Energy Policy

We recently wrote Illinois Senator Dick Durbin urging his support of legislation to address our energy policy by supporting clean energy generation with renewable energy technologies while reducing the environmental impact and climate disruption caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The added benefit is creating clean energy jobs.

Below is Senator Durbin’s response - we appreciate Senator Durbin’s support!

As we come into this weekend to celebrate Independence Day let’s all think about what so many individuals did to give us the freedoms we all enjoy.

Let us also use this occasion to think (and act) about what we all need to do in order to move us towards Energy Independence by implementing clean, renewable energy and lessen our dependence on our fossil fuel addiction. This is a freedom that can not be taken for granted.

The gulf coast oil spill should be teaching every one of us that our current energy strategy is not sustainable - just ask all the folks in the gulf coast as they sit and watch their Independence continue to erode.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July.

Today Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders sent Senator Harry Reid a letter that basically says we are spending too much of our tax dollars on the same, dirty old energy sources and we need to fund clean, renewable generation like wind energy and solar energy. Below is Senator Sanders’ letter.

This comes as General Electric released the results of a consumer survey (by  StrategyOne) that exhibits the constituency (yes we the people) of our Congress supports a new energy strategy and economy.

1. 95% of consumers want to save money on energy
2. 90% of consumers want increased control over their energy costs
3. 88% of consumers want to make a difference for their children and grandchildren
4. 86% of consumers want power outages reduced
5. 85% of consumers have concerns on the effects of energy generation on the environment.

Duh, look at the gulf after 60+ days of oil contamination.

Members of Congress, tell us where is the disconnect? Are you listening to what the people want? Or are you listening to the lobbyists lining your pockets?

Senator Sanders Sets Out Energy Policy Principles

Calls Current Proposals ‘By No Means Strong Enough’

WASHINGTON, June 22 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today laid out core principles that he said should be part of any comprehensive energy legislation, and he bluntly concluded in a letter to the Senate leader that it “makes no sense at all” to promote coal and nuclear power over cleaner, safer energy sources.

“I am concerned that the current legislative proposals we are examining are by no means strong enough in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable energy,” Sanders wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Any legislation responding to the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, Sanders said, should move the United States away from fossil fuels and toward energy independence. The chairman of the Senate green jobs subcommittee also said a strong U.S. energy policy would cut greenhouse gas emissions while creating millions of good-paying jobs.

Sanders singled out for criticism a weakness in the Kerry-Lieberman proposal to provide more than $100 billion for nuclear and coal, far more than their plan would invest in energy efficiency and sustainable energy sources. “If we are serious about combating global warming, moving to energy independence and creating millions of jobs in the future, we must transform our energy system away from fossil fuels” Sanders said. “At the very least, any serious energy bill must include funding for energy efficiency and sustainable energy that is on a par with the amounts provided for nuclear and coal.”

Sanders developed and sent to Reid a proposal that would ensure that the energy bill has a significant sustainable energy investment of tens of billions of dollars over a 10-year period. The three principles that Sanders told Reid must be a part of any legislation include:

• A strong energy efficiency and renewable energy provision. Sanders would invest at least 10 percent of the resources from global warming legislation in efficient and renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. An investment of $8 billion to $13 billion a year, he said, would create as many as 2 million new jobs.

• A ban on new offshore drilling. Congress should reinstate a moratorium in effect for decades and ban drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as Florida’s gulf coast. In addition, Congress should demand dramatically improved fuel-economy standards. While better gas mileage could save the equivalent of $1.43 a gallon by 2030, wide-open drilling would produce only enough additional petroleum to bring prices down by 3-cents a gallon.

• A strong renewable electricity standard. Renewable energy standards, also known as renewable portfolio standards, require that a certain percentage of total energy needs be generated from renewable sources. The United States should set a national standard requiring 25 percent renewable power by 2025. “This provision alone could create hundreds of thousands of new jobs while helping to meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals,” Sanders said.

Media Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

Tonight at 7:00 (central), 8:00(eastern) President Obama will address the Gulf Coast oil spill and the tragic effects on the people, the environment and the economy.

We hope to hear an open, honest assessment of what is being done to stop the flow and the specific plans and resources that will be allocated to cleaning up this mess.

Once again we see big companies driven by greed employing unnecessary and irresponsible strategies that produce devastating effects. This is all too similar to the financial companies that brought our economy to it’s knees in September, 2008 where we had to bail them out to avoid a financial meltdown.

Let’s all watch and listen tonight.

We hope President Obama has the political will to use this Gulf Coast tragedy as the foundation for a comprehensive energy strategy that will offer substantial incentives for energy conservation and a full court press to develop and implement a sustainable energy strategy based upon clean, renewable energy production from the infinite resources of the sun and the wind.

This AP photo pretty much says it all!

From 2002 to 2008 our Congress has given $70 Billion in tax breaks to big oil companies.  This may give us some insight as to the enormous profits these companies report each quarter.  For example our favorite oil company, BP made $6 Billion in the first quarter of 2010 alone.

