ELPC recently helped South Dakota enact interconnection standards, the rules necessary to help small energy producers connect to the grid. ELPC Policy Advocate Matt McLarty said that gathering public input on its Small Renewable Energy Initiative is a ”critically important step.”

“If South Dakota is going to see its potential fully develop, especially in wind, this is a critical step to layer businesses, as well as small producers, to start a dialogue and get this going,” McLarty said.

Read coverage of the initiative in the Argus Leader

the public can comment on the initiative through this website

Call from individuals may be the best way to influence this important vote. Call your legislators today and ask them to vote  yes on the the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill.

Job Description: Are you looking for a way to advance your skills in organizing?   Are you interested in learning how to do your part for the environmental movement?   Do you want to learn how to lead your community in making real change against Global Warming?  Do you know someone who wants to learn new skills, but doesn’t know how? The Greenpeace Organizing Term (GOT) is a semester training program where students will learn the skills necessary to create change!   http://www.greenpeace.org/got Students learn campaign, grassroots organizing, and direct action skills for a full semester in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, CA.   Trainings are conducted by Greenpeace staff and other leaders in the environmental movement (http://tinyurl.com/gottraining).  During the semester you’ll travel and get to stretch those new campaign muscles in the field working on a real Greenpeace campaign.  You’ll also spend a week on the Greenpeace Expedition (http://tinyurl.com/gpexpedition).  The expedition is where students travel to communities to learn how environmental issues are affecting so many parts of the country, and world.  The GOT is for current undergraduate students who are 18-24.  If you know someone else who is, please pass on our website! http://www.greenpeace.org/got
We are looking for folks who are passionate about the environment, understand grassroots organizing, and who are ready to get their hands dirty.  Fall semester enrollment is rolling but spots are filling up quickly!  Semester begins September 21st.

For more information and to apply: http://www.greenpeace.org/got

Requirements:

Students who are passionate, smart, and visionary.
-  Applicants must be committed to protecting the environment.
-  Rising freshmen and sophomores are preferred.
-  Must be 18-24 years of age as well as a current undergraduate student. -  No prior experience is necessary.
-  Greenpeace strongly encourages applications from women, people of -  color and other underrepresented communities.

Accepting applications now until the end of August at http://www.greenpeace.org/got

“Transitioning to a new clean-energy economy will create a bright economic future for North Dakota. In fact, the transition is already under way…North Dakota stands to gain a great deal from clean energy legislation. Our state has a huge potential for wind energy, clean biofuels and other energy sources.”

Read the full OpEd.

We need your help to raise public awareness and support for this historic bill. After successfully passing the bill in the House of Representatives it is now up to the Senate and President Obama to ensure that the Unites States takes action to solve climate change and adopt a coherent clean energy policy.

If you would like to learn about future volunteer opportunities to help raise support for this historic environmental legislation please contact Katy Hintzen today by calling 773-812-3567 or e-mailing khintzen@elpc.org.

Read the front page story about the new rules in the Argus Leader.