Fw: Tell the Senate to Support Better Fuel Economy and Boost Renewable Energy [USA RESIDENTS]

[Guest guest]

PSR: Physicians for Social Responsibility

Physicians for Social Responsibility

 

Tell Your Senators to Make a Strong Commitment to

Improving Fuel Economy Standards and Boosting

Renewable Energy Production

 

http://www.psr.org/site/R?i=2oSiOMJMsCKg7Ik1ieMl8Q..

 

As Senate debate over comprehensive energy legislation intended to improve

U.S. energy security and curb global warming continues, lawmakers will

consider a proposal to strengthen federal fuel economy standards for America

's cars and trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Increasing the fuel

efficiency of our nation's automobiles is one of the single most effective

steps we can take to decrease our oil dependence and reduce emissions of

heat-trapping greenhouse gases. But despite widespread public support for

cars that go farther on a gallon of gas, Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), Carl

Levin (D-MI), Kit Bond (R-MO) and other lawmakers are supporting the auto

industry lobby by offering a proposal that would undermine the compromise

fuel economy improvements included in the CLEAN Energy Act (H.R. 6).

 

The Senate also is considering an amendment offered by Senator Jeff Bingaman

(D-NM) that would establish a renewable electricity standard (RES) requiring

15 percent of our nation's electricity be produced by renewable energy

resources like wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy. Last week, the

Senate successfully blocked an alternative proposal from Senator Pete

Domenici (R-NM) that would have allowed " clean coal " and nuclear power to be

considered " renewable " energy sources. But some Senators are now threatening

to filibuster Senator Bingaman's amendment, which could force the removal of

the 15 percent RES from the energy package entirely. Establishing a national

renewable electricity standard would curb U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and

make our nation's energy supply more secure by diversifying our energy

portfolio -- two goals central to the purpose of the CLEAN Energy Act.

 

The time for half-measures is past. To move the country toward a clean,

secure energy future, the Senate must make a strong commitment to improving

the efficiency of America's automobiles and promoting renewable energy.

 

TAKE ACTION

 

Tell your Senator to oppose the Pryor-Levin-Bond fuel economy amendment and

to support a 15 percent renewable electricity standard. Strong fuel economy

standards and expansion of renewable energy production are critical elements

of a good energy bill.

 

http://www.psr.org/site/R?i=2oSiOMJMsCKg7Ik1ieMl8Q..

Click Here to Learn More

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael McCally, MD, PhD

Executive Director