League of Conservation Voters

Global Warming: Big News Last Week

For all those who think that Global Warming is 'science fiction' or just a plain ole' hoax, take note that two of the most watched television shows in the country are talking about it. Recently, both NBC's "The Today Show" and the syndicated "Oprah Winfrey Show" aired pieces on the issue.

"The Today Show's" Matt Lauer interviewed Al Gore about his movie "An Inconvenient Truth." Mr. Lauer even prodded the ex-Vice President on whether he should run for President in 2008 so that he "could save the planet." Oprah dedicated an entire hour to the movie and gave Mr. Gore the floor for his monumental attempt to educate the masses on global warming.

Both interviewers also asked one of America's heartthrobs, Leonardo DiCaprio, his opinion on the subject. Mind you, Leo was there to promote his upcoming movie "Blood Diamond." Are they, Mr. Lauer and Ms. Winfrey, trying to make a point? Is global warming really that big of a deal, or rather, do those most influential in the media think that it is a big deal? I would say, "YES!" with a large, emphatic grin on my face.

So it seems that the issue most plaguing the environmental community has gone mainstream. Or, at least it's on the cusp. Does this have anything to do with what took place on Nov. 7^th? Does it matter? Global Warming is a catastrophic problem that must be dealt with soon, and perhaps if Congress listened to Oprah and the gang at The Today Show, we might actually do something about it.

Here is a little food for thought: The average American watches 4 hours of TV a day. The Today Show and Oprah are two of the highest rated programs in the entire country. Chances are most of America saw at least a some part (or heard about it later.) Each of these appearances helps to educate Americans, and we can use all the Oprah specials we can muster.

-Katy Krottinger

Vilsack Talks About Energy Independence

Although Vilsack did not make this point in the interview, I did attend an event with him on Wednesday where he did express his support for a cap and trade program. Although Gov. Vilsack didn't go into the details, a cap would place a national limit on global warming pollution and create a market for carbon. The bottom-line is that we need to place a price on carbon--it has to cost something to emit carbon pollution into the air. An important way to drive new energy technologies like conservation and renewables is to harness market forces by putting a price on carbon. If we don't, 150+ new coal-fired power plants will be built and a whole lot of global warming will be locked in.

Although Vilsack did not make this point in the interview, I did attend an event with him on Wednesday where he did express his support for a cap and trade program. Although Gov. Vilsack didn't go into the details, a cap would place a national limit on global warming pollution and create a market for carbon. The bottom-line is that we need to place a price on carbon--it has to cost something to emit carbon pollution into the air. An important way to drive new energy technologies like conservation and renewables is to harness market forces by putting a price on carbon. If we don't, 150+ new coal-fired power plants will be built and a whole lot of global warming will be locked in.

Threat to Bristol Bay

As reported recently in the news and discussed in this NY Times editorial, President Bush is considering lifting a presidential moratorium that prohibits drilling for oil and gas in Bristol Bay. This moratorium was put in place following the disaster of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 because of what a future oil spill of that magnitude could do to the Bay. Bristol Bay has one of the largest salmon runs in the world,  a run that  scores of  commercial fisherman in Alaska depend upon.  The bay is still recovering from the Valez disaster.  If the Bay was reopened to drilling , the risk of disaster would rise dramatically and could cause irreversible harm.

Has  the  President not learned from  last month's elections? Americans  are looking for a bold, forward looking energy policy, not more of the same. Opening Bristol Bay is not only more of the same, it’s putting the Bay and its fishing industry at great risk to benefit the oil and gas companies  making record profits . Americans want less dependence on oil and more dependence on American ingenuity and the American work ethic to create new clean energy products and jobs, while at the same time enhancing our national security. To view a recent poll on the role of energy in the 2006 elections, click here.

In these last few days of the 109^th session, this out-going Congress is also considering opening off shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in a last ditch effort to pamper the oil and gas companies who have enriched their campaign funds. While the new majority has promised to fund better technology for our energy needs, the current majority is only interested in paying back the oil and gas companies. To read more on this, click here.

