Climate Action in the U.S. Senate: Fact Sheet for Citizen Advocates

The US Senate is now considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, or “Clean Energy Jobs Act,” for short. It is similar to climate and clean energy legislation that passed the House in late June. Hearings have begun in committee and so the time to act is NOW.

Now it’s time for the Senate to pass the strongest and most comprehensive bill possible – one that will:

• Help us take control of our energy future and become more energy independent with secure, clean energy
• Create more clean, green jobs to put people back to work and strengthen communities
• Make us competitive in the growing renewable energy economy
• Begin to tackle our climate crisis by reducing the pollution that causes global warming.
  
  

We need our Senators to pass a climate and clean energy bill that:

• Cut global warming pollution to levels that will avoid dangerous climate change. The Senate bill must deliver emission reductions of at least 20% by 2020 to give us a fighting chance of staying within safe limits.  This emission reduction commitment will also lay a strong foundation for growth of a fair, competitive market for clean energy and energy efficiency.
• Support programs that create clean energy jobs, and train workers to fill them.
• Establish effective renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives that spur development of clean, renewable energy, save consumers money, and get us off the fossil fuel roller coaster.

• Go into the international negotiations in Copenhagen in December with a firm commitment to cut climate pollution by at least 20 percent by 2020.  Any less will undermine American leadership and reduce our chances of a securing a strong global agreement in which all nations do their fair share.
• Minimize and tightly control use of offsets.  We need real solutions that provide clean and efficient energy, not paper transactions that temporarily store carbon. 

• End the construction of new dirty coal plants, and ensure that the oldest, dirtiest coal plants reduce their global warming pollution.

Key points to remember:

• Energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest, smartest and most readily available source of American energy—we must tap into its full potential.
• A new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) shows that efficiency provisions in ACES, with improvements, would result in an average, annual net savings of $200 for every Washington household and create over 14,000 net new jobs by 2020.By 2030, these benefits could increase to more than 24,400 net new jobs with over $640 in net savings per year, per household. (Source: http://www.aceee.org/press/e096pr.htm)

• In 2008, Washingtonians spent over $16 billion on imported fossil fuels. (Source: Sightline Institute) Reducing dependence on those fuels will drive economic recovery and give us more control of our energy future.
• We need clean energy that we make here in Washington. Federal energy and climate policy will.put clean energy on a level playing field, driving investment and jobs in our new energy economy while reducing the cost of wasted energy for families and businesses.
• Clean-energy investments create 16.7 jobs for every $1 million in spending. Spending on fossil fuels, by contrast, generates 5.3 jobs per $1 million in spending. (Source: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/clean_energy_factsheets.html)
• Clean Energy is the fastest growing sector in global investment. Global competition for clean energy leadership is stiff, and we can’t afford to be left behind.  We need policies that drive clean energy investment here in Washington and the United States
• National Security
• America’s dependence on oil hurts our economy, helps our enemies, and puts our security at risk.
• A 2007 report by retired generals and admirals recommended: “The U.S. should commit to a stronger national and international role to help stabilize climate changes at levels that will avoid significant disruption to global security and stability.” (Source: http://securityandclimate.cna.org/news/releases/070416.aspx) 
• “We will pay for this one way or another,” stated retired Marine Corps General Anthony C. Zinni. “We will pay to reduce greenhouse gas emissions today, and we'll have to take an economic hit of some kind. Or, we will pay the price later in military terms. And that will involve human lives. There will be a human toll.” 
  
  

• Climate disruption will have profound impact on the public health. We’ll see more frequent and intense heat waves, increased rates of asthma caused by air pollution, more vector-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, and more extreme droughts, flooding and wildfires.
• The World Health Organization estimates that global warming is already responsible for 150,000 deaths and 5 million illnesses each year. (Source: http://www.who.int/topics/climate/en/index.html )

• Oil companies, lobbyists and special interests have fought energy reform for decades to protect their profits.
• They’ve kept us dependent on foreign oil and protected corporations that pollute the air our children breathe and the water they drink.
• They’ll say “no” to anything that smacks of progress towards a clean energy future. They’ve already forged letters to Congress, bussed in corporate employees to Astroturf rallies, and spent millions of dollars on lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.

