Through an event arranged by the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, college students from Alaska and across the United States had the opportunity to speak with McKie Campbell, Republican Staff Director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, about environmental issues in Alaska – and what Senator Murkowski is doing in Washington DC to address climate change, the opening of the Northwest Passage, and ocean acidification.

Naturally, one of the hot topics of conversation was Senator Murkowski’s bill to block the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide as a criteria air pollutant.  Senator Murkowski has drawn fire for these views, since this is seen to be the last hope for achieving meaningful GHG reductions if no bill passes this year.  The chances of a bill passing this year are looking smaller and smaller – the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman bill has failed to materialize, despite their op-ed pledging a bipartisan bill.  According to Campbell, while Kerry this morning seemed optimistic about the state of the legislation, Senate Majority Leader Reid today stated that if a climate bill is not brought before the Senate within the two weeks, climate change is not going to be addressed this year.  This puts huge pressure on Kerry – it is increasingly clear that another year without action will have huge economic and environmental consequences.

Mr. Campbell defended Senator Murkowski’s anti-regulatory actions.  Her action against EPA regulation of carbon dioxide is not because she feels it is not contributing to global warming–rather, that the language of the Clean Air Act is not sufficient to regulate GHGs as it is now written.  However, Mr. Campbell revealed, Senator Murkowski is not sitting pretty with no opposing solution.  Her office, together with about 25 other Republicans and 25 Democrats, as well as industry and environmental groups, is working to draft a bill that would impose a net zero carbon tax.  GHGs would be taxed at the narrowest possible source (perhaps entry into the system, perhaps somewhere else) – and one hundred percent of the revenue would be redistributed to the American citizen through a refund of their FICA tax or a direct credit for those who do not pay a FICA tax.  It seems that this bill is still pretty far off though.

The conversation then turned to more Alaska-specific issues – ones that I, as a non-Alaskan, had no idea were even on the agenda or of concern.  What an eye-opening moment for me! I’m in the midst of studying environmental policy at the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, and these were issues that had never come up in classes.

Alaska’s dependence on oil is one source of concern – those famous dividend checks are a powerful incentive to want to keep the oil industry booming in Alaska, but Mr. Campbell pointed out that Alaska’s legislature is looking actively at ways to diversify the energy portfolio in Alaska, with lots of debate happening in Juneau.  Possible options include geothermal, wind, and tidal – depending on the region and the resources.

The next issue – the opening of the Northwest Passage.  One student asked, “What are the cultural and environmental challenges as the Northwest Passage becomes navigable? Are we prepared and is the federal government prepared to defend against environmental destruction?”  Mr. Campbell’s answer was heated – this is one of Senator Murkowski’s biggest complaints about the federal government at the moment.  She thinks that the Arctic is not being talked about enough and it’s something we have to consider.  As a representative of the Arctic Parliamentarians Group, she is fighting for the government to consider everything from how we handle vessel response to emergenices to how to secure funding for defense and climate change adaptation.  Currently, said Mr Campbell, the nearest Coast Guard station is located in Kodiak.  That’s like dealing with problems in Florida with Coast Guard vessels sent from New Jersey – hardly an effective defense strategy.

What are the defense and foreign policy implications of an ice-free Arctic?  Fisheries, mining, and passage fees are some of those mentioned by Mr. Campbell.  Fisheries along the Western United States are already endangered – how should we treat these newly opening fisheries?  The prudent thing to do is to restrict expansion of fishery rights into these areas until more information is known about the fish populations in the areas – but will we do the prudent thing?

The natural resources possibilities in the Arctic Circle are unknown – but the USGS has reported the possible existence of large amounts of oil and natural gas.  Russia has been assertive about planting the flag and claiming rights – the United States less so.  Overall, said Mr. Campbell, the US needs to be far more aggressive and active in this area than it is being.  All the countries surrounding the Arctic Circle bump into each other up there – and therefore we need to assert ourselves as well.

This telephone conversation with McKie Campbell was the second in a series of conference calls being arranged by the Bard Center for Environmental Policy between Senators and their constituents about climate change policy.  For more information, contact the Bard Center for Environmental Policy at climate@bard.edu, or visit our website.  Calls are scheduled for New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, and Florida.

Filed under: Climate Policy, Climate Science, Dirty Energy, Extraction, global warming, Government, Politics, United States, Youth Leaders

“Give light and people will find the way.” This quote by Ella Baker, civil rights leader and youth activist, sums up the last day of the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus tour. Baker mentored young civil rights stalwarts like Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, Rosa Parks and Bob Moses.  Today, she would be proud as the new generation of activists rallied behind the need for clean energy jobs and their right to economic equality in our nation’s capital.

Imagine it. After touring the nation and meeting with young people in urban communities all along the way, the Hip Hop Caucus’ Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour brought its message of clean energy solutions to the steps of the Capitol Building for a closing rally.  The event began with music from DJ Biz Markie. His classic beats were heard around the Capitol while hip hop echoed off of our nation’s government buildings. As Biz began, a bus full of Howard University students marched up to the rally with Clean Energy Now! signs and took their place on the stage as one of the nation’s leading universities.

The program began with youth activists, Kari Fulton from EJCC, Liz Starke, student activist from Michigan State University, and William Kellibrew who represented the Black Youth Vote.  Together, these students amplified the diversity of today’s youth movement and the importance of a clean energy economy for their future prosperity.

