Green Economy Resources

Environmental Coalition Letter to Senate on Keystone XL Pipeline, 2.10.12

Dear Senator: On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, we write to express our vehement opposition to any and all legislation that would approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline would transport toxic tar sands from under Canada’s Boreal forest 1,700 miles to the Gulf of Mexico to be refined and exported. President Obama firmly rejected the permit for this project last month.

Letter to Congress: Oppose H.R. 7 – American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012

A Group sign-on Letter to Members of Congresses asking them to Oppose H.R. 7 – American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012

Investor Letter to Senate: Support Cross State Air Pollution rule and Mercury and Air Toxics rule 12.12.11

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell: We are 32 investors writing to urge you and your colleagues to support timely implementation of Clean Air Act rules proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most notably the Cross State Air Pollution rule (CSAPR) and Mercury and Air Toxics rule (Utility MACT).

Business Leaders Support Clean Energy Tax Incentives, Oppose Anti-Environmental Riders, E2 Letter 12.12.11

Dear Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member Hatch, Chairman Camp, and Ranking Member Levin: As Congress moves to complete its business for the year we, as members of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), are writing to urge you to extend important tax provisions that can move our nation toward a clean energy economy, and to ensure that tax and spending bills do not include any anti‐environmental riders. The need to move forward on energy programs must not be used as an excuse to do environmental damage.

Clinton CEO Letter on Durban 11.29.11

Dear Secretary Clinton: We are writing to express our concerns about the negotiating positions and strategy of the United States going into the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which starts this week in Durban, South Africa. These are concerns our organizations have previously raised with your negotiators in meetings and conversations over the past year, and that at the outset of the Durban meeting, we feel compelled to bring to your attention directly.

53 Members of Congress Call on Obama Administration to Pursue Ambitious Agenda at Durban Climate Change Summit, Oxfam America Press Release 11.22.11

Washington D.C. – Just days before the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) summit in Durban, South Africa, 53 members of the House of Representatives have sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urging the Obama administration to pursue a just and ambitious agenda in the climate talks (see the full letter and list of signers below).

Report: Economic Impact of Extending the Section 1603 Treasury Program

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and EuPD Research report analyzing the economic impact of extending the Treasury Grant Program (TGP).

Poll: Small Business Outlook Survey

U.S. Chamber poll showing that Regulation is not a top concern for small business owners. Survey finds that the majority of small businesses’ top concern is the general economic climate over recent legislation and over-regulation. The survey also found strong support for greenhouse gas regulations among small businesses.

Utility Voices on EPA Rules

Statements from a list of utility executives discussing their readiness and ability to handle new EPA regulations.

Clearing the Air on EPA Pollution Standards: Creating New Jobs and Protecting Public Health

In a Congressional testimony, Alstom Power’s James Yann, describes some of the jobs created from just one example of a pollution control technology (a wet flue gas desulfurization “scrubber”) that are commonly used to remove sulfur and other air pollutants.

Pipe Dreams? Jobs Gained, Jobs Lost by the Construction of Keystone XL

A report by the Cornell University Global Labor Institute, in association with the ILR School and Global Labor Institute which finds that the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline could destroy more American jobs than it creates. Report examines claims made by TransCanada Corporation and the American Petroleum Institute regarding the job-creating potential of the new pipeline.

Report: Exposing Energy Security: Keystone XL Exposed

Briefing targets claims made by major industry that the Keystone pipeline is necessary to ensure America’s energy security and will work to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil, scrutinizing the global oil market and the oil companies that stand to profit from the pipeline.

Eric Cantor Memorandum

 

Report: Green Scissors 2011

targets spending in the areas of energy, agriculture, transportation, and land and water. Subsidies given to the oil and gas industry are specifically cited as unnecessary. According to the report, “Peabody Energy, the largest private sector coal company, earned record-breaking profits in 2008 and has already posted $461.3 million in profits in 2011, up 36 percent from the first six months of 2010. Consol Energy recorded near-record income of $540 million in 2009, and this year, first quarter profits nearly doubled from 2010 to reach $192 million.”

Report: Western Energy Grid to 2050

Based on the fact that over $200 billion will be invested in the western electricity sector by 2030, the report considers two opposing routes the electricity grid’s development course could follow through the year 2050, comparing their economic, environmental, security, and public health impacts. The first trajectory, a “Business As-Usual” approach, focuses discretionary investment on “retrofitting, repowering and adding coal generation and on meeting any incremental needs with new gas-fired generation” while the second, a “Clean Energy Vision,” focuses this investment on implementing renewable energy technologies.

Energy Findings in the Latest Next Economy Poll

Renewable Energy Paves Pathway for Green Economy: On June 16, 2011 the Next Economy Partnership Project recently completed a national survey “Energy Findings in the Latest Next Economy Poll” of 2012 likely voters, building on focus group research conducted over the preceding six months, focused on the economic challenges facing the country. The organizations hoped to gain a better understanding of how Americans view today’s economy and how they believe our country can best address the rapidly changing global economy it faces. The survey was divided into the following section: current views of economy reveal deep discontent and uncertainty, understanding how voters measure economic success, the power of bottom-up growth and success stories, focus on oil companies a double-edged sword, energy solutions among most popular economic policies, and further energy solutions on the horizon. Voters still strongly support new energy solutions — which they see as key to creating jobs and restoring America’s economy.

NEW REPORT: Rail Investment Can Help Close Jobs Gap, Create More Efficient Transportation System

America is slowly but steadily recovering from a pronounced recession, which resulted in the loss of millions of American jobs across all sectors of the economy. While the country has sustained successive quarters of job growth, moving to a clean energy economy that is more energy efficient, produces more renewable energy and generates less pollution represents a significant opportunity to create more jobs and sustainable economic growth.

A Life Saver Not A Job Killer

EPI Briefing Paper

Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Jobs in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet

Strong Support for RGGI

According to the poll conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council on May 26, 2011, “74 percent of New Jersey voters want to keep New Jersey energy dollars in state rather than send them out-of-state, or out of the country, to bring in fossil fuels.” The poll provides background information on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and reasons for why New Jersey’s Governor Christie is hesitant on whether or not he ought to join the RGGI program. Numerous studies have proven that states who participate in RGGI have experienced job growth and reduction of air pollution. So far, RGGI has been able to bring down air pollution by 30 percent, lower energy costs between 15 and 30 percent, and has the potential to create 18,000 job years.

Pump Pain, Big Oil Gain

 

Small Business Majority Opposes H.R. 910 Attack on the Clean Air Act

Small Business Majority opposes attacks on the Clean Air Act. Its research has continually shown that the Clean Air Act is good for small businesses. A report released by the Small Business Majority found that the benefits of the law have far outweighed the costs. The report also found that the law has spurred important technological innovations, the export of which was valued at $30 billion in 2004.

Environmental and Other Organizations Oppose Amendments to S.493

Letter to the Senate opposing all amendments to S.493, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011, that would block the EPA's ability to protect public health - including Senator McConnell’s amendment (# 183), Senator Rockefeller’s amendment (# 215), Senator Baucus’s Amendment (# 236), and Senator Stabenow’s amendment (#265).

Business Support for EPA’s authority to regulate GHG emissions

 

Assessment of EPA’s Utility MACT Proposal

A fact sheet from the Bipartisan Policy Center that discusses the impetus for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's utility MACT proposal, its requirements, compliance, and the rule's estimated cost and benefits.