Clean Energy Works: http://www.cleanenergyworks.us/resources.html

--Seattle

Seattle Times
(200 words max)
opinion@seattletimes.com 

(200 words max suggested)
editpage@seattlepi.com 

--East King County

(200 words max) Print edition on Wednesdays; online LTEs printed daily

(no word limit, but they may edit) Print edition published Wednesdays & Saturdays; online LTEs printed daily

(does not specify word limit but 200 is probably good.)

Circulation: 40,215
Published: Twice-weekly (Wednesday and Saturday)
cgroshart@reporternewspapers.com

Then to LETTERS and below that, “Send your letter to the editor”

Kirkland Reporter
letters@kirklandreporter.com 

(150-200 words) Print edition Fridays; online LTEs printed every couple of days, unless it is notably urgent.
jlynch@sammamishreporter.com

Issaquah Reporter
jlynch@issaquahreporter.com

Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter
editor@issaquah-reporter.com

Issaquah Press
editor@isspress.com

Newcastle News:
editor@isspress.com

Snoqualmie Valley Reporter/Valley Record
(250 words max) Print edition on Wednesdays, must receive letters by Monday; online letters occasionally printed
editor@valleyrecord.com

Puget Sound Business Journal
(no known word limit)
gerb@bizjournals.com
rsmith@bizjournals.com

Renton Reporter
Circulation: 31,085
Published: Weekly (Friday)
dradford@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_king/ren&returnPath=/south_king/ren/

Kent Reporter
Circulation: 30,211
Published: Twice-weekly (Wednesday and Saturday)
lpierce@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_king/ken&returnPath=/south_king/ken/

Auburn Reporter
Circulation: 29,422
Published: Weekly (Friday)
mklaas@reporternewspapers.com
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/contact_us?c=y&curSection=/south_king/aub&returnPath=/south_king/aub/

--North King County

Bothell Reporter/ Kenmore Reporter
(250 words max) Print edition on Wednesdays; online letters once a week
anystrom@bothell-reporter.com

Everett Herald
letters@heraldnet.com

--North

Bellingham Herald (200 words max)
letters@bellinghamherald.com

--South

The Olympian
250 words via this site:
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/#lteanchor

Aberdeen Daily World
letters@thedailyworld.com
or via the web:  http://www.thedailyworld.com/opinion/columnists/

Tacoma News Tribune
letters@thenewstribune.com
or via the web
https://secure.thenewstribune.com/opinion/letters/
Letters should be limited to 250 words; those less than 150 words will be given – must have an account.

The Columbian
http://www.columbian.com/section/opinionlettersform

---Eastern WA

Spokesman Review
editor@spokesman.com

Yakima Herald
If you submit the letter, please send it to:
opinion@yakimaherald.com
Please put “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line and please add your name, address, day phone (and title if a pastor and that’s appropriate.) To be considered for publication, letters must be no more than 200 words and may be edited for grammar and clarity. Longer letters, up to 500 words, will appear on yakimaherald.com

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
letters@wwub.com
400 words or less

Wenatchee World
http://wenatcheeworld.com/section/EDITOR
300 words or less

--Kitsap County

Bainbridge Island Review
(250 words max suggested) Print edition Fridays; online LTEs also printed Fridays
editor@bainbridgereview.com

Bremerton Patriot, Central Kitsap Reporter

(Same editor, make a note if you want it submitted to both – No word max given)
editor@bremertonpatriot.com

Kitsap Sun
letters@kitsapsun.com
(200 words max)

Peninsula Daily News - Pt Angeles
editor@peninsuladailynews.com