Reverend Yearwood moderated the rally and introduced Administrator Lisa Jackson, who jumped right into the importance of a clean energy economy to protect our air and provide clean water to all communities across the country, especially for young people and future generations. “The tour has been across the country listening to young voices calling for good jobs, lower energy costs and cleaner communities,” said Jackson. “This is the time to seize global leadership in clean energy innovation and answer the young people and urban communities who are asking for clean energy now.” Signs were raised, young people were cheering, and Washington was listening.

Following Administrator Jackson, movement leaders like Gary Flowers, Congressman Andre Carson, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All, and actress Gloria Reuben took the stage to explain how protecting the climate can help us to take back our streets by creating new businesses and regenerating the urban economy. Maggie Fox, CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection, amplified the importance of showing the diversity of this movement to Washington. “It is clear that our young people and communities of color will benefit greatly from the economic opportunities that come from investing in clean energy,” said Fox.

Today, the message was clear in Washington.  WE MUST ACT NOW! The clean energy movement is about taking control of our future and bringing opportunity to our communities.  Millions of our friends and neighbors are out of work. Washington has the opportunity to create 1.9 million new jobs and rebuild our economy from the ground up by making a commitment to clean energy here in America.   The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus Tour was a light that illuminated monumental economic opportunity across the country.  So, hats off to our civil rights predecessors, it is now our turn to carry the torch towards a victory in Washington.

Filed under: global warming, United States, Week of Action, Youth Leaders

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law today that doubles the amount of energy power companies will be required to buy back from customers with solar panels today. That means that customers will be able to sell back up to 5% of the energy they generate, double the old rate of 2.5%.

A home with rooftop solar panels Los Angeles, California. From Flickr.com

This is exactly the kind of incentive that people need to expand solar technology. Many scientists and researchers say that solar technology is best implemented on an individual home basis. With legislation like this, homeowners will have a greater incentive to invest in the expensive technology.

We’ve heard of the homeowners that get paid by the power companies, but it is usually an amount so small that it rarely covers the cost of equipment. If new legislation can double that number, like it has in California, then more and more people may turn to solar.

Just as in agriculture, getting people to switch to a more expensive energy efficient technology requires financial incentive. California has taken a step in the right direction. Let’s hope other parts of the country follow suit.

But, will this bill make a big difference for regular homeowners? Is 5% high enough? Is this something the rest of the country should implement? Share your thoughts below.

Filed under: Climate Policy, global warming, Politics

“We need heroes. Build them, dont put your fist up, fill them. Fight with tools.”

These lyrics by a popular band out of Denver, The Flobots, embodies the type of change we need within the youth movement to obtain what we want most; a holistic clean energy economy. The easy question is, how do we do this? The answer, if we do our part together, might not be as difficult as you think.

First, we need to to address our cities and communities that are no longer transforming themselves. The good news is there are those that have already started to do this. Heroes, as we call them. They are individuals who have brought about areas of positive change because they envision something greater. Each of these heroes are people just like you, links of a chain bounded together by community or organization, each with a story to tell, each empowered to make a positive difference.

These are the types of stories and individuals that create the positive synergy within a movement that turns a vision into a reality. There’s no question visions such as these have been plagued with the apathy and skepticism. Radical change has many opponents. But now is the time to work with communities on finding answers to problems that continue to plague them.

This Summer, the Energy Action Coalition is listening. Communities such as yours will have the opportunity to connect to something bigger, something that can be leveraged for relevant, real policy change. This will aide the movement in scaling-up to become a size needed to achieve the kind of positive transformation our cities and communities crave.

Download the application to include and receive support for your community’s summer project.

We know there are so many problems that need to be addressed. We also know solutions to these problems are only shackled by the limits of our imagination. That’s what makes this summer so exciting. Organizations, communities and individuals will be able to collaborate to understand how to shift the power back to us. These summer programs will be inclusive, practical, hands-on and transpartent so that local stories, skills and experiences can be shared nationally for all to take part in. The holistic and developmental progression of these programs will be what comes to successfully define us in the next ten years.

Filed under: global warming

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that General Motors’ bid to sell the brand to a Chinese heavy equipment manufacturing company fell through. Unless the contract is picked up quickly, no more Hummers will be manufactured.

Hummers have been notorious as environmentally unfriendly vehicles and a source of controversy ever since they were introduced to the public. The most fuel-efficient Hummer averages about 16 mpg, a frighteningly low number when considering that some hybrids get an average of upwards of 40 mpg. That’s more than double the fuel-efficiency of the Hummer.

The popularity of the Hummer brand has declined in recent years. The brand was popular soon after its release, with 71,524 Hummers sold in 2006. By December 2009, sales were down 85%.  Stock prices have continued to drop, and GM recently filed for bankruptcy.

The discontinuation of the brand is a good sign. The production of hybrid vehicles continues to increase and the fuel efficiency of many types of vehicles currently on the market is being improved. An increase in manufacturing in the clean energy sector will hopefully help to replace the jobs lost as GM shuts down Hummer production.

RIP, Hummer. It’s time for the next generation of transportation to take hold.

Filed under: Business, Clean Cars, Dirty Energy, Transportation