Will we get the change we need on energy?
Senate debates plan to repower America
As the U.S. Senate considers historic energy legislation, we’re building support to ensure it passes—and that the end product is as strong as possible.
The House’s approval of the American Clean Energy and Security Act this summer marked a clear break from the inaction that characterized the federal government’s response to global warming during the past eight years. If the Senate follows suit this fall, we’ll see billions of dollars invested in energy efficiency and renewable power, and significant, mandatory reductions in carbon pollution.
It’s not perfect
Still, the energy bill passed by the House doesn’t do all that’s necessary. In order to win enough votes for passage, the bill’s sponsors agreed to compromises that benefit oil and coal companies, agribusiness and other interests at the expense of taxpayers and the environment. But we can’t wait any longer to begin fighting global warming. And this bill has the potential to transform our energy systems. That’s why we decided to support and work extremely hard for passage of the bill.
Building support for change
Despite the concessions, the vote in the House was close, with just a seven vote margin in support of the legislation. We focused our energy on building support that could influence the deciding votes.
We released a report showing that lower crop yields resulting from climate change could cost Texas corn farmers an average of $37 million each year. We teamed up with the Texas Farmers Union and wind developer American Shoreline to get op-eds in several newspapers, including the Waco Tribune-Herald and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
We organized town hall meetings, including one with Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, and reached out to green business leaders and prominent architects, such as Edgar Farrera. Our work also resulted in a feature story on the Spanish language television station, Univision.
Finally, we went door-to-door and reached out online to raise awareness and give citizens a chance to make their voices heard.
