It’s Getting Hot In Here

As you may know, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has released a first draft of a climate bill. No surprise, the polluters are actively trying to weaken it. This bill is at a critical stage – the committee is holding hearings this week and we know the polluters will be out in force. In fact they are actually paying people ($) to attend the hearings so the representatives believe they have a bunch of supporters.

We have recruited and continue to recruit as many people as possible to make a statement that weakening this bill to the whims of the oil/coal lobby is not an option.This blog post will be continuously updated with updates on what is going on at Capitol Hill.

Day 4 – 4/24/2009 Comments appear in reverse order – They are loaded live. Refresh page to see updates

Panel 3: Energy Efficiency, Transportation, Building Appliances, and Utilities

• Ian Bowles, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• David Gardiner, President, David Gardiner & Associates, LLC (on behalf of the Energy Future Coalition)
• Jeff Genzer, Counsel, National Association of State Energy Officials
• Andrew Delaski, Executive Director, Appliance Standards Awareness Project
• Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers
• Alan Reuther, Legislative Director, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
• Dan Sperling, Director, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California Davis
• David Friedman, Research Director, Clean Vehicles Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
• Charles T. Drevna, President, National Petrochemical and Refiners Association
• Sonny Richardson, President, Richardson Home Builders, Inc., Tuscaloosa, Alabama

2:30 Thank you for coming Mr. Gingich

2:25 Markey – we only have 4% of the world’s oil reserve but we consume 25%. It is up to us to find alternatives #powershift09

2:20 Gingrich keeps saying he’d support incentivizing shift to CE. Would he support plan to clean energy cheap? http://tr.im/jD9j

2:10 Dingell – ‘I desperately want to support this bill, but we have to deal with the issue of how do we pass this bill and handle the international business reaction.’ We need to take a lead here gentlemen. When has America ever sat back and seen if things work somewhere else before we acknowledge the science that we know is correct.

1:50 Inslee – “You were asked in 2007 if you supported a cap on carbon. You responded ‘Frankly it is somethin i would strongly support.’ What happened?” He asks Newt if 18 cents a day per family is too much to spend in order to save the planet. Newt didn’t answer.

1:45 – Waxman doesn’t even want to hear Gingrich’s response!

1:40 Waxman – “Did I hear you correctly? We can’t do it. It’ll cost too much. And then you recomend funding a whole green job program. Where is that money? You seem to be talking in circles.” “We’ve heard these scare tactics since you’ve been in politics and we can all see how following them have resulted in.” “Stop complaining and using scare tactics. Work with us. If you are scared to work with us what are you doing here?”

1:30 Newt accuses the EPA of being intellectually dishonest, yet he’s trying to tell people we can drill our way out of the energy crisis. he wants high school and college students to discuss the facts on global warming. Where has he been?! These issues have bee nalmost all we have been talking about. Look around you Newt. The majority of general public that showed up to listen to you speak are young people. Notice all the green shirts?

1:20 The Honorable Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives giving his opening remarks. Great @1Sky blog piece about Newt’s sell out is here http://tinyurl.com/czanc8

1:10 Gore closing remarks – “This is the most complee and comprehensive bill I have seen up for consideration and I urge you to stay on course to keep it that way.”

1:00: Rep Sutton (OH) – I challenge you to draft the bill to protect workers who are displaced by environmental problems and the solutions

12:50: Rep. Blackburn (D-TN) – Challenges Gore “Are you personally profiting from this push towards a cap and trade system” Gore – “Are you serious?! Do you think I have devoted the past 30 years of my life to this cause just so I could benefit from a bill that is up for debate right now? i have donated ever cent of profit that has come to me to the non-profit for climate protection.” Chairman Markey also defends Gore and says that having worked with Gore for years this accusation is baseless and kind of shameless.

