The Story of Cap and Trade

The Story of Cap and Trade

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Climate & Consumption
November 30th, 2009, cross posted from story of stuff blog

If you’re like me, an increasing amount of your worries these days focus on the rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and the resulting potential for devastating climate chaos.

Years ago, when I first heard about climate change, I figured someone else would work all that out while I kept plodding away with my work on consumption, pollution and waste. Well, guess what? They didn’t work it out; in fact, the climate situation is far worse today than even recent scientific predictions. And guess what else? It turns out that climate and consumption are actually the same issue.

You see, most of the greenhouse gases countries emit come from our materials economy: the way we make, use, transport, and throw away all the stuff in our lives. As Boston College professor (and one of my favorite authors) Juliet Schor said “Global consumerism devours resources like there’s no tomorrow. And unless we address how much we consume, we won’t succeed in averting disastrous climate change.”

A majority of scientists now say we need to significantly reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere if we want the planet to resemble something close to what it is like today, supporting the kind of life that it does today. To do this, we simply have to use less Stuff

4 Major Groups to Sue Mirant for Pollution Violations at Brandywine Coal Combustion Waste Landfill

Due to serious concerns about toxic pollution discharged from an unlined coal ash waste dump in suburban Washington, D.C., four environmental groups — Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Patuxent Riverkeeper – announced today that they intend to sue Mirant MD Ash Management, LLC and Mirant Mid-Atlantic, LLC Corporation for violations of the federal Clean Water Act at the Brandywine Coal Combustion Waste (CCW) Landfill in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Environmental Integrity Project and the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Maryland School of Law are acting as co-counsel for the four groups. Continue reading

Save Ice Hockey. Enough with the Nukes, eh!

Last week I had a blast at a Washington Capitol’s ice hockey game in DC. I was just enjoying a nice break from a busy week of climate activism when I see something on the wall behind the goalie-box that almost ruined my night. A billboard advertisement for nuclear energy that read: “Nuclear: The Clean Air Energy” solution. Come on! You would think a sport like ice hockey that will literally not exist if we allow global warming to accelerate wouldn’t be so quick to take money from a false solution like the nuclear industry. *Sigh*

Then on Monday Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Sen. Webb (D-VA) released a new bill that would be a huge give-away of $20 billion taxpayer dollars to the nuclear industry. It’s no surprise that this money will come from the government because Wall Street won’t touch nuclear power with a ten foot pole. Plain and simple: it’s a BAD INVESTMENT. Conservatives are irked about the expansion of federal government spending and yet their brilliant solution to the energy crisis? Sink billions into the expensive, unsafe nuclear power. (Read more at CCAN member, Matt Dernoga’s excellent Letter to Editor).

Every new nuclear power plant built would be a step backwards when it comes to solving global warming. Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency is a safer, faster and less expensive alternative to nuclear energy. Tapping into Maryland’s abundant renewable energy sources would create far more jobs for far less money than investing in unsafe nuclear energy. That’s why yesterday I was pleased to join our friends at Environment Maryland to release a new report: “Generating Failure: How Building Nuclear Power Plants Would Set America Back in the Race Against Global Warming”. You can read the full report here.

Here an excerpt about the press conference that was printed in the Annapolis Capitol:

“Maryland has charted a course to put us on the stage of national leadership” when it comes to combating climate change, said Ethan Nuss, Maryland campaign coordinator with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. And with good reason. Maryland is incredibly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, Nuss said. Sea level rise would affect the state’s natural resources and fishing and tourism economy. “We owe it to our children and grandchildren to act in the most decisive manner to solve the climate crisis,” said Nuss. “Nuclear power is not that solution.”

At the end of the day there is a litany of reasons to oppose nuclear power. But the thing that I can’t get over is the wasteful complexity of the entire nuclear fuel cycle. From when uranium is mined on Native American lands, then refined-processesed, put through a complicated atom-splitting reactor, to heat water, to generate steam, which turns a turbine

How clean are your local waterways?

In a recent report released by Environment America, The Commonwealth of Virginia comes in second in the country for the most polluted waterways. Not a designation any Virginian should be proud of to say the least. The data used in this report comes from the EPA’s very own Toxics Release Inventory.

