David Suzuki Foundation Legislative Action – Might Give US Citizen’s an Approach to Working with Congress. I like their “Let’s put some green in the next federal budget.”
Hogan Lovells Government Relations Report on Energy and the Environment: The courts and Executive Branch are likely to continue to drive the direction of energy policy in 2013. Key Administration priorities for 2013 include: reducing GHG emissions, and other pollutants; cleaning and restoring water resources; addressing climate change and energy production on public lands; reducing imports of crude oil; and, mitigating potential environmental impacts of domestic production. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to conduct an inquiry into whether the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is in the public interest. Hydraulic fracturing will continue to receive attention on the Hill. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee will also consider the development of a clean energy standard and can be expected to increase the number of oversight investigations of the departments and agencies under its jurisdiction. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) remaining as Ranking Member. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) will continue as Chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is the new Ranking Member. In the House, Fred Upton (R-MI) remains as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee with Henry Waxman (D-CA) as Ranking Member. Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA) will continue to serve as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee with Ed Markey (D-MA) as Ranking Member (although a Senate bid may take the Congressman’s attention away from Committee work in early 2013).
Write these Congressional Leaders directly to let them know your thoughts on Tar Sands Oil Mining and the Keystone pipeline, as well as other energy and environmental issues.
View this video from the National Resource Defense Council to educate yourself on the environmental impact of mining tar sands all in the name of national security. The pipeline will cross the U.S. and move oil from Canada to the Gulf. The Nebraska governor just changed his mind to support the pipeline in Nevada. He had previously opposed it and now believes it is a safe technology. What changed? Not the technology. Pressure for revenue and jobs once again cave resolve against harmful technologies that cause long term impacts on ecosystem and human health – all for short term gains. An old story in America and the cause of environmental regulation. Greed is a powerful force.
Read this report below by the Sierra Club: Tar Sands Pipelines Safety Report
On President’s Day Weekend, Sierra Club and 350.org will stand in solidarity to press President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline and to live up to his promise to take a leadership role to reduce the U.S. contribution to climate change and develop a national agenda for alternative clean fuel development. Those are the kinds of jobs we need.
Susan Feathers 
I’ve been following this issue for several years. In addition to the threat to the water supply in the west, there is the boreal forest in Canada, a complex environment, that is being destroyed. This is the summer home to many of our winter birds. I’ve heard the Canadians are beginning to fight against it and the value of oil is falling. I think Canada is where is will be stopped, if it can be.
http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/climate/crude-awakening
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I will be traveling to DC for the Feb. 17 rally as I believe this is a critical time in our ongoing collective efforts to curb greenhouse gases. In his second inaugural address, the President once again committed himself to action. He made the unequivocal statement that to fail to act would be to betray our children and all future generations. In the face of powerful economic forces opposing all serious climate action, we need to get behind the president and support the kind of leadership that is necessary but that will carry great political risk.
From a recent long-range weather prediction, I note an interesting but possibly uncomfortable irony: the mid-Atlantic area and the Northeast can expect unusually cold weather in February, as arctic air returns to the area after a week or so of warmer weather. And I got rid of my longjohns when we moved from Maryland to Pensacola!
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Larry, I may be joining you. I have to be at a national conference in DC later that week. So might be able to swing leaving early. Not sure. If not, then I could follow up with some visits to congressional reps about Keystone and energy policy in general. Thanks for the warning – I kept one pair of light weight underwear, thank the universe!
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