12:45 Rep from Virgin Islands asking great questions. She has some of the most at risk. I wish she had a vote. But I also wish we had a vote here in DC, but that is another issue entirely, I digress…

12:40 Rep. Ravanovich (R-CA) is convinced Gore is making all this up. I can’t believe the Republicans are going back to this denial tactic. This is a really archaic tactic that actually represents their policies. I am not a Democrat, and I think that some stuff they are doing is also ridiculous, but can we start talking about the serious issues here. Come’on folks

12:35 Baldwin (D-WI) – “I believe we definitely cannot show up at Copenhagen empty handed.” She is a rock star. Gore – ‘If we do show up empty handed we would see a slow motion collapse of all progress. [he chokes up] I seriously can’t even consider this as an option.

12:25 Rep. Scalise (R-LA) also denying the impact of Climate Change. How can someone from Louisiana not realize what has been happening?! He then accuses Gore that Ken Ley of Enron has played a role in setting up an insider trading set up inside of the cap and trade proposed in this bill. Conspiracy theorists unite. Gore exclaims – “There are people that still think the moon landing was staged in a Hollywood studio.”

12:20m Gore – “I wish I could find the words to unlock this partisan lock. The next generation is calling us to work together to fix this” #powershift09

12:00 Rep Burgess (R-TX)- “noone can prove that climate change is manmade, show us the smoking gun?” Are you fricken serious. Well here you go. http://tinyurl.com/dgsxn3 I can’t believe there are still people that deny this stuff. I’m baffled

11:55 Rep Walden (R-OR) – Really loves his Biomass “Can you tell me why biomass is not included in this bill?” Gore – Throws heaps science at him including natural growth cycles of forests and pine beetle plights. Cites the success stories of other forest regrowth projects in the NW. Walden gets baffled and starts sputtering. Chairman Markey gavels him “your time is up sir” Walden responds – “Mr. Chairman PLEASE. Really?!” Hahahaha

11:45 Rep Inslee (D-WA) – Set up Newt Gingrich for flip fop. He mentions about his original statement that climate change is a major issue and then comments that Newt will soon show up and argue that this bill is equal to the bubonic plague. He then adds “Many of us believe the costs of inaction are much greater than the costs of action.”

11:40 Warner asks us to let this bill be a foundation and that we should and can build on it to make it stronger for years to come. He calls it “a beach-head”  He means pass it no matter what. Even after it might gets chopped down.

11:30 Rep. Barton (R-TX) says “global warming will help sea life.” Gore – You better check your sources. Gore calls Barton ill-informed and tells him that his friends are feeding bad info and it is going to hurt him.

11:20 Gore is prompted by Upton (R-MI) to answer how he feels about nuclear – Gore originally responds with “I’m not anti-nuclear” and then adds waste, accidents, size, fuel sources, weapons issues, etc. as reasons why we should not go down that route.

11:10 – Markey wants Gore to wxplain how this creates jobs and how this public infrastructure investment will provide a surge in economic growth. All the soon to be college grads in the room are listening intently. – Gore responds ‘Green Jobs can’t be outsourced we keep the green revolution right here and get started in showing the world that we can jumpstart the industry here at home.’

11:00 – Report from #powershift09 leaders sitting in the hearing ” It’s hard not to feel like we’re at the center of a world movement right now” Allie from Oregon

10:51 – Sen. Warner – “If we keep on with business as usual, we will reach a point where the worst effects are inevitable.”

10:50 – Warner “Energy independence, global climate change and national security are very interwoven.” … “There is a desire across the American people to do something”  “Our duty is to be honest with American people. Tell them that it is going to take time and money, but HAS TO BE DONE”

10:40 The Honorable John Warner, former United States Senator. The co-author of the last major climate bill that came to the floor and was struck down. The Warner-Lieberman bill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Climate_Security_Act_of_2007)

10:35 Gore -”Stimulus was a downpayment on the new smart grid and the next step is passing this Bill.” … “Close the Carbon Loophole” … “The USA is the world’s leader. Once we find the courage to take on this issue the world will also act. We need to act”

10:30 Al Gore’s opening statements – “ACES bill equivalent to civil rights bill. Most important of our lives. It is a moral imperative.” He then starts talking about tipping points (levels of Co2 in the air and other factors that might ti the balance to a point that is un repairable).