This is an offense to the people they represent.  America spoke up loud and clear on November 7, 2006:  the United States must pursue a future of new energy sources - to create new jobs and for a safer United States. It's time that the President and Congress listen.

-Katie Rodriguez

LCV Statement on Misguided Attempt to Sneak

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Legislative Director Tiernan Sittenfeld issued the following statement after current Republican leadership inserted offshore drilling language into a larger tax extender bill.  This comes after an abandoned attempt earlier this week to suspend the rules and pass the drilling bill with minimal debate and no opportunity for amendments.  The bill would open up an additional 8 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to drilling and divert tens of billions of dollars in offshore drilling revenues from the federal treasury.

“Unfortunately, the Republican leadership's decision to sneak the offshore drilling bill into a broad tax package as they rush to leave town is par for the course.  The 109th Congress ends as it began: with backroom deals, abuse of process, and handouts to the oil industry.  LCV urges members to oppose this cynical ploy when it comes to a vote tonight or tomorrow.

The contrast between this Congress ending with a last minute gift to Big Oil and the new Congress beginning with a promise to repeal billions of dollars in oil subsidies and put them into clean energy for consumers within the first 100 hours could not be more stark.”

House to Vote on Offshore Drilling

The U.S. House is expected to vote sometime this week on a bill to open up over 8 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to drilling. This vote comes just weeks after the American people voted resoundingly for change, including new energy supplies - not for the unsustainable energy policies of the past. The Republican leadership is completely ignoring what citizens voted for. The League of Conservation Voters is urging Members of Congress to heed the wishes of the American public by voting against this parting gift to Big Oil companies. The misleadingly-named Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 gifts oil companies the right to drill on eight million new acres of Florida's Gulf Coast. This includes more than six million acres of waters that have been protected for the last 25 years by the bipartisan offshore drilling moratorium. This Act fails to address our energy problems, raids the federal treasury, and threatens our coastal economies and ecosystems with pollution and oil spills. Opening more of our coastlines in such a way does nothing to aleviate our energy concerns, especially given that oil companies currently hold more than 4,000 untapped leases in the Gulf of Mexico and eighty percent of offshore oil and gas resources are already open to drilling. Instead of spoiling our shores and perpetuating our dependence on oil as a source of energy, Congress should pursue faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly energy policies, including making cars and trucks go further on a gallon of gasoline and increasing our use of clean, renewable energy such as wind and solar power.

McLaughlin Group Discusses Environmental Scores of Committee Members

Earlier this week, the TV gabfest the McLaughlin Group focused their entire show on the issue of global warming. In their discussions of what new Hill leadership will mean for U.S. action on global warming, the McLaughlin Group referred to LCV's 2006 National Environmental Scorecard in discussing the environmental bonafides of incoming Capitol Hill Committee Leadership. McLaughlin compared and contrasted the current leadership on key environmental committees and what the 110^th leadership would look like. We will continue to discuss the differences in committee leadership in upcoming blog posts, so stay tuned. To see the clip, click play below.

Governor Vilsack Says Energy Independence Key in his Run for President

Yesterday, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack became the latest candidate in the 2008 race for the White House.  Vilsack focused on the issues of energy security and global warming in his announcement, stating "Energy security will revitalize the world. America energy security will allow us to re-claim moral leadership in the discussion of Global Climate Change."   

Energy played a big role in the 2006 elections [for more information on this go here] and it's carrying over into the 2008 presidential  campaign .  Although Governor Vilsack is the first announced candidate to discuss global warming, several candidates who are  considering running are also speaking  out about energy independence. LCV looks forward to facilitating the candidates's debate on global warming--and we'll be closely follwing other announcements.  To  watch Gov. Vilsack talking about energy and global warming on CNBC, click play below.

-Katie Rodriguez