It’s Getting Hot In Here

This post is a contribution to the Special Breakthrough Issue, “After Power Shift: What’s Next?”

Continue reading ‘What’s Next?’

By Carrie at The CLEAN cross posted from www.powerpastcoal.org Today, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held hearings on “The Future of Coal in Climate Legislation.” Considering that the Subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Ed Markey, who fired up the crowd at Powershift with his talk about “change, baby, change” and a “green revolution,” one might have hoped that these hearings would be a critical look at our dirtiest fuel source. Yeah, not so much. 

Of all the legislators and witnesses who spoke, NOT ONE of them spoke out against our reliance on coal in our energy future. Markey sang a very different tune than the one at Powershift as he expressed his support of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and wanting to help industry “realize its potential” to help global warming.

What happened to the champion of renewable energy we saw at the DC Convention Center? Investing America’s research dollars into unproven, expensive coal technology instead of renewables is a “green revolution?”  In fact, the consensus among the Representatives who spoke was that coal is abundant, cheap and vital for our future, and that developing carbon capture and sequestration technology is essential to solve our climate crisis. The only discussion was how quickly can we do it, when will it be ready and how much will it cost?

If this concerns you, email Markey here. 

Continue reading ‘Say It Ain’t So, Congressman Markey!’

More Breaking News: 

The New York Times ran a story  this morning saying “Major Damage averted” because “the bulk of the sludge spilled onto the West Virginia riverbank.” I get it that you don’t want sludge in a watershed that provides for millions of people, but I thought it was a nice example of environmental injustice and a total lack of analysis of why coal ash is bad.  My guess is people in that community in West Virginia don’t think major damage was averted — and no one has mentioned the repository in West Virginia they are pumping this coal ash into.  If they are still pumping that coal ash, we haven’t averted major damage. 

Breaking News in this edition of “As the Sludge Turns”:

The Maryland Department of the Environment  reported that a ruptured pipeline carrying wet coal ash into West Virginia sprung a leak and released 4,000 gallons of the toxic soup into the North Branch of the Potomac River, in Allegheny County, PA.

It is “only” 4,000 gallons (compared to over a billion in TN), but it would be impacting people in Washington DC, which as you know, is a place where very important people live.  Luckily the Obama Administration just announced plans to propose federal regulations for coal waste–but maybe this will spring them to action a little faster. 

NRDC is working to track the spill on their blog. 

Now we just need to make sure the media doesn’t forget to worry about the community in West Virginia that they were pumping that toxic coal ash slurry into when they had their spill.

The opportunity to advance transformative, progressive change has never been greater.  Now, in the wake of the 2008 election and the historic Power Shift summit, young progressives have a unique opportunity to take a step back and look at the big picture: How can the we continue advancing bold solutions on energy and climate?  What can young people do beyond energy and climate?  And if national climate legislation succeeds, what’s the next “Big Idea” for the progressive youth movement?

These are just some of the ideas we’re exploring in a Special Breakthrough Issue – “After Power Shift: What’s Next?” – to examine the next steps for the progressive youth movement. The issue will include contributions from some of the country’s top young leaders throughout the week, and we hope you’ll join the discussion.  Here’s our first piece to kick it off.

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Want to Save the World? Make Clean Energy Cheap.

By Teryn Norris & Jesse Jenkins
The Huffington Post

Over 12,000 young adults attended the recent Power Shift 2009 summit in Washington, DC. Their goal? Building the largest youth movement in decades to save the world from global warming.

Largely missing from Power Shift, however, was a critical group: young scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Maybe it was mid-terms. Perhaps the event seemed too political. Or maybe the summit recruited too many traditionally-defined “activists.”

Whatever the cause, we have very little chance of overcoming climate change without enlisting young innovators at a drastically greater scale. Simply put, they represent one of the most important catalysts for creating a clean energy economy and achieving long-term prosperity.

Continue reading ‘Want to Save the World? Make Clean Energy Cheap.’

An update in the fight to end mountaintop removal coal mining from our friends at Appalachian Voices. With the re-introduction of the federal Clean Water Protection Act last week (with a record 117 co-sponsors!) and a number of state-level efforts underway, there are many new fronts opening in the ongoing effort to stop the injustices of mountaintop removal. Here’s the current tally of state and federal efforts underway…

Although this is a bare bones post, here is some important information about state-level efforts to end mountaintop removal coal mining… Please check back here soon for updates!

North Carolina: Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act
House Bill
Senate Bill

Select news coverage:
WUNC (North Carolina Public Radio)
Winston-Salem Journal
The Charlotte Observer

Maryland: House Bill 743
Bill Summary (PDF)
NRDC Switchboard Blog: “Momentum Peaks Against Mountaintop Mining

Georgia: Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act
www.SoutheastGreen.com: “The Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act”

Kentucky: The Stream Saver Bill
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth: “Stream Saver Bill”
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth: “I Love Mountains Day – 2009″

Tennessee: The Scenic Vistas Protection Act
Tennessee General Assembly bill summary
Lindquist-Environmental Appalachian Fellow bill summary

Still coming down the pipe soon…
South Carolina, Maine, and New York!

Oh, and in case you haven’t heard, the federal Clean Water Protection Act is back!
Get in on the action here!