10:25 Markey opens hearings

6:45 Day 4 will include: Al Gore, Senator John Warner, and… Newt Gingrich. We say “No Newt Pollution.” Check out these amazing young leaders in action – http://twitpic.com/3w03m

4:30am Our #powershift09 leaders get in line to make sure they have a seat inside at the final day of these historic hearings. One leader, Ashley Anderson of Utah, who has been hounding his Rep. Jim Mattheson all over the country, declaims – ‘It’s cold, but climate change is too important to not wait outside in this line to make our presence felt’

Day 3 – 4/23/2009

6:00 Closing Remarks. Markey asks “Do you think we can construct a cap and trade system?” All of the panelists answer: “Yes- we must, this is our future!” Beautiful

5:40 Even the Coal panelists admits CCS won’t be ready until around 2020. Can we now talk about making real clean tech indistury a priority? We can start refurbishing out-of-work manufacturing factories to produce american made wind turbines tomorrow. That technology exists TODAY.

5:30 Rep. Walden of Oregon really loves stumping for his biomass. He hates that it is not mentioned in this bill. Every chance he gets he asks these panelists if they’ve read the bill in it’s entirety. In this panel only Dan Reicher from Google and David Hawkins from NRDC claim to have read it. I really doubt that Walden has read it for one, and I don’t understand what his hang up it. Oregon has potential to be one of the highest producers of wind energy in the country. http://tinyurl.com/5znjts

5:15 Mr. Dan Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Google, Inc. “engineered geothermal energy potential in TX could provide 100% of current TX electricity”

5:00 Rep Markey: “45% of all new electrical generation in US in 2008 was from renewables. If we’re looking ahead, nothing to fear.” He just renewed my faith in people doing the right thing even if not forced to.

4:50 Rep. Walden (R-OR) talking about tremendous potential of geothermal in Oregon, plus biomass from NW forests. For 2 days now he has been really on this biomass kick.

4:40 Reicher and Rep Inslee talking about how to accelerate deployment of emerging clean techs. Inslee continues to question the panel and continuously keeps them on message. The real question here is “What is the effect on the environment if we do nothing?”

4:30 Dian M. Grueneich, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission, continues to claim that Cali is on target for having 20% of their energy produced by Renewable Energy. I applaud. Is there a cool ackronym for applauding out loud like there is for laughing? AOL (That just reminds me of my High School Internet)

4:30 There is a real unique group of people at this hearing. It’s not just lawyers, lobbyists, and green clad youth. We just talked to a local mother who is interested in the issue and a few others.

TO ALL WHO STILL BELIEVE IN CLEAN COAL (a technology that doesn’t exist) THINK BACK TO WHERE COAL COMES FROM. MOUNTAIN TOP REMOVAL IS DESTROYING APPALACHIA http://is.gd/u9AT

4:00 Mr. Eugene Trisko (On Behalf of the United Mine Workers of America) – Climate change legislation “greatest threat to coal workers” – Great quote from Ashley Anderson “United Mine Workers testimony could be summary of everything that will kill the future.” Moderation is unacceptable as a way to move forward on the biggest economic, moral and envtal issue of our time, Mr. Trisko.

3:50 Mr. David Hawkins, Director of Climate Programs, Natural Resources Defense Council. NRDC wants “Advanced Coal” technology, and government investment in coal. WHAT?! I thought NRDC was a good enviro group. yesterday they were asking for giveaway on pollution credit and today promoting a pretend technology that has never been invented? I thikn they might have been infiltrated. Folks seriously what’s up?

3:45 Mr. Jim Robo, President and Chief Operating Officer, FPL Group (nation’s largest produce of green energy) – “we’ve barely begun to tap renewable energy…Unchecked climate change will cost us tens of billions of $” How’s that for incentive?

3:40 Ms. Dian M. Grueneich, Commissioner, Cal Public Utilities – “No question that the US has a lot of renewables. The question is if we have the political will.” Swartzenegger signed 33% by 2020 for CA. – Well done governator!!