The report also found that nearly half of our country’s waterways are too polluted for fishing, swimming or other recreational activities because polluters are continuing to use them as major dumping grounds. As I blogged about previously, coal-fired power plants are one of the biggest threats to our waterways yet there are no federal regulations on the proper disposal of toxins from these plants into nearby rivers and streams.

It’s time polluters cleaned up their act and federal and state governments started cracking down. One way our state government can begin working toward removing our beautiful Commonwealth from this list is by refusing to allow new coal plants such as the one proposed for Surry County in the Hampton Roads region. This coal plant would be the largest in the state, if built, and would only be a mere 35 miles from our precious Chesapeake Bay.

Want to join the fight? You can sign our petition or attend the public hearing on November 23 in Surry County. Tell your friends and family to get involved too. We can do better for our waterways and ourselves.

Virginia Students: Join the "No Coal Day," Nov. 18th

Of the many amazing things I get to do as CCAN’s Virginia campus organizer, one extra bit of inspiration is how often I find myself driving along a beautiful back road and am struck by the incredible views all around me. To think that in areas of Virginia those mountains and the communities surrounding them are directly threatened only makes me more anxious to reach my destination because I know that the work we’re doing around this state is going to help make the switch and create a clean energy economy here in Virginia and beyond.

I just got back from Wise County where I joined the Rrnew Collective and others from around the Southeast for “Weekend in Wise” a weekend of discussion, brainstorming and planning (plus a little dancing) about creating sustainable economic development in Appalachia. While it was the first time I saw mountaintop removal and ‘reclamation,’ the sense of determination from everyone there left me energized. Together, we’re going to create a better future for all of us.

That’s why young people from around the state have set November 18th was set as a statewide No Coal Day. It’s a Day of Action for a clean energy future because young people know it’s time for Virginia to make the switch. Join in! Email me at katherine[at]chesapeakeclimate.org

Video – PowerShift 09 and friends of CCAN featured!

A previously overlooked video focusing on the importance of youth in the climate movement just hit Green.tv (which is kind of a big deal, congrats!). It features PowerShift 09 and lots of personal friends of CCAN. For 3:33 it’s definitely worth checking out.

Truth Squad: Sen. Cardin Advances Clean Energy Bill!

Exciting news! This morning at 9:30, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin helped pass the Kerry-Boxer clean energy bill out of his committee (Environment and Public Works). He fought to keep key strengthening provisions intact despite the opposition from the Big Oil and Coal Lobby and his Republican colleagues who boycotted the committee hearings. This is an important step towards demonstrating US climate leadership before the international climate talks in Copenhagen in December. (Get news flashes like this as they happen by following CCAN on Twitter)

Thanks to your emails and letters, Sen. Cardin showed leadership in the face of strident opposition and deserves our praise. Now it’s time to start talking to Senator Barbara Mikulski. Once the bill gets to the Senate floor we will need the combined powers of Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski to fight for a bold clean energy bill.

Let’s face it, internal Senate proceedings don’t always make headlines. It’s up to us to tell the story and educate our fellow citizens. Can you take a few minutes to submit a letter to the editor to your local paper?

Please, take a moment to respond. Here are some talking points:

1. Thank You Sen. Cardin for Your Leadership: This week Sen. Cardin helped pass the Boxer-Kerry “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” out of his key Environment and Public Works Committee. His committee’s approval was an important step on the path towards a new clean energy economy that will create millions of jobs nationwide. Recent studies have shown that such a bill would create 35,000 jobs in Maryland alone.

2. Sen. Cardin Defended Key Provisions: Sen. Cardin fought to ensure that the Boxer-Kerry clean energy bill restores the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate global warming pollution from coal plants. (This critical authority was threatened in the House version of the bill). Sen. Cardin also deserves our praise for inserted key provisions to protect Maryland consumers from rising energy costs.

3. Big Opposition on the Senate Floor: Clean energy bills have always faced opposition from the Big Oil and Coal, who managed to significantly weaken the House version of the bill. Unfortunately, many Republicans are also trying to block clean energy legislation — they even boycotted the most recent hearings.

4. Need More Bold Leadership from Our Senators: As the bill moves through the Senate, I am looking forward to Senator Mikulski to join forces with Senator Cardin to defend the Clean Air Act, protect consumers, and prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency before expensive and unsafe energy sources such as nuclear energy and “clean coal.” I look forward to the Senators’ bold leadership as they work to create 35,000 new jobs for Maryland.

