Sen. Baucus was the only Dem to vote against it. Republicans were not present.

According to Reuters:

The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday approved a Democratic climate change bill that would require industry to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases 20 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels.

With Republicans boycotting the committee's work saying more analysis of the legislation was needed, 10 Democrats voted to approve the legislation and one Democrat, Senator Max Baucus, voted against it.

The bill will now become one of several initiatives aimed at attacking global warming. Senator John Kerry is leading an effort with some Republicans and the White House to craft a compromise bill, which likely would not be voted on by the full Senate until next year at the earliest. Read the full article

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. For one day of the year, you get to be someone (or something) else. Today, a few of us dressed up as green jobs workers and delivered a message to our Virginia Senators: We want clean energy jobs NOW! Wearing green hard hats, work boots and tool belts, we delivered our messages in style- by presenting the staff of Senator Webb and Senator Warner with a Frankenstein halloween bucket filled with candy and petitions from folks all across the Commonwealth who want Congress to pass a strong climate bill this year. We think they got the message!

Not only was the Senate climate bill announced today, but Secretary Chu issued a dire warning to proponents of new coal-fired power plants and the EPA made two exciting announcements, further protecting our precious mountains and our planet from devastating practices.

Today, Senators Boxer and Kerry announced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The President weighed in for the first time on the climate debate stating that his administration is "deeply committed" to passing a climate bill. We are excited to hear him make this long awaited statement. While this bill is an improvement over the house-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act, by strengthening the 2020 emissions by 3%, it still doesn't go far enough to stop climate change. We look forward to working towards a strengthened bill that will provide for real change to the climate crisis.

It seems that addressing climate change is truly a top priority for the Obama Administration. Just yesterday, while touring the Jefferson Laboratory in Newport News, VA, Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu was specifically asked by reporters about the same proposed coal-fired power plant in the Hampton Roads region that CCAN is currently fighting. Secretary Chu commented that he favors delaying new coal plants until existing power plants have the capabilities of reducing harmful emissions.

Continuing the momentum, the EPA announced this morning that all 79 mountaintop removal permits currently being reviewed by the Army Corps of Engineers must undergo additional scrutiny. These permits were halted earlier this month until further investigation by the EPA which has determined that each and every permit would likely result in significant harm to water quality and the environment and are therefore not consistent with the requirements of the Clean Water Act. The next step is for the Corps and the EPA to work in "enhanced coordination" within a 60-day period. While the Corps can issue a permit without the EPA's approval, the EPA can take action under section 404c of the CWA, allowing the agency to block Corps permits.

Later in the day, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, announced steps the agency will take in regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The proposal will require large industrial facilities- including power plants- that emit at least 25,000 tons of GHGs annually, to obtain construction and operating permits to cover these emissions. The EPA estimates 14,000 facilities will be effected by the proposed emissions threshold.

So what does this all mean for Virginia? Well first, passing a climate bill has the potential for creating 46,000 clean energy jobs. These jobs can boost the clean energy economy of our Commonwealth while making us a leader in this sector. Regulating greenhouse gas emissions of power plants will make the already $6 billion coal-fired power plant proposed for Surry County even more costly for consumers. There are better solutions for our energy needs through energy efficiency programs and renewable energy projects. The EPA scrutiny over the 79 mountaintop removal permits shows that King Coal can no longer get its way by destroying communities and impacting our climate. This is a great day for the environmental movement- especially for those of us working in Virginia. We haven't won the war but the battle victory is ours.

One hundred and forty brave climate activists left New York City's Central Park on Saturday September 26th with the idea of wheeling down to Congress with a message: Fix the climate now! By the time I caught up with the group on Tuesday night just north of Baltimore, the cyclists had already ridden through rain, hail, headwinds and punishing crosswinds. "I was literally riding at a severe angle, my bike tilted toward the ground," said one participant from Northern Virginia, describing his trek across Pennsylvania.

Welcome to the 2nd annual Brita Climate Ride, 300 miles of leg-testing, spirit-challenging work (and fun) to beat global warming. Hearing the stories of bad weather, I realized this was the perfect metaphor for the climate movement as a whole. It has NOT been a smooth and sunny ride trying to get strong climate legislation passed by the U.S. Congress this year. We have experienced lots of rain and hail and crosswinds in the House of Representatives. And now more storms are likely in the Senate as we push toward the international Copenhagen conference in December.

But we have to keep on riding until we reach our destination: Clean energy now. No new coal plants. Green jobs for a green economy!