During that same time frame, our Congress has given $12 Billion to support and incentivize Renewable Energy like wind, solar, biomass and geothermal. We agree with Senator Bernie Sanders’ amendment - let’s support the development and implementation of clean, renewable energy and stop supporting companies that trash our eco-system.

Sanders Amendment Would Repeal Big Oil Tax Breaks

WASHINGTON, June 9 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today proposed repealing more than $35 billion in oil and gas industry tax breaks.

Sanders’ amendment would invest $10 billion of the savings in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The remaining $25 billion would reduce the federal deficit.

“What the amendment does is help transform our energy system away from fossil fuels, end unjustified tax breaks, cut the deficit and invest in energy efficiency,” Sanders said.

Calling the tax breaks “absurd,” Sanders noted that Exxon Mobil, the most profitable corporation in the history of the world, last year avoided paying any federal income taxes and pocketed a $46 million refund from the IRS.

“This amendment would begin to make sure that Exxon Mobil, BP and other big oil companies pay at least a minimal amount of their record-breaking profits in taxes to the federal government,” Sanders said.

The oil and gas tax breaks also were targeted for elimination in President Obama’s budget.

During the past decade, Sanders said, the five largest oil companies (ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, ChevronTexaco, and ConocoPhillips) earned more than $750 billion in profits.  During the first quarter of this year, big oil’s profits increased by 85 percent.

The chairman of the Senate Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee, Sanders said that the United States heavily subsidizes oil but has failed to make significant investments in safer, cleaner renewable energy sources. According to the Environmental Law Institute, the U.S. from 2002 to 2008 provided more than $70 billion in fossil fuel subsidies, compared to only $12 billion for wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and other renewable energy.

The energy block grant program that would receive $10 billion under Sanders’ amendment was created by a provision that he and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) authored in the 2007 energy bill.

Initial funding for the program came from $3.2 billion in the economic stimulus bill. In Highgate, Vt., for example, the elementary school was awarded more than $81,000 to replace lights with energy-efficient fixtures. The same program is funding windmills in Carmel, Ind., to power a sewer treatment plant.  It’s being used in Salt Lake City to provide loans to businesses to make energy efficiency upgrades.  It’s being used in Columbus, Ohio, to make public buildings more energy efficient

“This amendment may not be easy to pass,” Sanders acknowledged, noting that oil industry campaign contributions since 1990 exceed $238 million. “But it is the right thing to do for deficit reduction,” he concluded. “It is the right thing for the environment, and it is the right thing to do for consumers.”

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders once again is the champion for the people of this country in dealing with the major issues facing US.

The Gulf Oil Spill is the result of so many factors that our legislators in Congress have not adequately addressed. Does it take a disaster like the Gulf Oil Spill to get the attention of the other 534 representatives we have? Still, we have folks in Congress that continue to resist progressive thinking and actions in the best interest of the people rather than those of special interests.

We thank you again Senator Sanders - we need you and your efforts to continue!

Sanders Proposes Drilling Ban and

Stronger Fuel Efficiency Standards

WASHINGTON, May 27 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said today that the United States must learn a profound lesson from the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico and make certain we protect our oceans from future disasters and transform our energy system away from fossil fuels.

Sanders introduced legislation that would ban offshore drilling along America’s ocean coastlines and increase fuel efficiency in American cars.

The measure would prohibit drilling in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and along Florida’s gulf coastline. A moratorium on drilling in those areas that Congress approved every year since 1982 lapsed in 2008.

Sanders’ bill also would set a fuel economy standard of 55 miles per gallon, up from an average of 35 mpg that American car makers must achieve by 2030 under current law.

An outgrowth of an Obama administration push to stiffen the standards, the detailed requirement proposed by Sanders would bring the United States up to par with China, Japan, Canada, South Korea and nations in Europe that already have more aggressive standards than the U.S. In Europe, for example, cars already get the equivalent of 42 mpg and by 2020 cars in Europe will be required to get at least 65 mpg.

The improved fuel economy would translate into a savings of $1.43 per gallon of gas.  Opening all of America’s coastal waters to drilling would yield such a modest boost in petroleum supplies that the price of gas would dip by only 3-cents a gallon.

“Is 3-cents-a-gallon in the year 2030 worth the potential risk of another disaster like this?” Sanders asked. “I don’t think it is.”

The legislation already has drawn support from leading national environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth. “As the Deepwater Horizon disaster shows, new offshore drilling puts our coasts at unacceptable risk,” said Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth.

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141

No wonder only 23% of the people trust Congress!

We have all the critics of the Administration’s efforts to reform Health Care, Financial regulations, our Educational System and our Energy Policies saying “No to Big Government - saying “We don’t want the Federal government involved in our States and our lives”.

That’s just fine until a crisis happens like the Gulf Coast Oil disaster.  Now, those same critics are calling out the Administration for not “responding fast enough” - not “doing enough”.

What is it folks - you only want the Federal Government involved when you can’t handle a mess you’ve created?

