$37 Billion of Public Funds Invested into Coal Fired Power Plants since 1994
| Gore, Gingrich return to debate on unequal terms. Once powerful rivals and leaders in their own parties, Al Gore and Newt Gingrich were anything but equal in their return Friday to Capitol Hill to debate the very future of Planet Earth. The Democrats running the House made sure of it. |
| Press Release: Congressional Leaders Welcome Report Highlighting Model Transit Projects for Transportation Bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (Washington, DC – April 23, 2009) Transportation leaders from both houses of Congress today welcomed a new report for showcasing a new generation of innovative transit systems. The report is timely because the six-year federal transportation bill, which sustains transportation initiatives like these transit projects across America, expires September 30, and will be the subject of near-term congressional action.
The report, Reinventing Transit: American communities finding smarter, cleaner, faster transportation solutions, cites transit innovations already operating in 45 metropolitan, suburban and rural communities in 30 states across America that are creating jobs, cutting traffic congestion, and reducing air and global warming pollution. It also provides case studies of more than a dozen of these transit innovations. Transportation — primarily cars and trucks — accounts for 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
The Acting Deputy Administratory of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Matthew J. Welbes and Congressman Early Blumenauer, Portland (OR) spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference/ webcast today to unveil the video and written version of the report.
“Reinventing Transit provides a roadmap that links metropolitan, suburban and rural commuters in Connecticut and across the country to their current and future jobs,” said Senator Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, which has jurisdiction over transit (Senator Dodd was scheduled to attend the news conference, but had to cancel because of an 11th hour scheduling conflict). “The extraordinary demand and response to these innovations shows that Americans welcome transit when it’s fast and convenient.”
“Reinventing Transit makes the case that reinventing the transportation bill to fund transit innovations in Minnesota and nationwide will deliver new jobs, new connections to jobs and economic development for communities of all sizes,” said Congressman Oberstar, who ironically missed the news conference because he was stuck in Washington, DC’s notorious gridlock. “Given our economic and environmental challenges, ‘business as usual’ transportation investments are not good enough. Reinventing Transit sets the standard for transit investments in the upcoming transportation bill to fuel America’s economic recovery.”
Brief case studies of 10 of the innovative public transit systems highlighted in Reinventing Transit include:
*TV stations: You can obtain an electronic press kit of these five transit projects (including raw footage with soundbites from transit operators, users and EDF transportation experts) at www.edf.org/transit.
“Our national transportation policy should be supporting exactly the kinds of innovations found in Reinventing Transit, so innovative transit technology is not an exception, but a routine occurrence in communities of all sizes,” said Congressman Blumenauer, the Vice Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “These technologies have proven their power to reduce gridlock as well as greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time increasing quality of life for communities in Oregon and around the country. I hope that Congress can promote these technologies in the climate legislation and transportation reauthorization currently under consideration.” “Reinventing Transit demonstrates how communities of all sizes have implemented cutting edge transit quickly and cost-effectively to meet their specific needs,” said Michael Replogle, a civil engineer, transportation director for Environmental Defense Fund and a former transportation coordinator for Montgomery County, Maryland. “Now it’s time for Congress to boost opportunities for similar transportation investments through the upcoming transportation bill, and hold states and regions accountable for spending funds wisely to revitalize our economy, cut traffic congestion, and reduce air and global warming pollution.”
To see detailed case studies of the 10 transit projects cited above, case studies of three other transit projects, the video or print version of the report, or our new Reinventing Transit blog, go to www.edf.org/transit.
