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Great NH editorial on wind power and global warming!
-- brucebc -- 07/12/2007
On Wednesday, Foster's Daily Democrat ran a great editorial on wind power's potential in New Hampshire and Maine and that the future of renewable energy is strong and an important element in the fight against Global Warming. This is yet another piece of evidence that makes clear that in the Granite State, alternative energy sources and moving away from coal are a goal that has broad agreement.
Live Earth 2007
-- Anthony -- 07/09/2007
This past weekend, an estimated 2 billion people tuned into the Live Earth concerts taking place on all seven continents. The event - to raise awareness of the threat posed by global warming - was the largest of its kind ever.
I attended the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., with several colleagues. As an undergraduate student originally from Northern New Jersey, but currently living and working in Washington, D.C., I was proud that my home state hosted North America's concert.
Throughout the day, the grounds of the sports complex were bustling with concert goers perusing the booths of organizations seeking to raise awareness of their global warming-related causes. Inside the stadium, public service announcements via the stage scroll screen and videos highlighted statistics regarding energy consumption and conservation between musical acts. Recycling and compost bins as well as corn-based biodegradable plastic beverage cups could be seen everywhere. It truly was a look at the Green Revolution.
The Live Earth concerts brought international attention to the issue of global warming. Each of us learned learned how we could reduce, offset, and even eliminate our own carbon footprints. Additionally, each of us recognized the importance of national and international initiatives to collectively confront global climate change.
In order to accomplish such measures, citizens the world over must demand that their elected leaders have the political leadership to make the tough decisions that will be required of them on this critical issue. For this reason especially, Live Earth emphasized the increasing importance of solving global warming as a priority to voters in the 2008 presidential election.
What’s their position on…
-- Mike -- 07/09/2007
Where do the candidates stand on fuel efficiency? What about a carbon cap? Or a renewable electricity standard? Click here to view the most recent version of our chart detailing where each of the candidates stand on these and other important global warming issues.
Romney: Use Less Oil By Becoming Energy Independent
-- Mike -- 07/05/2007
I happened to catch C-SPAN's coverage of a Mitt Romney event in Creston, IA, from earlier this week. During the Q&A, Romney was asked how he would work with Congress to get things done. Romney responded that he is "willing to work across the aisle" on, among other issues, "using less oil by becoming energy independent in this country."
Conversation with Governor Richardson in NH
-- brucebc -- 07/05/2007
I just returned from the taping of a Conversation With Governor Bill Richardson at the studios of WMUR in Manchester, NH. In today's "Conversation," to be broadcast on WMUR (the ABC affiliate in New Hampshire) next Friday, Governor Richardson provided details on various global warming policies in answering a question about what he would do to make America energy independent? Included in his answer were various specifics, such as increasing fuel efficiency to 50 MPG, greatly expanding the use of renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions by 90 percent and increasing conservation in general. In today's comments, Governor Richardson also added, at the end of his list, "capping emissions from coal power plants."
When I asked him about his comments on coal power plants after the taping, Governor Richardson explained that there should be no new coal plants except for "clean coal." He added: "Or if they capture and sequester 60% of their emissions." A moment later, while shaking another hand, he looked back at me and said: "Did you know that I stopped the construction of a coal plant in my state? I did, I stopped it. This is important."
Clinton Discusses Energy, Global Warming in Iowa
-- Steve -- 07/04/2007
Surrounded by bales of straw on a flat-bed trailer stage, Hillary Clinton was accompanied by her husband for their first political joint appearance in Iowa yesterday. Clinton's new campaign theme song, "You and I" by Celine Dion, was played in the background as the Clintons were escorted by Ruth Harkin, Senator Tom Harkin's wife to the elevated stage.
President Clinton gave a brief bio of Senator Clinton and kept his remarks brief and to the point of why he believes his wife is the best qualified candidate.. Senator Clinton outlined several policy areas that she believes need the next administrations immediate attention, including energy policy.
Senator Clinton's approach to energy independence is to establish a "strategic energy fund" for research for clean renewable energy. Resources that currently go to the oil industry as subsidies would be redirected to this fund, she said, and used to fund research for new clean renewable energy sources.
Senator Clinton also spoke about "green collar" jobs in her stump speech. When addressing global warming, she said that new technologies, research and production jobs that will go into clean renewable energy solutions. Millions of new "green collar" jobs will be created around the country, she said.