3:35 – Mr. Dan Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Google, Inc. – talking about hot dry rock/engineered geothermal. Google is investing. U.S. Govt should be too! Huge potential… On enhanced/engineered geothermal energy: http://is.gd/u98S Reicher: Australia and Europe leading this tech. US could catch up… Reicher supports 21st Century Energy Technology Corporation (Sen. Bingaman and Murkowski introduced). Very key policy! … Need to accelerate emerging clean energy techs across “valley of death.” Need public investment for that… smart #grid is key Bill needs to spur critical enabling tech for clean energy, inform/empower consumers . Thanks Jesse Jenkins

3:30 Panel 3:  “Low Carbon Electricity: Carbon Capture and Storage, Renewables and Grid Modernization”

• Dr. Howard Gruenspect, Acting Administrator, United States Energy Information Agency
• Ms. Dian M. Grueneich, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission
• Mr. Dan Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Google, Inc.
• Mr. Jim Robo, President and Chief Operating Officer, FPL Group
• Mr. David Hawkins, Director of Climate Programs, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Dr. Gregory Kunkel, Vice President for Environmental Affairs, Tenaska, Inc.
• Mr. Jonathan Briggs, Regional Director of the Americas, Hydrogen Energy International
• Mr. Eugene Trisko (On Behalf of the United Mine Workers of America)
• Mr. James Kerr, Partner, McGuire Woods LLP, former Commissioner, North Carolina Public Utilities Commission
• Dr. Jay Apt, Executive Director, Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center, Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University

3:20 Mr. Jack McMackin, Principal, Williams and Jensen, LLC (On behalf of the Energy Intensive Manufacturers Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Regulation) believes that the bill should hand out 850-900 million tons of free carbon allowances per year. That is a ridiculous amount. Why not ask them to pay. It’s not like they don’t have the money. Polluters should pay

3:10 Trade Exposed industries want 15 percent free allowances until an international agreement is made. Perhaps in Copenhagen. – I disagree. We need to take a lead here and show the rest of the world that we are making the industries that are polluting our land, and children’s health pay for their wrongdoings. They have frequently acknowledged the affect of their business on the climate crisis and health, so why not make them pay for it. The money could go to health care or education or a number of things.

3:00 Scalise LA: “promise me you will give business to India if we don’t give you free allowances.” Shameless, un-american, and downright wrong. Translation – “If we don’t let you folks continue to pollute freely and ask you to pay for the damage that you are already causing to the environment, communities and our collective future health, you will move shop to a different country so you can continue to make more money and not have to change tactics that have proven to be choking the earth.” OK I might be a little bias

2:55 Dingell is up. ‘Everybody is trying to figure out how to “deal with India/China” that don’t have a cap.’ The Answer – That’s why we have to invest in clean tech innovation & make clean energy cheap. Industry response: Dow Chem: “I will be happy to keep jobs in US if we get the same handouts as India.” Sounds like shady threats. I think we now know where their allegiances lie, with the workers or the $.

2:50 Upton MI, Would the Steel workers support adding a nuclear provision into the bill. Conway, VP of United Steel Workers Union-We would support anything that creates new jobs, but we are not naive about the issues of storage. – Good answer

2:47 Rep Inslee WA – “Is there any faith that non-action concerning climate change would contradict religious principles?” Pastor Smith ‘None that I know’

2:45 – Now questions from the representatives

2:40 Virginia Interfaith Society for Public Policy, Pastor Doug Smith: “need adaptation funding, millions already affected”

2:35 Mr. Lee Lane, Resident Fellow and Codirector of the AEI Geoengineering Project, American Enterprise Institute- Lane:”This bill leads to needlessly high costs” of energy…clearly clean air is apparently not valuable to Mr. Lane.

2:30 And we’re back. Watch live http://tinyurl.com/2tzfup and join in the conversation at http://www.powershift09.org/twitter

12:45 1 hr recess, Reps voting on different legislation. We’ve been roaming the Hill all morning meeting and calling Reps. You should take this time to call your Rep. http://www.powershift09.org/callcongress

12:40 Mr. Eliot Diringer, Vice President for International Strategies, Pew Center on Global Climate Change – The draft in question would establish a strong base for international conversation. Says allocations should be given to buy trees in developing countries.