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| Global Warming Legislation Heating Up! Date: Thursday, January 15th, 2009, 4:00 p.m. ESTFeaturing:David Yarnold, Executive DirectorSteve Cochran, Director, National Climate CampaignCongress has fired the starting gun on the most important legislative fight of our lives. Just last week, Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D- MA) released a draft climate and energy bill that could unleash Americas green energy [.] |
| $37 Billion of Public Funds Invested into Coal Fired Power Plants since 1994 Today EDF released a report on the relationship between publicly funded international financial institutions (like the World Bank) and coal fired power plants which harm both regional human health and the atmosphere. Here are a couple of key facts from the report:- Since 1994, the World Bank, other MDBs and ECAs financed new construction or [.] |
| Press Release: Cutting-edge Environmental Innovations Recognized by Environmental Defense Fund FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE View this release with interactive elements (LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – April 21, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today highlighted environmental innovations that are helping companies cut costs, create business opportunities and carve out competitive advantage in a challenging economy. EDF unveiled Innovations Review 2009: Green Advances for a New Economy at the Fortune Brainstorm Green Conference, where executives from highlighted companies gathered to discuss how environmental innovations are benefiting their business.”Environmental innovation is a powerful way to create business value,” said Gwen Ruta, vice president of corporate partnerships at EDF. “These innovations tackle today’s environmental and economic challenges head on – improving the planet and the bottom line at the same time. We hope that they serve as useful models, inspire further innovation and continue to redefine business as usual. “Innovations Review 2009 showcases innovations from companies including Cisco Systems, Coca-Cola, Google and Wal-Mart. Other examples include:• High-tech computer systems produced by Hydropoint and PureSense that monitor real-time weather and soil conditions to help companies reduce water used for crop irrigation and commercial landscaping by 15 to 40 percent. • A financing plan developed by Midwest Energy that allows homeowners to lower their monthly bills through efficiency upgrades, while generating a new source of revenue for the company. This model has the potential to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 5%. • A mortgage program developed by Zocalo Community Development in Colorado that is boosting sales by offering homebuyers lower interest rates if they elect to buy condominiums equipped with solar panels. • Intel’s annual employee bonus calculation now includes environmental metrics, tying compensation to the company’s environmental results for all employees – from the mailroom up to the C-Suite.One of the featured innovations is Bon Appétit Management Company’s Low-Carbon Diet, now implemented in 400 corporate and university cafes around the country.”Nearly half of all American meals – about 500 million per day – are produced in commercial kitchens,” said Fedele Bauccio, founder and CEO of Bon Appétit Management Company. “With each plateful of food that comes out of our kitchens, we are creating a clear example of low-carbon eating.”The featured innovations were vetted by EDF and a distinguished panel of experts from the fields of environmental science, law and finance. The final selection includes 15 innovations from around the country. Each innovation was evaluated for environmental benefits, business benefits, replicability and innovativeness.”Reducing our buildings’ environmental impact is an important step in achieving our business and stewardship goals,” said Kevin Hagen, REI’s director of corporate social responsibility. “Through energy-efficient technology, the use of recycled and renewable materials and connecting our members to local outdoor recreational opportunities, we are better aligning our brick and mortar stores with our commitment to the outdoors.”Verizon has rolled out energy-saving solutions on employee desktops, reducing operating costs, emissions and energy. “Verizon’s power-management project is a simple but powerful example of how technology can help both the environment and the bottom line” said Kathryn C. Brown, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at Verizon. “We’re also proud of the wide range of customer applications from teleworking to smart electrical grids, all of which utilize broadband technology to benefit the environment.”Innovations Review 2009 also highlights two innovations by EDF and its corporate partners: a Green Portfolio Project developed by EDF and private equity firm KKR, and Climate Corps, a program that embeds MBA fellows into corporations to help create energy efficiency investment plans.The Review is part of EDF’s broader effort to foster collaboration on corporate environmental innovation through its recently launched Innovation Exchange. Details on all the innovations, as well as multimedia clips, are available at http://innovation.edf.org.Tag: IR2009 . Twitter: #IR2009 . Twitter Username: EDF_InnovEx |
| Trillions at stake in House climate-change bill. Lawmakers heard reactions this week to the 111th Congresss first greenhouse gas cap-and-trade proposal, the likeliest so far to become law. Here are the details. |
| Press Release: EPA Analysis: Cap Carbon, Cut Oil Addiction for About a Dime a Day FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Tony Kreindler, National Media Director, Climate, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org (Washington – April 21, 2009) A just-released analysis from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the cap on carbon pollution proposed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Ed Markey can be achieved for as little as $98 per year per household – or roughly 12 cents per person per day. ”For about a dime a day we can solve climate change, invest in a clean energy future, and save billions in imported oil,” said tkreindler@edf.org (Washington – April 21, 2009) A just-released analysis from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the cap on carbon pollution proposed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Ed Markey can be achieved for as little as $98 per year per household – or roughly 12 cents per person per day. ”For about a dime a day we can solve climate change, invest in a clean energy future, and save billions in imported oil,” said EDF Director of Economic Policy and Analysis Nat Keohane, PhD, who will be testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee tomorrow on the economic benefits of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.”EPA’s analysis confirms what all credible economic models have found, which is that we can easily afford to reduce carbon pollution,” Keohane said. “In fact, the most expensive climate policy is not having one at all. In the real future – not the fantasy land that opponents of action live in — continuing along the so-called business as usual path will incur huge costs from leaving climate change and oil addiction unaddressed.”EPA’s new analysis shows that the market-based cap on carbon contained in the American Clean Energy and Security Act can be met for $98 to $140 per year for the average American household. Those estimates only consider the costs of reducing global warming pollution, and do not take into account the benefits of action.”The analysis clearly refutes unfounded suggestions by opponents of an emissions cap that household impacts would be much higher. Those misguided estimates are off by orders of magnitude,” Keohane said. “Opponents of action will always try to cherry-pick the numbers and use models with biased assumptions. The EPA analysis sets the standard for economic analysis, using the most credible, transparent, and peer-reviewed models available.”EPA’s analysis is online at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/economicanalyses.html#wax. ###Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org |
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