It was encouraging to hear Senator Clinton discuss global warming, green collar jobs and the strategic energy fund, and we look forward to hearing more about her energy policy in the future. At her next town meeting - and at every candidate's next town meeting - Iowans should continue to ask questions about how we will solve the global climate crisis.
Young Evangelicals Become Part of the Green Movement
-- Ellie -- 07/02/2007
There are an estimated sixty million evangelical Christians in the United States today. In past elections, they have proven to be a vital voting bloc, with some suggesting that the evangelical community provided the margin of victory for President George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. But is the evangelical community changing its outlook on climate change?
Before his death, Reverend Jerry Falwell voiced his concerns about the green movement, suggesting it was distracting evangelical Christians from the movement's core issues, like gay marriage and abortion. However, this placed him at odds with a growing chorus of relgious leaders, such as Richard Cizik, the vice president of the National Organization of Evangelicals, who has called for action to reverse the effects of global warming.
It appears that a significant shift may be taking place, at least with respect to the list of concerns within the evangelical community. Polls show increasing numbers of evangelicals think that global warming poses a threat to future generations. And younger evangelicals are concerned more with international human rights, health care, and climate change, than the "wedge issues" that interested older evangelicals. As we get closer to next year's elections, its encouraging to hear that young voters, whatever their party or religion, are concerned about global warming.
Investing in coal is not a solution to global warming
-- Anthony -- 07/02/2007
The Washington Post reported today that "the coal mining companies, which for years have been branded the bad guys of global warming, are fighting back."
The article discussed how members of the coal mining industry have branded carbon emission-reducing corporations like Caterpillar, General Electric and Johnson & Johnson as "un-American" for befriending environmental groups, which they view as "enemies of coal." Chief Executive Steven Leer of Arch Coal argues: "If we want to address climate concerns, we need to invest more heavily in coal-not less."
It is not surprising that the coal industry would want more investment in and attention directed towards the opportunities coal presents. However, scientific advancements and technological innovations have shown that we can solve global warming - and achieve energy independence - by moving away from fossil fuels such as coal and instead promote clean, alternative energy sources.
The continued investment in renewable energy technologies will further challenge American creativity and ingenuity to produce the most efficient energy technology, which will create millions of new jobs as well as improve the international economy and the global environment.
The branding of American corporations taking global warming seriously as "un-American" underscores the need to raise the debate on global warming and make it a priority issue in the 2008 presidential nomination process.
Pump up Washington
-- Mark -- 06/30/2007
Earlier this week in London, Arnold Schwarzenegger met with Tony Blair on his last full day in office. Blair acknowledged Governor Schwarzenegger for his efforts against climate change, as well as his influence on President Bush. In return, Schwarzenegger praised the Prime Minister for his efforts by pointing out that you can protect the planet and the economy.
This time last year, Blair traveled to California so that the U.K. and California could form a transatlantic partnership to address global warming in order - looking at ways to limit greenhouse gas emissions and use cleaner-burning fuels. Last year, Blair recognized Schwarzenegger for signing legislation that imposed the U.S.'s first statewide cap on greenhouse gases. Blair said California's effort to fight global warming has helped stir Bush in the right direction during the G8 summit in Germany.
"The fact that the state of California was making such a determined effort and setting out a new direction on climate change . . . I think this played enormous part," Blair said. "Surely this exposed the President of the country to what its people were saying."
Schwarzenegger stated that by experimenting with a greenhouse gas cap, a state like California can show the U.S. federal government that it can succeed without damaging the economy. The recent success of California's battle against climate change will hopefully influence all of the presidential candidates in the upcoming debates, including the Democratic Debate held in Charleston, S.C., later this month.
NH continues to show leadership in developing renewable energy
-- brucebc -- 06/29/2007
Yesterday, New Hampshire's Site Evaluation Committee gave the final okay for the first real commercial-scale wind farm in the state. The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that by 2008, the wind farm, to be located in Lempster, will be able to generate enough power for more than 10,000 homes. Looked at in the context of yesterday's news that GT Solar would be doubling their production capacity of solar technologies, this spring's news that 164 towns passed resolutions seeking national leadership on climate change and renewable energy technologies and the fact that New Hampshire passed a renewable energy bill requiring 25% renewables by 2025 (that the State Senate passed UNANIMOUSLY), it is very clear that global warming and renewable energy are top issues here. With more than 20 other states passing renewable energy bills of various kinds, the expansion of renewables across the nation and polling showing that climate change is broadly seen as the most critical environmental issue we face, it's clear that global warming is an issue that will not be ignored in the race for the White House.