12:30 Mr. Tom Conway, International Vice President, United Steel Workers – This bill can fuel America’s economy”

12:00 Recess

11:50 Mark Crisson American Public Power Assn: “25% is crazy, and 15% Renewable energy standard “very aggressive.” What’s the alternative buddy? He prefers investing in technology that doesn’t even exist  (Clean Coal), or giving away free allowances to pollute? Without a little real muscle in the bill these guys would never want to change business as usual and you know it

11:45 EEI- “US needs to be a leader” in reducing emissions among China, India, etc. Are they threatening “if we pass this bill the utility companies will move to countries that allow polluting?” Very mature and dare I say anti-american.

11:45 Rep Shimkis IL ‘fuel switching costs jobs’ like comparing apples to oranges. Ever considered that rural mining communities are poor because of mining? Why does Shimkus keep pushing for coal subsidies? Pretty disjointed from his official stance http://shimkus.house.gov/ Grandstanding?!

11:30 Rep Barton TX – ‘Hybrids never pay for themselves in gas savings’ What year is he living in? #powershift09

11:20 Rep. Doyle, PA – How many people would support 100 % auctions? Only 1 of the 7 Utilities CEO’s would. Interesting direct questioning.

11:15 Edison Electric Institute  Asks for 40% free allowances until CCS is developed, which may never happen.

11:00 “protecting consumers is not the same as protecting people!” Free allowances only saves utility companies money. They should have to pay to pollute

10:50 Now on to Representative’s questions. – Markey: how do we assure allowances will mean savings for consumers. They can’t answer.

10:40 Mr. Darryl Bassett, Empower Consumers – Doesn’t like RPS and Carbon Cap in the same bill. Claims to be the voice of the poor. Our question -How often will the lobbbyists try to pit the poor vs the environment?

10:35 Dr. Robert Michaels, CSU “This bill is a disguised tax.”  – Yeah a tax on polluters creating an incentive to move to renewables

10:30 Testifier wants consumer energy refund instead of free allocation to local companies. Sounds OK at first We’ll see…

Panel 1 features:

• Mr. Jeff Sterba, Chairman and CEO, PMN Resources, Inc. (on Behalf of the Edison Electric Institute)
• Mr. Glenn English, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
• Mr. Mark Crisson, President and CEO, American Public Power Association
• Mr. John W. Somerhalder II, Chairman, CEO and President, AGL Resources (On behalf of the American Gas Association)
• Mr. Richard Morgan, Commissioner, District of Columbia Public Service Commission (On behalf of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners)
• Mr. Richard Cowart, Director, Regulatory Assistance Project
• Mr. Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
• Dr. Robert Michaels, Professor of Economics, California State University
• Mr. Darryl Bassett, Empower Consumers

10:10 Mr. Richard Morgan, Commissioner, District of Columbia Public Service Commission (On behalf of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) – testifys that he also wants free allowances, but moving towards 100% allowances

10:10 Mr. John W. Somerhalder II, Chairman, CEO and President, AGL Resources (On behalf of the American Gas Association) – testifies that he wants natural gas customers to be included in cap and trade. Natural Gas: “part of climate change solution. 40% less co2 run petro”. EXCLUDE US FROM CAP AND TRADE!-Hey buddy, this isn’t moving us towards renewables, but just chooses better of 2 evils. The point here is making incentives to paradigm shift into renewable green energy and green economy

10:00 Mr. Mark Crisson, President and CEO, American Public Power Association asks for more offsets and many free allowances. He also says he doesn’t like anything that looks like a moratorium on new coal construction.”This would create a moratorium on coal!!” says CEO. we know, sir. That’s the point.

9:50 2nd witness asks for free allowances and a “price safety valve”. Stuff that would not force them to lower their emissions.

9:45 EEI CEO testifies that turning over capital stock must be done in concert with CCS to reduce co2. Allocated allowances is magic solution. Asks for 40% free allowances until ccs is developed, which may never happen.

