Close Senate Vote Looms After House Passes Clean Energy Bill
The youth climate change movement is keeping up the Power Shift!
This week you and the thousands of other amazing young people that are part of the youth climate change movement are helping to push historic, groundbreaking energy policy here in the United States while making waves at the international climate negotiations in Bali (see the plethora of “BaliBuzz” tagged posts here this week).
YOU TOOK ACTION. CONGRESS RESPONDED.
Last week we asked you to stand up and take action to let your elected representatives know that you expected them to vote for our future by voting for the strongest energy bill possible. Collectively you made thousands of phone calls, signed petitions, tabled, and had meetings with your representatives.
HISTORIC ENERGY BILL JUST PASSED!
Guess what? It worked!
The House just passed an historic clean energy bill that raises fuel efficiency standards, makes renewable energy more widely available and affordable, and cuts subsidies for some of the dirtiest and most polluting industries (see summary of the bill’s components here and see here for a summary of the energy bill’s long saga up to this point).
While the bill has some problem areas, such as an ethanol mandate which will contribute to a host of environmental and social problems both in the United States and abroad, you have helped pass the best national energy bill our country has ever seen. You have helped lay the groundwork for a a sustainable, just, and prosperous future!
TAKE ACTION! SENATE VOTES COMING TODAY!! LET THEM KNOW YOU EXPECT THEM TO MOVE THE ENERGY BILL FORWARD
Now the bill is off to the Senate for what is shaping up to be a very close vote. We’re so close, just one or two votes shy of a filibuster-proof 60 vote “supermajority” and your efforts could help tip things over the edge.
But we don’t have much time! A vote to end debate on the energy bill and pass it on to the President’s desk is scheduled THIS MORNING, probably around 9:30 D.C. time. Short notice we know, but do what you can!
Get on the phone now and flood your Senator’s office with calls and let them know that if they want your vote in 2008, you want their vote on the House-passed energy bill. You can find your Senator’s phone number here.
WE WANT MORE!
The energy bill is a terrific victory and is exactly where we needed to be….ten years ago!
As we made clear at Power Shift: we want more! Our government must act quickly with the resolve of a nation truly committed to lead by example.
We must propel ourselves down a path of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions at least 80% by the year 2050, and we should match the EU’s challenge to us of cutting our emissions 30% by 2020.
Necessity dictates action, and there has never been anything more necessary for the very survival and prosperity of our civilization than taking immediate and bold action worthy of our nation’s status as a global leader.
Those of you who were at Power Shift know that we don’t want to be fighting over whether or not 15% of our energy should be coming from renewable sources. We want to make sure 100% of it is clean!
The Youth of America – and indeed the world – speak with one voice on this issue, and that voice is screaming in unison: “We want more, and we will make sure we get it!“
So get on the phone and be heard! The clock’s ticking on a showdown for America’s energy future…
Note: this post is a modification of an Energy Action Coalition email sent out to EAC supporters yesterday by Aleli, Arthur, Brianna, Jessy, Kassie, Ragini, and the rest of the Energy Action Coalition crew. It’s been modified here by Jesse Jenkins.
Energy Action Coalition is a youth-led coalition of more than 35 organizations working together to fight for a clean, just and renewable energy future.
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