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

Go forth and spread the Truth!

—
LTE contact info for your paper:

The Cecil Whig: whigletters@chespub.com
Prince Georges Co. Gazette: princegeorges@gazette.net
Baltimore Sun: talkback@baltimoresun.com
Washington Post: letters@washpost.com
Annapolis Capital: capletts@capitalgazette.com
Washington Times: letters@washingtontimes.com
Carroll Co. Gazette: carroll@gazette.net
Frederick Co. Gazette: Frederick@gazette.net
Montgomery Co. Gazette: letters@gazette.net
The Star Democrat: eastonedit@chespub.com
The County Times of Southern Maryland: tobiepulliam@countytimes.net
Baltimore Messenger, Jeffersonian, Northeast Booster, Northeast Reporter, Owings Mills Times, Towson Times or North County News: kweiss@patuxent.com
The Avenue (Baltimore): aveeditorial@chespub.com
The Northeast Booster (Baltimore): dsturm@patuxent.com
Maryland Independent: abreck@somdnews.com
The Enterprise: rboyd@somdnews.com
The Recorder: clovejoy@somdnews.com
The Calvert Independent: editorial@calvertindependent.com
City Paper (DC): mail@washingtoncitypaper.com

Gov. O'Malley Receives "Climate Leadership Award" from CCAN

On behalf of its 80,000 supporters across the region, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network today named Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley as recipient of its highest annual prize. The “Maryland Climate Leadership Award” is presented to the Governor for his critical leadership in helping to pass the historic Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act in Maryland earlier this year. Continue reading

Md Utility (Nuke) Deal Still Risky

Two months ago I sat in an uncomfortable folding chair in the aging War Memorial Building in Baltimore. The drab walls had yellowed over the years in the dim lighting and dusty old flags hung in remembrance of past sacrifices for Democracy. But that evening this tired old hall was alive with hundreds of people taking part in a hearty democratic discourse. Dozens of activists occupied the first two rows of the hearing room to give testimony to the Public Service Commission and say “No Deal” to the merger between Constellation/EDF.

Many Maryland citizens spoke up at this hearing and across the state to voice their opposition to this merger that would rip off Maryland ratepayers and move us loser to more unsafe nuclear power in the Free State. CCAN was proud to work with out partners in the Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition to represent the public interest in this campaign. Last Friday the PSC announced their decision. They didn’t reject the merger outright but did include some conditions that are more favorable to BG&E ratepayers (full press statement below). The campaign continues for a more comprehensive approach to Maryland’s Clean Energy Future. (Here is a clip of me on WAMU 88.5, the DC area NPR affiliate). Let’s keep fighting!

COALITION WARNS OF UTILITY DEAL’S IMPLICATIONS
Public Service Commission Conditions May Mitigate Some Risk

Press statement of Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition Spokesperson, Johanna Neumann, on the Maryland Public Service Commission’s Conditional Approval of the Deal between Constellation Energy Group and Electricite de France.

“While we are disappointed that the Public Service Commission (PSC) didn’t reject the deal between Constellation Energy and EDF outright, conditions placed on the deal may help safeguard BGE ratepayers from risks associated with the transaction if it moves forward.

In its ruling the PSC largely ignored the fact that the sale would continue to expose Marylanders to the risk associated with the construction of a new nuclear reactor in the state, including higher utility rates if the plant comes online.

The reactor likely would result in rates dramatically higher than current market rates. The California Energy Commission recently issued a report projecting nuclear generating costs in 2018, roughly the time Calvert Cliffs III could come online, at a staggering 34.24 cents/kwh, nearly triple current costs in Maryland. In the same study, the commission found that all renewable sources of energy were cheaper than nuclear power in that timeframe.

Moody’s and other credit rating agencies have indicated their intent to downgrade utilities that build new nuclear reactors because of the high risk involved in the project. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 50 percent of proposals for new nuclear reactors default before completion.

While it is disappointing that the PSC has left the door open for construction of an expensive and unnecessary new nuclear reactor in Maryland that diverts resources from faster, cheaper and safer ways to meet our state’s energy needs, the conditions outlined in their brief would take some steps to protect ratepayers from having to assume the project’s risks.”