9:35 Markey opens the hearing

9:20 Day 3 is going to have testimony from Utility BigWigs and the occasional scientists

9:15 Field Director Josh Tulkin: “Waiting in line for hearing day 3. With adorable baby. Only 14 months but wants a green job. http://twitpic.com/3tqxj.“

9:15 We’ve got about 20 #powershift09 in the hearing room today and a gathering of about 30 has already begun outside http://twitpic.com/3tshp

Day 2 – 4/22/2009

5:50 There really is ONE MORE PANEL! Hold on to your hats everyone, this show isn’t over yet.

5:40 Rep. Hall (TX) says that China needs to play too— But FIRST we need America to LEAD!

5:30 Rep Upton can’t believe there’s another panel after this one! Markey says “it’s an all you can eat show here!”

5:20 Unchecked climate change will lead to real environmental and economic consequences. “What is the benefits from carbon cap legislation?” answer: Avoiding the threat of inaction http://twurl.nl/cxrtrr

5:15 “What are the costs to the average families for adding a cap and trade on carbon? About 11 cents a day.” Nathaniel Keohane, Director of Economic Policy and Analysis, Environmental Defense Fund

5:00 How do we make carbon more expensive but have no one pay for it? Dave Foster, Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance

4:40 Mayor John Fetterman thinks that a cap can spur American markets to lead. (i.e. www.TheCapSolution.com). Check out this great video featuring the honorable Mayor http://tinyurl.com/cdnyg2

4:30 Part 3 of the panel begins. Features

• The Honorable , Mayor, Braddock, Pennsylvania
• Denise Bode, CEO, American Wind Energy Association
• Dave Foster, Executive Director, Blue Green Alliance
• Kate Gordon, Co-Director, Apollo Alliance
• Kevin Knobloch, President, Union of Concerned Scientists
• David Manning, Vice President, External Affairs, National Grid
• Nathaniel Keohane, Director of Economic Policy and Analysis, Environmental Defense Fund
• Frank Ackerman, Senior Economist, Stockholm Environment Institute, U.S. Center, Tufts University

3:30 Rep Murphy of CT points out that Korea Japan others have made major direct public investments in clean tech, now leading world. Also asking if market mechanisms are enough to spur clean energy, or if public investments needed

3:00 Rep Harman from CA says she wants to lock door with PowerShit09 folks, USCAPers and “finish this.” We are down if they are. Name a time and a place. This is GREAT!

2:40 Translating CEO speak: Keep saying “need to get the transition right” means “give us lots of free allowances and $” These CEOs of dirty energy industries fighting for free allowances & handouts. Who is fighting for investments in clean new energy economy?

2:20 Rep Barton says we can do away with cap & trade & use Clean Air Act performance standard instead. Jesse Jenkins Responds – “RE Rep Barton: So Republicans don’t want market-based mechanism, prefer command-and-control regulations on climate? WTF?!”

2:15 Rep. Barton asks “The $65 million question” to Corporate CEO’s would you oppose the bill if it didn’t contain free giveaways. USCAP companies would not support bill w/100% auction. NRDC’s Beinecke dodges but does say she supports free allowances.

2:00 Duke’s Rogers wants 100% free allowances from year one for his utilities.

1:30 So sad to hear an “enviro group” like NRDC testifying that we should give away most of the pollution permits for FREE to the nation’s biggest polluters

1:27 “by the time this gets rolling, the recession will be in the rear-view mirror. Time to act is now…a slow start means a crash finish, with steeper harder cuts needed later. Time to start is now…allocation of allowance value should achieve public objectives and not private ones…initially distribute “significant portion” of allowances to capped sectors and entities. Electricity, gas & gasoline… calling for lots of free allowances to utilities, oil companies, heavy industry at start of climate bill…doesn’t say a word about using allowance value to spur innovation, invest in clean energy economy, green jobs.” Thanks Jesse Jenkins

1:25 Next up: NRDC President Frances Beinecke

1:20 Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers up third – “I support climate legislation so I can have certainty to plan for next 30-40 yrs…Duke is 3rd largest emitter in nation. We’re part of the problem, so we have to be part of the solution”

1:15 2nd witness: Red Cavaney, Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs, ConocoPhillips

1:15 DuPont guy keeps likening climate/energy bill to Montreal Protocol on CFCs. Wrong model! We’re building new energy economy. Keeps likening climate/energy bill to Montreal Protocol on CFCs. Wrong model! We’re building new energy economy.

