Making Congress Act

Developing a Congressional Clean Energy Voting Bloc

Mel (Mary Ellen) Harte, melharte@yahoo.com February 28, 2013

The Bad News: We Need to Act Fast

Catastrophic Climate Change is already happening, driven by the burning of fossil fuels.

The Bad News: We Need to Act Fast

CC is accelerating faster than predicted

Arctic Ice Cap

Greenland Ice Sheet

The Bad News: We Need to Act Fast

CC will likely become self-driven, and unstoppable within a few decades

- the methane bomb - loss of the summer Arctic ice, i.e., an important global heat shield

Methane Bomb

Methane escaping from underwater hydrate deposits Just 1o F more to start melting this permafrost.

Loss of the Arctic Heat Shield

The Good News: Solutions Exist

We can slow climate change in time through dramatically cutting carbon emissions by:
Switching

FAST to renewable clean energy

The Good News: Solutions Exist

We can slow climate change in time through dramatically cutting carbon emissions by:

Accelerating energy conservation and energy efficiency

The Good News: Solutions Exist

We can slow climate change in time through dramatically cutting carbon emissions by:

Preserving Forests and other carbon storage systems

The Good News: Solutions Exist

We can slow climate change in time through dramatically cutting carbon emissions by:

Exercising Responsible Reproduction Worldwide

The Good News: Solutions Exist

We can slow climate change in time through dramatically cutting carbon emissions by:
Valuing

Sustainable Over Growing Economies so that we do not undermine the ecosystem

services and resources that underpin human survival on Earth

The Good News: Solutions Exist

We can slow climate change in time through dramatically cutting carbon emissions by:

Switching

FAST to renewable clean energy

Accelerating energy conservation and efficiency Preserving Forests and other carbon sinks Exercising Responsible Reproduction Worldwide Valuing Sustainabile Over Growing Economies

Switching to Clean Energy: how can we do it, and what will it look like?

The Success Story: Germany

German Parliament: Renewable Energy Act of 2000 their Congress created it!

Energy efficient parliament building

The Success Story: Germany

Decentralized development of clean energy production ensured: private & commercial solar and wind power generation, with a guaranteed market & price for producers

See Clean Break: The Story of Germany's Energy Transformation and What Americans Can Learn from It an ebook; also google the bloomberg.com online installments. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-13/germany-has-built-clean-energyeconomy-u-s-rejected-in-80s.html

The Success Story: Germany

25% of its power today from renewables, goal is 80% by 2050 AND its the strongest European economy today

Can the US transition FAST?

Recent history says YES! - World War II : the US mobilized its citizens, producing 300,000+ fighter planes alone in 4 years, Despite fewer resources and people

The Vision: Clean Energy USA

Wind turbine through the midwest and mountains; solar on rooftops and in the southwest

Switching Will Boost the US Economy

Despite relatively little Congressional support, the solar industry is experiencing strong growth in a stagnating economy: 13+% job growth in 2012; total: 110,000+ jobs.

Latest Solar Jobs Census Shows Strong Growth

Switching Will Boost the US Economy

Despite relatively little Congressional support, the wind industry experienced strong 2012 growth in a stagnating economy: Installed 13,000+ MW in 2012.

A Record Year for the American Wind Industry

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/01/30/record-year-american-wind-industry

Clean Energy Will Likely Be Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels

Improvements in solar technology has caused the price of solar to drop dramatically in the past few years The Solar Spin Cell could bring the price of solar power to 8 /kWh hr, vs. avg US price 12 /kWh Without climate change, enviro costs

V3Solar Spin Cell = 8 Cents/kWh?

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/01/24/v3solar-spin-cell-cones-cheapsolar/#LDLzdWYpizetoQES.99

How Can We Make Congress Act on Developing Clean Energy?

Congress Listens To Voters

So far, the US Congress has done relatively little to support clean energy development, but it listens to those who fund their efforts to get YOUR vote (ie, lobbyists: NRA, fossil fuelies) It listens to loud voting blocs (eg, the Tea Party) It listens to elections

VISION: A Congressional Clean Energy Voting Bloc

Collects pledges from voters committing their vote to clean energy Congressional candidates

VISION: A Congressional Clean Energy Voting Bloc

Collects pledges from voters committing their vote to clean energy Congressional candidates When you have many pledges, tell Congress! And keep updating them as you get more and more.

VISION: A Congressional Clean Energy Voting Bloc GOALS

get Congress to drop FF subsidies Provide longterm reliable support for renewable clean energy Move to transition quickly to clean energy

VISION: A Congressional Clean Energy Voting Bloc

Collects

pledges Tell Congress & stay on their radar! Supply A Clear Set of Goals

Can a Clean Energy Voting Bloc Work?

2012: LCV targeted 12 anti-clean energy Rs 11 lost!

Can a Clean Energy Voting Bloc Work?

Post 2012: Bipartisan lawmakers to push tax

code change for renewable energy in 2013

-

extend FF tax breaks to include clean energy Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act - 3 R senators, 1 R (Tex) House sponsors

Can a Clean Energy Voting Bloc Work?

Congressional elections occur every 2 years DCCC: House Democrats to target 48 GOP seats in 2014 need 17 to gain the House, says Steve Israel

CA Rs elected in districts that voted for Obama - Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional
district for the 2012 and 2008 elections

Can a Clean Energy Voting Bloc Work?

Climate Change Helps: The Top 10

Hardest-Hit States for Crop Damage are

mostly red states

Building A Clean EnergyVoting Bloc

We Are the Clean 99% voting pledge (600+ at signon.org)

Provide continuous reliable support for clean renewable energy, stop subsidizing dirty energy, and make the rich pay their fair share to help finance a clean energy transition. We pledge our votes to candidates who support these goals.

Green leaders have signed on, but

Building A Clean EnergyVoting Bloc

Green organizations (SC, LCV, et al) have not supported, endorsed or tried to create one themselves.

Building A Clean EnergyVoting Bloc

Campus-based Energy Action Coalition: 2012 clean energy vote pledge (powervote.org) why not build on that?

Summary

We need to act fast to address climate change By transitioning to clean energy quickly. We have the resources and technology, But we need to convince Congress to do so. Creating a Congressional Clean Energy Voting Bloc could make Congress act fast on clean energy.

Questions so far?

Communicating Clean Energy, Climate Change at the Huff

Im a journalist (a broadcaster), not reporter: Climate Change This Week: huff column short, snappy format - links to: Climate Change Reports at Wordpress.com Mels Climate Change Reports: podcasts at www.CoolTheEarth.US with 2008 book

Communicating Clean Energy, Climate Change at the Huff

Reframe, Re-Market the News

eg: China Investing XX billions in clean energy

= China Ahead of US in Clean Energy

Good Graphics Humor channel Steve Colbert Be Brief

My Arc as a Blogger

Buildup:
broadcast a weekly radio summer show on natural history since 1999 2008 co-authored free online book Cool The Earth, Save the Economy, writing opinion pieces at the huff w. husband, write natural history pieces,

My Arc as a Blogger

The Huff: Pretend Im NPR and REALLY concerned about climate change Making the news tweetable, humorous, exciting, and even sensational

My Arc as a Blogger

Monitoring: How many reposted, retweeted it? How many follow? How many mega-following commentors comment? Web-savvy friends are helpful

Blogging at the Huff

The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging The huff editors have to approve what you write until youve build cred with them Start your own blog at wordpress or other blogging sites, build a following via social networks, online publications ie, build your online blogging reputation You can pitch a blog to the huff contact them

Questions?

Thanks for Listening!