Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Michigan Scientists Call for Strong Federal Action on Climate Change
More than 175 scientists from universities across Michigan delivered a letter to the Michigan Congressional Delegation urging strong federal policy action on climate change. The effort to bring the scientists together around this critical area of consensus was led by ELPC Science Advisory Council member Knute Nadelhoffer, who is a professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan and Director of the University of Michigan Biological Station at Pellston. The letter began:
“As scientists living and working in colleges and universities in the state of Michigan, we urge the Michigan Congressional delegation to support strong federal policies for rapid and deep reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. We are convinced that immediate action is necessary to avoid the worst consequences of global warming on Michigan’s economy and environment, including the Great Lakes.”
The scientists noted that getting scientists to agree on any one thing is often a challenge, but “when it comes to climate change and the need for action now, we all agree: Congress must pass measures to protect Michigan and the Great Lakes from climate change.”
Read the letter and list of scientists.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
A message from celebrity chef rick bayless on how you can help solve global warming. Visit GlobalWarmingSolutions.org.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Developing clean energy is critical to solving global warming, strengthening our economy and increasing our energy independence. A clean energy future will require us to use energy more efficiently and generate more of our electricity from clean, renewable sources including wind and solar power.
Efficiency
Energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to meet our growing energy needs. Taking advantage of energy efficiency will lower consumers’ energy bills, reduce pollution and put hundreds of thousands of people to work performing energy audits, retrofitting older buildings, manufacturing energy efficient building materials and more. ELPC is part of the national Campaign for an Energy Efficient America that is pushing for nationwide energy efficiency standard- you can learn more at www.energyefficiencyworks.org
Renewables
Generating electricity from renewable sources like wind, sunlight, plants, moving water and the earth’s heat will greatly reduce global warming pollution while increasing our energy independence creating new jobs and income, especially in rural America. Investing in clean energy will diversify our energy supply and create a sustainable way to move our country forward.
ELPC is working on state and local policies that encourage renewable energy development and is part of the coalition advocating for federal clean energy legislation. You can learn more at www.renewableenergyworks.org.
Working Together
In combination, energy efficiency, renewable energy and greenhouse gas cap-and-trade will greatly reduce global warming pollution, grow the clean energy economy and stabilize consumer energy prices. Click here to read an analysis of how the three components work together.
What can I Do?
Transitioning to a clean energy economy will take political courage. Contact your elected officials and ask them to support that national Energy Efficiency and Renewable Electricity standards.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
In an Argus Leader OpEd, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner explains that South Dakota is well-positioned to gain both economic as well as environmental benefits from global warming solutions legislation. Learner says that the state stands to benefit from a carbon-capped economy because of its excellent wind power resources and through new energy efficiency savings and a new agricultural offset and carbon sequestration program that will provide additional income to farmers. South Dakota also currently gets more than half of its energy supply from nonpolluting hydro power already.
Read the full opinion piece.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
ELPC’s Iowa Global Warming Campaign took the cue on the national Day of Service held on Martin Luther King’s birthday to help Des Moines families to weatherize their homes. Of course, the crew took along a video camera.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Environmental Law & Policy Center commends President Barack Obama’s directive to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider the prior administration’s decision denying the waiver for 14 states that have enacted legislation to reduce the global warming pollution from cars.
“President Obama’s action will spur automakers to develop the cleaner cars and innovative pollution reduction technologies that that public wants,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “We appreciate President Obama’s actions to remove the prior administration’s roadblock to states moving forward. Illinois now has a green light to enact the clean car legislation that is currently being considered.”
The state’s proposed legislation would cut global warming pollution from passenger vehicles by 30 percent by 2016. The transportation sector is the second largest source of global warming pollution nationwide. Pollution from cars and trucks is also a leading cause of asthma and other public health problems.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
From the Des Moines Register:
Blanche Formaro, 79, has lived in her house on Southeast Dunham Avenue in Des Moines since 1952. The house has survived two floods and frigid winters, but Formaro said a lot of air comes in the front door.
Or at least it did before Monday.
Volunteers with Iowa Global Warming turned out Monday to help Formaro weatherize her home. They taped plastic on the windows, changed her light bulbs to energy-efficient ones and put weather stripping on her front door.
“I appreciate it a whole bunch,” said Formaro, who has six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Basic weatherization of a home can save up to 30 percent on the energy bill, said Andrew Snow, campaign manager with Iowa Global Warming.
With the present economic crisis, there couldn’t be a better time to cut down on energy bills, Snow said. About 30 volunteers weatherized 18 area homes Monday.
“When you get groups working together, we can really make a difference in people’s lives,” Snow said.
Excerpt from Des Moines Register article. Read the full story here
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
ELPC joined Michigan residents, Native American leaders and environmental groups on January 6 in their call to stop plans for a new coal-fired power plant in Rogers City, MI. Addressing Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the advocates explained that pollution from the proposed plant would endanger the health of Michigan residents and would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in clean energy and energy efficiency is an alternative that could help Michigan meet its energy needs while creating new jobs, saving money and protecting the environment.
The Rogers City plant is one of 8 new coal plants planned for Michigan. This ‘coal rush’ poses a serious threat to the Michigan’s environmental quality and the health of its citizens. As ELPC Senior Attorney Faith Bugel said, the proposal “is not about one permit for one plant. … This is Michigan’s time to decide. Will this state move forward into the 21st century and say that it is demanding better, cleaner options for its citizens?” Read more coverage of the event here.
Public health experts from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan explain the dangerous health effects of coal plants in this editorial.
Monday, December 8, 2008
In a recent OpEd in the Des Moines Register, ELPC President and Executive Director Howard Learner warns us not to back off support for necessary global warming action because of the current economic conditions. In fact, he points out that there are many industries that will benefit from taking these steps and many new jobs that will be created.
“Solving our global-warming problems is the moral, economic, policy, political and technological challenge of our times. Fortunately, there are smart, clean renewable-energy and energy-efficiency developments and clean-car innovation strategies that are good for the economy, create new green jobs and improve the environment…”
Read the full OpEd.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
ELPC Senior Attorney John Moore recently sat down with Ethanol Producer Magazine to discuss the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. This new program, which ELPC supported in the 2008 Farm Bill, will help farmers located near biomass facilities to grow and process sustainably-grown energy crops. ELPC is working to jump-start this new program as quickly as possible.
Read the full article here
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