Grist Feed: Al Franken

Al Franken (D-Minn.)

Grist — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:22:17 -0800

by Grist
Reprinted by permission from Grist. For more environmental news, humor, and inspiration, visit www.grist.org.

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.

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Tom Philpott — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:21:23 -0700

by Tom Philpott
Reprinted by permission from Grist. For more environmental news, humor, and inspiration, visit www.grist.org.

"I've looked at this a lot, and it seems to me that ethanol already helps our carbon footprint and it's only getting more efficient in the way it's produced. Corn ethanol is a step on the way to cellulosic ethanol, which is also going to benefit Minnesota. I'm in the pro-ethanol camp."
-- Sen. (elect) Al Franken, D.-Minn.

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Kate Sheppard — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:05:41 -0700

by Kate Sheppard
Reprinted by permission from Grist. For more environmental news, humor, and inspiration, visit www.grist.org.

Photo: Al Franken for SenateLooks like Al Franken may, at last, be sworn in as the newest senator from Minnesota, after more than seven months of litigation. The Minnesota State Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Democrat Franken narrowly won the race over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman back in November; and news breaking on the wires now says Coleman will abide by the ruling.

Grist talked with Franken during the campaign last summer. Here are a few excerpts, and you can read the whole interview.

On capping emissions:

The 111th Congress will need to accelerate the progress on clean energy policies, by adopting legislation to cap and mandate reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions. An average reduction of 2 percent each year would achieve the goal of an 80 percent total reduction by 2050. To reach an 80 percent reduction by 2050, permits to emit carbon should be auctioned -- not given away. Auctioning off permits is the most effective way to cut emissions, drive investors to clean energy options, and push the market to demand least-cost alternatives such as efficiency.

On a global climate treaty:

We can start by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. One of the dumbest things that President Bush said -- and that's a high bar -- is that Kyoto would cripple the U.S. economy. I think the opposite is true. A commitment to reducing emissions will spur the manufacturing sector to produce the necessary technologies. A recent study finds that creating the renewable energy capacity to achieve such an emission reduction would create over 18,000 jobs in Minnesota alone. We need a new global agreement on emissions and climate change and we need to engage the entire world. The only way that countries like China and India are going to come to the table on an agreement is if the United States does it first. We must return to the days when we were a shining example for the rest of the world.

Does this mean Franken would vote for a Waxman-Markey-like bill? It's probably a safe bet, yes, but only time will tell.

Read the whole interview.

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