Al FrankenSen. Al Franken wrote the following letter to a Grist reader in early November, expressing support for “comprehensive energy legislation” and a “national energy plan that keeps our country moving down a path to a homegrown economy with more jobs, more innovation, and more opportunities for investment.”
The senator has been concerned about the possible loss of manufacturing jobs to countries without emission-reduction plans (e.g. China and India), and in August he joined with nine other Democrats in writing a letter to President Obama calling for a climate bill to include tariffs on goods from countries without binding emission targets. Franken continues to express that concern in this letter to a constituent:
Dear [Constituent],
Thank you for contacting me about energy and climate change legislation. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with me on this important issue for Minnesota and the nation.
One of the reasons I support comprehensive energy legislation is that Minnesota is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in clean energy production. Whether it’s harnessing the wind in Pipestone, growing the next generation of bio-fuels in Willmar, or tapping into geothermal energy in Appleton, Minnesota is ready to lead.
We have the potential to foster a new industrial revolution—a 21st century economy built on changing the way the world makes and uses energy. Right now, China and Germany are winning the race to develop solar and wind power, but together we can change this. Minnesotans can ensure that the world’s energy future is found in the farms and rural communities of Benson and Bemidji, not the factories of Beijing and Berlin. We need a national energy plan that keeps our country moving down a path to a homegrown economy with more jobs, more innovation, and more opportunities for investment.
Minnesota is in a position to benefit from the national energy legislation that Congress is now considering. But it’s critical that we get the details right. On August 6, 2009, I sent a letter to President Obama urging that any national climate change program include incentives to force China and India to reduce their emissions. These incentives will ensure environmental integrity and economic security here at home. Additionally, I am working to secure new economic opportunities for Minnesota farmers in the emerging market for carbon offsets.
Over the next few months, as the Senate completes work on its energy plan, I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that Minnesota is best positioned to reap the benefits of the new energy economy and that any legislation does not put an undue burden on consumers like you.Track the climate debate and take actionThank you again for contacting me, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future on this or any other matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
Al Franken
United States Senator
Do you know what your senators think about climate legislation? Ask them, then tell us what you find out.
What are the chances of a cap-and-trade system being established in the U.S. this year?
Comments
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ZJ 77 Posted 12:00 am
17 Nov 2009
As a longtime listener to his Air America shows, as well as a campaign contributor, this one broke my heart:
http://www.grist.org/article/2009-11-12-fourteen-democratic-senators-stick-up-for-coal/
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amazingdrx Posted 10:25 am
17 Nov 2009
Combine their "scientific" climate talking points with ones that appeal more to swing voters, like, "It's too expensive to cut GHG, it will cost us jobs because the chinese and other economies will use cheap coal powered manufacturing to compete with us."
Can american made steel compete with a steel mill in China that pays, say a tenth what it costs here for electricty? That's the case already, without renewable energy. They claim renewable energy will make our electricty cost 15 or 20 times what it costs in China?
What part of the cost of steel is due to electricty? Wind power is cheaper than coal right now.
I think it will bring our costs down. And we can compete by exporting renewable energy devices manufactured here. Other national industries and utilities already know renewables are the way to go. If we ever want to compete again we better just get on this green wave and lead.
The main cause of job loss is currency manipulation skewing price competition, chinese currency is set so that chinese state owned industries make money, and lots of it! That effect dwarfs differences in chinese coal and american wind as far as the cost of electricty.
Job losses from making the coal industry clean up it's mess (that's how to "price" coal)? The jobs created in a midwest/Minnesota wind power industry alone will dwarf any of that effect. And miners will be hired to cleanup ash sludge and the like.
Sidestep the GHG climate question and go with the economy, it works everytime the deniers start to regurgitate their predigested clusterfox pablum.
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vbstenswick Posted 1:10 am
20 Nov 2009
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amazingdrx Posted 11:21 pm
08 Dec 2009
That dirty coal economies have the advantage of cheap energy? Left in the coal dust. Just say goodbye to national solvency with backward thinking like this.
It looks like Obama is working on getting US going again in the right direction, media tends to misunderstand his approach. Suddenly a new healthcare reform saving initiative has appeared, I have a feeling the same thing might happen on the green job and manufacturing front.
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