Beyond the Numbers (and the Irony)

By Jesse Jenkins, reporting for the Energy Collective and WattHead – Energy News and Commentary

On February 27th-March 1st, 12,000 young leaders from all fifty states, every Canadian province, and about a dozen other nations convened at the Washington D.C. Convention Center for Power Shift 2009, the largest ever gathering of climate and clean energy activists in U.S. history. On Monday, March 2nd, fueled by a fiery passion no snowstorm could chill, thousands stormed Capitol Hill, braving subfreezing temperatures to rally, lobby and even risk arrest in their efforts to ignite a clean and just energy future.

Image credit: Shadia Fayne Wood

If you read the mainstream media’s accounts of this historic weekend, that’s about the extent of the story you likely read. The focus of most coverage was the numbers – 12,000 students, 2,500 protesters, 350 lobby visits – or the supposed irony of a climate rally held amidst a few inches of snow. But beyond the numbers and ironic headlines, there’s a far deeper story on display at Power Shift 2009 – if only the press knew where to look.

I’ve been close to this movement for three years, as both a participant and as a writer and editor chronicling its progress at ItsGettingHotInHere.org, where voices from across the movement share their stories. Rather than wait for the mainstream media to write an in-depth expose on this dynamic and growing movement, I’ll take you behind the scenes to uncover the stories behind the numbers in this three part series:

• Part One focuses on the history of the maturing movement on display at Power Shift 2009
• Part Two takes a look at the diversity of tactics and cutting edge activism employed by the movement
• Part Three looks at how the movement has grown into an expansive effort to build a more sustainable, just and prosperous future and on the road ahead for these young leaders

As Minnesota went through an almost unprecedented heat wave on Thursday, with temperatures well above freezing in early March, college and high school students descended on the Capitol in St. Paul to rally for a Clean Cars standard allowing Minnesota to use California’s increased vehicle fuel efficiency standard for the state. Joined by Van Jones for a rally at the Capitol, they also rallied for important increases in weatherization programs that will help spur green jobs creation, and a Sustainable Communities Act that will help local communities take charge of their own energy future. The Will Steger Foundation, an organizational ally of our college state network TEAM Minnesota and our high school state network YEA Minnesota, produced this YouTube video of the event:

Continue reading ‘Minnesota Youth and Van Jones turn up the heat’

On February 27th to March 2nd, 12,000 students and recent graduates left their homes and dorms, put on their green hard hats, and headed to the Nation’s Capitol to advocate for green jobs and clean energy solutions at PowerShift09.

Despite driving snow and bitter winds, students lined the West Lawn to rally for PowerShift09

I was one of the 14 percent who attended PowerShift07 just 15 months before, where 6,000 of us came to speak to our Congressmen and women about our demands. PowerShift07 was considered the largest lobby day on climate change in the history of the United States…now just 15 months later- Energy Action- the group behind much of the organizing, was able to double the number and make this the largest lobby day on any issue in our country.

Continue reading ‘Why 12,000 Students Skipped School’

Dear Power Shift Participants,

Thank you for making history at Power Shift 2009, the largest ever youth conference and lobby day on climate change. Thank you for raising your voice and demanding action, stopping at nothing—not even snow or bitter cold—until you were heard. You are the leaders of the next American energy revolution, one that will protect our planet while creating green jobs to build a strong and sustainable economy.

Because I was not able to speak to you on Monday due to weather flight delays, I recorded this video message to say thank you:

In the past two years, we have made great progress. One of my first actions as Speaker was to form the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming to highlight this issue, and in 2007 Congress passed comprehensive energy legislation that increased fuel efficiency standards for the first time in almost 30 years. We have reduced the House of Representatives’ carbon footprint by 74 percent, and are insisting the Capitol Power Plant use 100 percent natural gas for its operations.  Last month, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, which makes historic new investments in renewable energy and a smart electricity grid. Now, working with the President, we will take bold steps on climate change and have a strong bill before the House this year.

To stay involved and keep informed about our work on climate change and other issues that are critical to young Americans, sign up for e-mail updates, stay in touch on Facebook, or visit my blog.

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi

This is a guest post from Elise Gabriel, Texas Trek organizer.  The Trek to Re-Energize America is a bike ride to D.C. in support of clean energy solutions and a sustainable future, summer 2009.

“We seek your leadership. But if for some reason you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way”, was Papua New Guinea’s charge to the United States at the Bali Summit in 2007. During a discussion of this quote in my Planning for Sustainability course, the Trek came to mind. I disengaged from the class discussion and began thinking of how a tiny country, which entered the summit with a negligible amount of political clout on the international level, was able to turn the tide of the United States’ negotiation strategy with a single comment.

As a small group of people dedicated to a cause that has just recently come to garner greater public attention, I realized that we are much like Papua New Guinea. The Trek to Re-Energize America is going to serve as the platform for us to be leaders in this movement that is gaining more and more ground every day. This is our opportunity to speak with complete strangers on our routes across the country, engaging them in a discussion of how they envision America being “re-energized” and building the movement even further by inspiring leadership at the local level. Continue reading ‘The Trek To Re-Energize America: Texas Style’