Hypocrisy at it’s finest!

Let’s get behind the Administration and start pushing Congress to become effective regulators by being efficient in dealing with the major issues facing our country.

If anything is too big to fail it’s a Congress that can’t deal with issues that have been ignored for so long.

As we mark the 40th year of Earth Day, we are faced with making some of the most important decisions regarding our energy future.  This is an issue that will intensify as the population of the world grows by 37% over the next 40 years.

Everyone of us must engage Congress to act on an energy policy and strategy that includes the following:

• Encouraging the implementation of clean energy generation by offering incentives for renewable energy technologies like solar and wind.
• Focus on the clean energy economy to create jobs that can not be exported.
• Bring about awareness and knowledge of a clean energy model into our educational system by providing incentives for school districts to install renewable energy generation technologies. This will educate our next generation of energy and environmental stewards while reducing their cost of energy (school districts sure need economic help these days) and their carbon footprint.

Tonight on CNBC at 7:00 PM (Central Time) a show will air titled: Beyond The Barrel. The Race To Fuel The Future hosted by Carl Quintanilla - should be interesting as Carl explores how to address the world’s increasing energy demands.

Also tonight, on MSNBC at 10:00 PM (Central Time) a show will air titled: Future Earth: Addicted To Power.

We’ll be watching, will you? We all need to begin addressing the energy issue for us now, our children and grandchildren.

As Congress heats up the debate on Cap & Trade legislation are we to expect the same productivity we have seen for the past year on Health Care Reform?

The issue of producing clean, sustainable renewable energy while lessening dependence on foreign sources for our energy requirements seems pretty straight forward to us. We’re not sure if Cap & Trade is the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, we do know that 28 States have enacted Renewable Electricity Standards where certain percentages of electricity come from renewable resources such as the sun and wind. Do we need national legislation to get our country moving forward on this issue - it appears that is what it will take as there are 50 States and way too many special interests trying to impede the implementation of renewable energy.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders today held a press conference announcing a solar initiative.

Solar Industry Leaders to Support

Green Job Chairman’s Solar Legislation

Environment America to Roll Out Report on Solar Industry

WASHINGTON, March 9 – Sen. Bernie Sanders and environmental advocates will hold a press conference on solar energy at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9 at the Senate Swamp.

Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate’s green jobs subcommittee, will discuss his legislation to encourage the installation of 10 million solar systems on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade.

Environment America will release a report, Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy, highlighting the potential of solar energy and the many ways that solar power can transform life by enhancing energy security and reducing pollution.

Who: Senator Bernie Sanders; Sean Garren, clean energy advocate for Environment America; James Resor, chief financial officer of groSolar (White River Junction, Vt.); Anthony Clifford, chief executive officer of Standard Solar (Gaithersburg, Md.); and Kathy Weiss, vice president at First Solar (Tempe, Ariz.).

What: News Conference on Solar Legislation and Report on the Solar Industry

When: 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Where: Senate Swamp, across from the Capitol’s Senate Steps (map here).

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist at 202-224-5141

This is the type of activity we need from Congress to address the 6 Billion tons of carbon emissions we’re putting into the environment. Senator Sanders, you continue to do the right things for the people of this country.

OK folks - the snow storm is gone. Let’s hope this time off enabled Congress to clear their respective heads and get down to the business - not as usual, but in the best interest of the people of this country.

Quit playing games and do your jobs to address the issues of jobs, the economy, health care reform, and an energy policy for clean, renewable energy.

Take a look at this release from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders - tell me we don’t need health care reform!

It Never Ends: Health Insurance Profits Soar

WASHINGTON, February 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today blasted the country’s five largest health insurance companies that posted $12.2 billion in profits last year, 56 percent more than in 2008.

“In the midst of the worst recession in memory, with working families struggling to keep their heads above water, insurance companies are siphoning more and more profits out of American consumers,” said Sanders, a member of the Senate health committee.

“These horrendous rate increases will not only impact millions of individuals, but make our entire economy less competitive,” he added. “This outrage is more evidence, as if any were needed, that we cannot stop fighting to reform the health care system in the United States.”

Health Care for America Now conducted a study of public records and found that WellPoint Inc., UnitedHealth Group, Cigna Corp., Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc. covered 2.7 million fewer people than they did the year before.  Some of the insurers actually cut the proportion of premiums that went to medical care and put more into salaries and profits.

The companies’ 2009 profits soared while insurers raised premiums and denied coverage to millions of Americans.

WellPoint’s profit margin of 7.2 percent was the highest of the five big insurers.  Anthem Blue Cross, a California subsidiary of WellPoint, has come under fire for jacking up premiums by as much as 39 percent this year on some individual health policies.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius insisted that the company justify the rate increase in detail. “Look,” Sen. Sanders said, “insurance companies are ripping off the American people from coast to coast. It is absolutely appropriate for the secretary of Health and Human Services to call them out on that.”

Contact: Michael Briggs or Will Wiquist (202) 224-5141