to sneeze at, being that it contributes to upwards of 40% of our carbon emissions, nonetheless the sooner we have economy-wide carbon pricing that addresses 100% of our energy usage and overall carbon footprint the better. Too much is at stake environmentally and economically to procrastinate any further.
In terms of our moving targets on Capitol Hill, a bill that caps and prices carbon in the utilities sector is still better than a bait and switch bill that only focuses on energy efficiency, such as the one proposed by Senator Lugar.
Now is the time to act with a comprehensive bill that will get our nation on track with reducing our emissions, putting a price on carbon, and stimulating the growth of a new green economy.
(Read COEJL’s statement on APA at http://www.coejl.org/index.php Check out the Religious Action Center’s website for more steps you can take to help the Jewish environmental movement: http://rac.org/advocacy/lac/alerts/)
Make Your Own Cap!
Let’s not wait for cap and trade to lower our own carbon emissions. We can set an example and push decision-makers in industry and government by leading with our own actions. Buy efficient and low-carbon products and services and find ways to reduce energy usage at home and at work. (See below for “Green Tips and Facts”) Join us in making a pledge to do something about it today. Get Efficiently Energized! Sign the Covenant Campaign Pledge now: www.coejl.org/covenant
News Summary
“…If one of those barrels should happen to fall”
In an internal BP document disclosed by US Representative Ed Markey, the company’s earliest worst-case scenario said the leaking oil could total 100,000 barrels daily.
(Read more here: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/bp-accused-of-lowballing-oil-leak-estimates.php and http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1416392020100621?type=domesticNews)
Damage Control
Ken Feinberg, the man chosen to head the commission on managing the $20 billion fund for disaster claims in the Gulf region said Monday on “Good Morning America,” “BP and the administration have made it very clear: I’m running an independent claims facility.” Feinberg’s got his work cut out for him – just this week workers were turned away from a BP claims center for incorrect paper work. (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-ken-feinberg-promises-money-abc/story?id=10956385) Last week Congressional hearings were all about BP providing $20 billion for damage claims and how BP is going to pay for their mess. This week watch for Congressional hearings to be addressing the various issues on deep water and off-shore drilling moratoriums and how that affects the local workforces along the Gulf coast.
(Here is the latest on the hearings: (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/06/gulf-oil-spill-salazar-defends-renewed-moratorium.html)
Whittling Away
The Obama administration may consider a bill that caps greenhouse gas emissions from the electric utility sector alone, which they feel could face better political odds than an effort to cap emissions across the economy. COEJL would support a more comprehensive approach that will invest in renewable energy, create green jobs, reduce carbon emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. (See COEJL’s take on this at COEJL.org.)
(Read more about utility only options here: http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/06/22/22climatewire-utility-only-option-for-climate-bill-fails-to-2745.html?pagewanted=2)
Sybil Sanchez’s Letter to the Senate
Sybil Sanchez, Director of COEJL, sent a letter to the Senate on June 24th, 2010, expressing the organization’s viewpoint on the issues and expectations of the governing body. Here is an excerpt:
“On behalf of American Jews concerned about fossil fuel dependence and climate change, I urge you to work toward passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year. The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) endorsed the American Clean Energy and Security Act and welcomed the introduction of the American Power Act, despite imperfections in both bills. We did this because we know that our country needs to invest in renewable energy, create green jobs, reduce carbon emissions, lessen dependence on fossil fuels, and ensure adequate financial support for the poorest populations worldwide who are most affected by climate change.“…”During this time of national tragedy, the Senate must and will respond; however, we can choose to respond only to this isolated incident, or we can advocate for a comprehensive response to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs again…”
Community Features
NYC Event: Dr. Alon Tal, Monday, June 28th
Leading Israeli environmentalist and co-founder of the Arava Institute Alon Tal will speak on “The Green Dream: Herzl, Zionism, and Israel’s Environment” June 28th, 2010. Read more on Facebook and the American Zionist Movement website. Download the flier here.
Green Tips and Facts – Save Energy, Dollars and the Planet
This week learn more about energy savings and other helpful green tips from the L.A. Times: http://www.latimes.com/stv-green-storygallery-tipsandfacts,0,5926287.storygallery
