Wednesday, 21 Mar 2007

Severe Whether Events

Climate action of all kinds takes Capitol Hill by storm

It's only Wednesday, but it's already been a full week of rip-roarin' climate action on Capitol Hill. After a coalition of investors pleaded for emissions cuts on Monday, hundreds of activists gathered Tuesday for "Climate Crisis Action Day." The group heard from senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), as well as Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who used his moment at the mic to introduce the Safe Climate Act, which calls for 80 percent cuts from 1990 emissions levels by 2050. Meanwhile, the country's top utility chiefs said at a House hearing that they weren't opposed to mandatory emissions cuts. Invigorating stuff -- but it pales in comparison to today. Al Gore! Is testifying! In the House and Senate! As frenzied media circle -- including Grist's Amanda Griscom Little -- Gore is addressing giddy fans and staunch foes alike. "Those who believe all his garbage are going to be excited to death," said Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), "and the rest of us are going to ignore it."


The coming transition to a clean, green economy is going to create a lot of jobs. But getting it started will require a broad, diverse coalition. Van Jones has an idea: how about pulling low-income and minority youth into that coalition by promising them some of those "green-collar" jobs? As director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and a longtime environmental activist, Jones is working to build bridges between progressive movements that have spent too long talking past each other. Politicians, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are listening. He talks with David Roberts about his vision and the peculiar innumeracy of the "eco-elites."

Everything's Up To Date in Kansas City Power & Light

Sierra Club makes groundbreaking deal with Midwest utility

If a groundbreaking deal between an electric company and the Sierra Club is any indication, we can all get along. Aww. The green group has agreed to quit a six-year campaign against a new Missouri coal plant being built by Kansas City Power & Light; in return, the utility will cut 6 million tons a year of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the amount the new plant will spew. To hold up its end of the deal, KCP&L will purchase hundreds of windmills, encourage energy efficiency, reduce overall CO2 emissions 20 percent by 2020, slash sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, establish net metering, and upgrade or close currently running coal plants. Not to be outdone, the Sierra Club will also drop a pending challenge that accuses an existing KCP&L plant of violating the Clean Air Act. The legally binding contract between the groups "can serve as a model for environmental groups and utilities working together," says a joint statement. We feel all warm and fuzzy now.


Ever conscious of wasting water, a reader from Australia queries advice maven Umbra Fisk about urinating in the shower. Is it better than flushing? Is it justified? Does it promote algae growth on the tub or on your feet? Doing her best to stifle a giggle, Umbra nozzles up to this perplexing question -- and vows revenge on her editor for choosing it in the first place.

We'll Miss the Mall

From the campaign trail, John Edwards outlines big energy plans

Today we learned something: there are other Democrats running for president besides Hillrack O'Clinton. Surprised? So were we! Seems a charming southerner, name of John Edwards, is on the campaign trail. And though he's just your run-of-the-mill white fella, the former North Carolina senator is advancing some intriguing eco-ideas. At a speech in Iowa yesterday, he laid out an energy platform that includes capping greenhouse-gas emissions starting in 2010 and cutting them 15 percent by 2020; eliminating $3 billion in subsidies to oil companies; selling the right to emit greenhouse gases and using the proceeds to fund alternative energy; freezing electricity demand; raising fuel economy standards to 40 mpg; and drafting a new global-warming treaty that includes developing nations. "I believe the American people are ready ... to take the steps that are necessary," Edwards said. "They're actually ready for the president of the United States to ask them to do something other than go shopping."