1:00 Committee in a break right now. Next panel- CEO’s of Major Energy Corporations. Call your rep now! http://tinyurl.com/ckssbx

12:40 Rep Sutton was on the fence last year on climate leg. She is quickly turning into a green jobs champion!

12:30 Rep. Simkus “Largest assault on democracy and freedom I’ve ever experienced.” Thinks bill is evil conspiracy. This guy is quoting padded stats from old analysis and not even mentioning current science or the content of the current bill being considered.

12:20 Scalise pretends to question Jackson. Leading questions with no time to answer. She responds ‘I know lobbyists can “claim” a lot of job losses, but the science shows conversely… Scalise doesn’t let her finish. Classy guy. He continues to misquote the MIT study and says this bill will cost families. Completely false

12:10 Blackburn from TN – Not only does she not understand the bill, but I’m told she thinks the earth is getting cooler, not warmer. Apparently she’s restraining herself. Sent in from SMS

12:00 Chu just compared the clean energy bill to Wayne Gretsky ‘I was good a good player because I skated to where the puck will be.’

11:45 Rep Inslee, WA: “On behalf of all my constituents, I’m thrilled to have our administration here.”.

11:38 Hood: Portland Oregon model of “Livable Communities”

11:25 Just heard from Deputy Field Director Whit Jones, He didn’t get into the hearing, but is chatting members in the halls of the House Office Building.  He just told Fred Rogers of Duke to stop Cliffside http://www.stopcliffside.org

11:10 Rep. Whitfield is saying that a carbon cap will kill jobs, hurt our health. He quotes random studies that none of the scientists on the panel have ever heard of. We could probably pull some studies that prove bigmacs are the new wonderfood

10:55 Chu says ‘ We’ll support coal burning operations as we work towards clean coal’

10:50 Jim Rogers of Duke Energy just arrived to win support for “clean coal” but he need to start at home. www.stopcliffside.org

10:41 Hood goes off on Barton! Then Barton asks how oil oh my god! You’ll have to read this. The while room is laughing at Barton

10:40 Barton is angling towards something by asking about geology of petroleum – might be setting up to ‘prove’ that warming is cyclical.

10:40 Chu: says we can get to 20 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025

10:30 Rep Barton (R-TX): ” Does inhaling CO2 actually cause negative health impacts?” Maybe the CO2 coming from some mouths.

10:15 Jackson, Chu and Lahood ALL agree that this bill will create jobs and stimulate the economy.

10:10 Sec Chu – “we must not let the planet get too hot or the economy get too cold.” referring to the promise if a clean energy economy

10:00 Upton MI – calling the bill a tax on working class families. Need some grass roots calls for green jobs

9:54 Markey “We arrive at this critical moment with much at stake and not a moment to spare” Spare a minute to call your congress representative and tell them they need to not consider weakening this bill. http://www.powershift09.org/callcongress

9:45 Barton: cost over 8 year period: 2 trillion dollars. This guy is out of his mind.

9:30 Waxman - opening remarks. ‘Today we will hear from top officials from the administration and also leaders of big commerce’

9:00 Heads of EPA, DOE and Trans. Only 2 of 12 youth got in after 3 hours in line. Guess we will have to rely on you.

Day 1 – 4/21/2009 (Comments appear in reverse order – They are loaded live)

The hearing for the American Clean Energy and Security Act start today. There is no testimony, just opening statements from members of The Energy and Commerce Committee.

5:20 Sutton, OH13 called ACES a down payment on our future

5:20 Sarbanes, MD sees this generation as having the ingenuity to move to a green economy

5:15 Rep Baron Hill, IN. “Municipal solid waste should be categorized as a renewable resource.”

