64 groups join to fight for climate change bill

(Photo of Capitol from Flickr and photographer Linedog1848)

Groups that realize we need a climate bill now are not going to lie down and let the anti forces roll over them. That’s sure good to hear, after the drubbing health care reform has been taking.

A coalition of 64 environmental groups, unions, sportsmen, religious organizations, veterans, businesses and others announced Tuesday formation of Clean Energy Works, a multi-million-dollar campaign to pass a climate bill in Washington.

Members include such varied organizations as the Sierra Club, Service Employees Union, NAACP, VoteVets and Catholics United. Some of the coalition members lobbied hard for the successful passage of the House bill in June. Others have joined to make a “bigger, bolder and stronger” force as the bill moves to the Senate, according to a Clean Energy Works spokesman.

The group plans to hold 50 events this week to coincide with the release of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy report on the economic benefits of passing a climate bill.

The coalition is not specifying what it wants to see in the Senate bill, or final bill that goes to the President, though individual members will continue to fight for issues important to them.

A staff of 35, provided by member groups, will steer the effort. Plans include grass-roots actions in 28 states and a massive advertising campaign. Ultimate targets of the campaign are about 20 swing votes in the Senate.

Opposition
Also targeting those Senators are climate bill opponents like the American Petroleum Institute, American Coalition for Clean Coal and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who have already launched a huge campaign of grass-roots events, media advertising and lobbying, warning about potential job-loss, high costs and government takeover.

There’s also a group – Climate SOS – working on the left to kill the bill and start over again, saying the House bill – the American Clean Energy and Security Act – doesn’t go far enough. That group plans non-violent civil disobedience, occupation of offices (including those of key proponents Barbara Boxer and John Kerry) and protests on Sept. 22. Groups in SOS include Progressive Democrats of America and the Energy Justice Network.

Perhaps the more militant group on the left (they’re right, you know, it doesn’t go far enough, but we don’t have time to put this off and it’s probably the best we can do) will help Clean Energy Works seem mainstream (it is) and perhaps get it more support.

I’m very relieved a large coalition is pushing for a bill. But we can’t make “them” do all the work. This affects “us” and when Clean Energy Works and its member organizations reach out to us we should do all we can, especially those living in swing states. Keep after your senators. We need this.

(Sources: E&E News PM, Business Week )

Oil-funded protests staged to show 'energy citizens' ire against House climate change bill

(Photo of protest at Sen. Mark Warner's (D-Va.) office from Flickr and photographer formatted_dad/Michael

If you’ve been annoyed at the phony grass-roots protests of health reform, just wait till you see what’s coming on climate change.

Starting Tuesday in Houston, the American Petroleum Institute will bankroll at least 20 rallies across the country in coordination with Freedom Works (Dick Armey’s group that brought you the screaming health protestors) and many other industrial and conservative organizations. In an email that was leaked, API said it would do all the organizing (by hiring a professional events manager) and all the others had to do was “show up.”

The Astroturf “energy citizens” rallies are being staged at lunchtime, primarily in areas where Democratic senators have conservative constituencies. They are staged to give the impression there’s a groundswell of public opinion against Obama’s climate strategy.

The purpose is not to kill climate change legislation, API insists, but to make the Senate version of the bill more energy (read “oil”) friendly.

Talking points
Expect the usual half-truths, exaggerations and mostly downright lies.
A flier promoting the rallies says the House version of the climate bill, would:
• Cost 2 million jobs.
• Push gasoline prices over $4/gallon.
• Reduce energy security.
• Hurt American businesses’ ability to compete.

Talking points will include budget projections that were refuted by the Congressional Budget Office weeks ago.

Other organizations participating in the rallies include the American Farm Bureau, American Highway Users Alliance, National Black Chamber of Commerce, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, and Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.

Another group, the Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (don’t be fooled by the word “clean”) has already begun a program of harassment at town meetings and other events.

Some companies are members of both the American Petroleum Institute and U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), which backs the legislation. ConocoPhillips is urging its employees to turn out for the rallies and Exxon backs them. Shell, on the other hand, says it does not support them.

Oil and coal companies are basically fighting for their lives here. Strong regulation of emissions and a shift to clean energy will hurt them badly. So their motivation is strong. And they have the money to do this.

Environmental groups don’t have the money to stage such events, but there will be some rallies to strengthen climate legislation and as well as plans to contact senators in person and by phone or email. We all need to lend a voice. The other side is going all out.

(Sources: Greenwire, The Guardian)

Follow the $$ that influenced climate change bill

(Picture of money from Flickr and photographer Tracy O.)

There are 2 ways for industry to gain access to congressman considering global warming (or any other) legislation. Both involve money. There are paid lobbyists and contributions to campaign funds.

And Big Energy was busy trying both ways in the House this spring as the American Clean and Energy Security Act (ACES) was heatedly debated and narrowly passed with some concessions to electric utilities and coal.

As Tyson Slocum of Public Citizen told Greenwire, “The more you spend the better chance you’ve got at influencing legislation.”

Lobbyists
In the second quarter alone (April-June, when the bill was debated in committee), the 10 industries with the biggest stake in the results spent $122 million. Oil and gas spent the most, at $37.7 million. Chevron alone spent $6 million. Environmental groups spent just $5.2M.

In the whole first half of 2009, oil and gas spent $82.2M and electric utilities spent $35.9 million on lobbyists, while Exxon Mobil by itself spent $15M, slightly more than all clean energy combined.

Campaign contributions
In the same quarter, coal-fired electric utilities, with potentially the most to lose, were busy contributing to Congressmen’s campaign funds. Especially those on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which was debating the climate change bill.

Employee PACS at American Electric Power, Southern Co. and Duke Energy together donated $165,000 to 70 house members, many on the Energy Committee. The largest donation, $11,500, went to Minority Leader John Boener (R-Ohio).

Those who received these contributions voted 2-1 against the bill. This despite the fact that the three companies ended up supported it – and why not? They got a pretty good deal, with 35% of the free credits allocated to electric utilities. Plus the EPA lost some of is power to regulate coal-fired utility plants under the Clean Air Act. And research money for carbon capture and sequestration was included.

Eight Republicans ended up voting for the bill. Of those, 7 got little or no money from the utilities. An industry rep explained to E&E Daily they only contribute to those with whom they see eye-to-eye on issues. The wavering Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.), who ended up voting for the bill, was wooed with contributions by both sides.

More money for Democrats
Because they now have the majority (and some hail from oil patch and coal states), Democrats in the House and Senate got a bigger share of energy money than before. In the first half of the 2009 utilities gave 59% of their cash to Democrats, and the nuclear industry gave 65% of theirs.

But oil and gas, and coal, continued to favor the GOP. Oil and gas gave less than 25% to Dems, among them Sens. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), while the National Mining Assn. gave 40%. Exxon Mobil gave just 17% to Democrats.

Both sides (corporations and lawmakers), of course, deny this money buys votes. Industry sources say they tend to give money to those who see issues as they do. They said they donate when lawmakers hold fundraisers, not when a key bill is being considered.

Senators must not have been holding as many fund-raisers this spring, because they got considerably less from the electric utilities than House members.

As action on the climate bill moves to the Senate, look for a rise in “fund raising” there this fall.

(Sources: E&E Daily, Greenwire)