Cross-posted from WattHead - Energy News and Commentary

Here’s the voice of just one of millions of new, clean energy jobs we can create if we spark a new energy economy. Barack Obama has said it’s his top priority if elected, so we should expect more people like Troy the wind turbine builder to find well-paying, dignified work that helps put America back on track.

A hat tip to Clean Tech and Green Businesses for Obama.

Posted in Government, green jobs, Politics, Renewable Energy, United States, Video      

Cross-posted from WattHead - Energy News and Commentary

Here’s the voice of just one of millions of new, clean energy jobs we can create if we spark a new energy economy. Barack Obama has said it’s his top priority if elected, so we should expect more people like Troy the wind turbine builder to find well-paying, dignified work that helps put America back on track.

A hat tip to Clean Tech and Green Businesses for Obama.

Posted in Government, green jobs, Politics, Renewable Energy, United States, Video      

Cross-posted from WattHead - Energy News and Commentary

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski unveiled the ambitious clean energy agenda he hopes to see implemented by the 2009 Oregon Legislature on Monday. Following up on a landmark 2007 legislative session that saw the Beaver State enact an ambitious renewable energy standard, expand tax credits for clean energy, and enact new standards for energy efficiency, Governor Kulongoski isn’t resting on his laurels.

“Climate change is the most important environmental and economic issue of our time,” Kulongoski said as he laid out his proposal for new clean energy tax incentives and ambitious goals he wants the 2009 Legislature to adopt.

On Monday, Governor Kulongoski said it’s time to redouble the state’s commitment to a clean energy future. “In 2009, we must be bolder, more comprehensive and even more visionary,” Kulongoski said. Right on!

According to the Oregonian, Kulongoski’s proposals include:

• Greenhouse gas reduction: Authorizes regional cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions; sets limits on emissions from the state’s largest sources; sets low-carbon standards for all new electricity generation

• Energy efficiency: Establishes energy performance certificates for new homes or commercial buildings, similar to MPG ratings for new cars; sets goal of zero-emission new buildings by 2030; allows 50 percent tax credit for large-scale energy efficiency projects, up to $20 million

• Renewable energy: Sets up pilot program to pay for energy produced from solar projects; establishes tax credit for residents who donate to a renewable energy incentive fund

• Transportation: Offers $5,000 credit for purchase of new plug-in hybrid or all-electric car; authorizes new low-carbon fuel standard similar to those in Washington and California

His plans to implement a cap and trade program, joining with other states in the Western Climate Initiative, will likely draw the most opposition. Groups representing industrial energy consumers are already lining up in opposition. But it’s clear that Governor Kulongoski, who faces his last legislative session as Oregon’s governor, has decided to pin his legacy on efforts to make Oregon a clean energy leader and tackle global warming.

More on Kulongoski’s clean energy plans at the Oregonian

Posted in Cascade Region, Climate Policy, global warming, Government, Politics, Renewable Energy, United States      

Kansas has long been a place where great contests for the soul of the country have been fought. The scars of the violence from “Bloody Kansas” lie mostly buried, with memorial plaques bearing witness to where homes burned and people died over whether Kansas would join the United States as a free state or slave state. Kansas eventually joined the United States as a free state, rejecting the premise that some must live as slaves in a repudiation that helped precipitate the Civil War. The progressive populism of Kansas helped launch the Progressive era and the curbing of the Robber Barons.

We all know there is a new great contest for the soul of America, to whether or not to rise to the Climate Challenge, take responsibility for its role in changing the world’s climate, and lead the world in developing the clean energy revolution needed to solve our economic and ecological crises. Kansas is again on the forefront.

In a state that many had written off as deep Red and beholden to right-wing arguments against either acknowledging or addressing Global Warming, Kansas Governor Sebelius took a courageous step few other governors would take and blocked the building of two new dirty and dangerous coal plants.

She did so in the face of a legislative revolt, vetoing repeatedly the misguided efforts to push the plants through. In fact, she used the Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts vs. EPA, as her justification, thereby setting the stage for a future President of the United States to do so with a Coal Moratorium.

For added impact. Notice the signs, in the hands of two ministers as well as students, Wind not Coal, being furiously whipped around by the strong winds. For a higher quality version, please watch it here.

Kansas citizens are likewise standing up and demanding to be heard that they support clean energy, not dirty and dangerous coal. For evidence, see this footage of dozens of Kansas citizens coming together to protest the 14th dirtiest coal plant in the nation: you can see its plume of dirty smoke in the background.

So, with the nation watching where Kansas is going, the answer is blowing in the wind. Kansas gets it.

Posted in Act Locally, Coal, Dirty Energy, global warming, News and Media, Politics, Posterity, Reporting Team, United States, Video      

Join Al Gore and Power Vote
for a live webcast:

8:30 pm (EST)

TONIGHT

The buzz around massive climate voter turnout this election is bigger than ever, and we’re beyond excited for you to join us tonight at 8:30pm Eastern for our webcast with Al Gore to turn it up yet another notch.

http://www.powervote.org/GoreWebcast

Vice President Gore will speak about the role of young people in RePowering America and why it’s so important that we get as many climate voters as possible to turn out on November 4th at our country’s most important battle ground: the ballot box.

The webcast feed will go live at 8pm Eastern - 30 minutes before Mr. Gore begins speaking - so that if you are hosting a viewing party you will be able to set up and test your equipment. Again, the web address for the webcast will be:

http://www.powervote.org/GoreWebcast

Now, we’ve written a lot of emails and blog posts this week about the webcast with Mr. Gore and about our call to get out the climate vote over the next six days - and it’s been incredible to see your response.

Our field teams have been spreading the word on the ground at campuses nationwide, and our great friends and partners like the Alliance for Climate Protection, 1Sky, and Green for All have been doing the same on all fronts.

It’s been a truly extraordinary week, and the best is yet to come! In the midst of the excitement though, we also want to ensure the reason for it is not lost:

We need our elected officials to know there are millions of people for whom green jobs, a clean energy economy, and the securing of our climate is a top priority.

We’re so very thankful you’ll be joining us to make sure they know just that.

http://www.powervote.org/GoreWebcast

PS -Before the webcast, check out what the Power Vote campaign has been up to over the last 6 weeks at the Presidential Debates. Pretty awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELu_HaD6IW0

Help us get the word out - Repost this announcement any and everywhere

Posted in Act Locally, Campuses, Climate Justice, Dirty Energy, global warming, Government, Political Participation, Politics, United States, Youth Leaders