In the first installment of this series, I talked about the big difference that collecting handwritten letters can make in pushing our Senators to fight for a strong Senate climate bill. Few things are likely to leave more of an impression on an elected official than receiving a ribbon-festooned stack of hundreds of letters from constituents, all urging their leadership on a particular aspect of a particular piece of legislation.



Well, few things perhaps besides a stack of hundreds of letters from local leaders. After all, the strategy of our campaign is to do everything we can to demonstrate that there is a broad and diverse community of support for bold climate action among the Senators' constituents. To do that we can mobilize the grassroots to show numbers

Have you ever read something on the opinion page that was completely bogus and upset you? Of course, we all have. Did you huff and puff and get another cup of coffee before angrily turning to the sports page for relief? I've been there. Well, CCAN has a remedy that will fit into your busy schedule and not leave you feeling disgruntled with that intolerable opinion page. Its easy. Join our "Truth Squad" and use our talking points to draft your own Letter to the Editor (LTE). Believe it or not the opinion page is the most read section in the newspaper and elected officials pay close attention to what people are writing about them. Time for us to defend the truth! Be a part of the story and not let misinformation rule your opinion page.

We are at a critical juncture in Federal clean energy policy. The Waxman-Markey ACES bill that passed the House falls short of delivering on the promise of a new, clean energy economy. Fortunately as Maryland citizens we have a real opportunity to strengthen the bill. Our US Senators, Sen. Mikulski and Sen. Cardin, are outspoken supporters of strong clean energy policy.

However, they will have a hard fight in the Senate and need YOUR help to become true clean energy champions. Senator Cardin has personally told us that he has recently heard more public feedback against clean energy policy than for it. So you responded. We must be heard at this critical moment! We need to step it up and show our Senators the broad public support in Maryland for a strong clean energy bill.

Plus have you been following the articles in the Baltimore Sun? There have been a slew of outrageously inaccurate claims against clean energy policy. Time to respond! Join CCAN's Truth Squad to and be in the cutting edge. You get about 2 emails a month with all the tools you need to write your own LTE.

These articles range from the classic "this is a tax that will hurt the economy" arguments to "carbon dioxide is good." (Plus, my personal favorite is from Sarah Palin in the Washington Post.) Read these ridiculous articles and get fired up to respond.

Global warming alarmism enriches Gore, bankrupts the rest of us
Carbon dioxide is natural byproduct, not pollution
Cap and trade is a tax hike by another name
Obama's dangerous game with energy policy
Palin: The 'Cap And Tax' Dead End

Please, take a moment to respond to these. The common theme is all economics. They are trying to scare people into inaction during the recession, but we know the truth is that a strong clean energy bill is good for the economy. Also, mention that you are ready to see our Senators be bold leaders. Here are some talking points:

Strong Clean Energy Policy is good for the economy (Despite what the authors of these articles say)

1. Clean energy creates jobs: Investments in energy efficiency and clean energy, like wind and solar, creates FOUR TIMES as many jobs per dollar investment in dirty energy like coal and oil

2. New jobs: Numerous well researched studies have shown that a strong federal clean energy bill will generate over 1.7 million new clean energy jobs. (Center for American Progress, The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy, 6/17/09)

3. True Energy Independence: True energy independence means breaking our dependence on the depleting, and therefore increasingly expensive, domestic reserves of oil and gas and generating domestic 'home grown' energy like wind and solar

4. Global Economic Powerhouse: Let's harness American ingenuity and lead the world economy in exports of new clean energy technology. A strong clean energy bill is needed to position us at the forefront of this burgeoning global market

5. Leadership: I am encouraged by Senator Cardin and Mikulski's past leadership on clean energy issues and are urging them to champion a strong clean energy bill in the US Senate.

Please, let me know when you submit a letter and again when you get it published: ethan[at]chesapeakeclimate.org

Join the "Truth Squad" today!

Also, for more info check out our 10 ways to make your Senator a Clean Energy Champ toolkit

LTE contact info for your paper:
The Cecil Whig: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Prince Georges Co. Gazette: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Baltimore Sun: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Washington Post: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Annapolis Capital: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Washington Times: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Carroll Co. Gazette: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Frederick Co. Gazette: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Montgomery Co. Gazette: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Star Democrat: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The County Times of Southern Maryland: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Baltimore Messenger, Jeffersonian, Northeast Booster, Northeast Reporter, Owings Mills Times, Towson Times or North County News: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Avenue (Baltimore): This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Northeast Booster (Baltimore): This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Maryland Independent: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Enterprise: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Recorder: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Calvert Independent: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
City Paper (DC): This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it