5:05 Zach Space, OH. This bill is vitally important to two industries in Ohio. Coal and manufacturing.

4:55 Rep from Virgin Islands says this green revolution will help minorities in ways the industrial one didn’t. Great stuff

4:50 Jim Mattheson has so many objections it’s hard to keep up. – Offsets, renewables, auctions, efficiency. Markey makes jokes

4:37 Mr. Barrow, GA. “The almighty has a carbon sequestration plan. But we busted the Almighty’s carbon sequestration plan to hell. Global warming is real”

4:25 Rep Butterfield just said 20% by 2025 is impossible. Not in the America I know

4:00 Tammy Baldwin, WI: “We need a strong bill to take us to Copenhagen and beyond. We absolutely cannot show up empty handed.” #powershift09

3:53 Rep Inslee (WA) “We can’t let china dominate the lithium battery car market. We need to keep those jobs here. This bill will do that.” He also mentions environmental justice through a smart grid. Also – “EU gave out all of their permits because it was more politically palatable. It put the cost in consumers instead of of industry, and they didn’t have the money to transition to clean energy. We need to learn from them and do better.”

3:50 Harman (CA36): “There are young people here wearing #powershift09 t-shirts and hardhats. This hearing is about you!” He calls out young people in the hearing (1/3 of the room!) and says this bill effects us more than anyone, that our future depends on it.

3:45 Rep Scalise said that the causes of global warming are far from settled.

3:40 Rep Whitefield of Kentucky says that problems with the structure of the bill “may dwarf” those of global warming. He says that because china is building more coal plants we should too.

3:30 Rep Burgess, TX. “We do have the capacity to withhold funding from the EPA” if they choose to regulate CO2 on their own. He also says new energy technology should be left up to stronger growing economies. Boo!

3:21 Rep Hall (TX) “Hopes that CCS will make it possible to sequester carbon.” Glad he agrees that CCS doesn’t actually exist. He’s right the bill creates a de facto moratorium on coal in 2015. We say “Sweet!” if it’s not ready by then, maybe it’s not a great idea” – Josh Tulkin field director EAC

3:07 Clarification – Rep Gordon wants clean coal and nuclear tech to be considered renewable- Yikes. Thanks Adi from MD. Gordon (TN) is trying to weaken the bill! He wants credits for renewables – Laura from Hofstra

3:02 We are in the hearing room and a third of the room is green shirts and hard hats

3:06 Congressman Ed Markey opens. “The time for delay and denial has come to an end.”

3:02 We are in the hearing room and a third of the room is green shirts and hard hats

2:59 Laura Flanagan writes: Here I am at Congress for the first time, the mood is serious but I am so excited for the hearing to begin and the change we need to follow

2:50 Kate Pinkerton writes: I’m at my first congressional hearing and I just got interviewed by NPR.

2:37. Call Congress and demand a clean and just energy economy! Use the toll-free # here: http://powershift09.org/node/1035

2:06 American University students carry your faces to Congress.

1:48. Ethan Nuss and others calling students from Kenyon College in the district of Rep Zach Space

1:40 Preparing to phone bank key members of Energy and Commerce Committee while we are waiting.

1:31 Field Director Josh Tulkin – Heading back in side entrance to avoid the anti-green hard hat security guard.

1:30 A little background on the $1 trillion giveaway ask by Duke Energy and EDF – http://tinyurl.com/ct2on3 Thanks @sethwade

1:27 Update from Ashley Anderson. Debating with Nuclear Lobby, their argument: we can’t make a smart grid. I think we can.

12:54. 8 hard hats, 20 shirts and 10 press packets. Ready to show them what the youth movement is all about.

12:41. Comment sent in from Jesse Jenkins – The Big Day looks like tomorrow, with the Administration peeps and the USCAP reps.  Look for the latter to call for 100% free allowances for the first X years!

12:28. About to attempt to bring 30 green hard hats past security.

12:05. In line 3 hours before the event. There are already 30 people here, many of whom are paid “line holders” to save spots for industry folks. If they’ve got money for this, they can pay for pollution credits.