Carl Levin

Sen. Carl Levin is certainly concerned about climate change, but it’s unclear whether he will support the Kerry-Boxer climate bill. In this letter sent to a constituent in early November 2009, the senator stresses that other nations must commit to binding greenhouse-gas limits. He calls for a climate bill that will account for regional differences in the U.S., impose tariffs on goods from countries that haven’t committed to action, and preclude states from setting their own, tougher standards for automobile emissions (California, he’s talking to you): 

Dear [Constituent],

Thank you for contacting me regarding global climate change.

There is an overwhelming consensus among scientists that global warming is occurring and that human activity is causing it. As a result, we need to act with urgency to reduce the levels of global greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent catastrophic impacts from occurring. During this century, scientists predict average temperatures could increase between 2 and 11 degrees Fahrenheit. Even small changes in average temperature could lead to extreme climatic events, such as heat waves, droughts and flooding. Portions of countries and entire islands could be lost to rising sea levels, crop yields could significantly decline and water shortages could occur. Over time, the impacts of climate change also could threaten our national security.

I believe the best way to address global warming is through an effective and enforceable international agreement that binds all nations to reductions in greenhouse gases, including China and India. It is imperative we find a way to bring them and other large emitters into a binding agreement to control greenhouse gas emissions. If we do not get these countries on board, what we do in the United States will only have a marginal impact on controlling global greenhouse gas emissions and could lead to even more U.S.-based companies moving overseas.

While addressing global climate change presents a daunting challenge, it also provides economic opportunities. A number of studies suggest investment in clean energy could generate significant new employment opportunities. A June 2009 report released by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that between 1998 and 2007, jobs in clean energy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent. In Michigan, clean energy jobs grew by 10.7 percent over the same period. By investing in research and development and advanced technologies, we can generate good paying jobs in the manufacturing and technology sectors.

On June 26, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES, H.R.2454) by a vote of 219 to 212. This legislation would establish a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system and includes a number of energy-related provisions, such as renewable electricity standards and energy efficiency requirements. On September 30, 2009, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S.1733). This bill is similar to the House bill in that it sets up a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system and provides incentives for the development of clean energy technologies. On November 5, 2009, this bill was approved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

The Senate bill would cap greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Senate bill would result in a cost impact of approximately $100 per household, averaged over the 2010 to 2050 time period. Before climate legislation is debated by the full Senate, S. 1733 will be merged with legislation authored by four other Senate committees: Energy and Natural Resources; Agriculture; Finance; and Foreign Relations.

Several factors need to be taken into account as the Senate works to address climate change and our national energy policy. In my view, any climate legislation that is enacted must not only reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, but also ensure the protection of consumers and workers, which requires taking into account regional differences that exist in the United States. I will work to ensure that climate legislation does not unfairly impact American manufacturing and jobs, especially with regard to our international competitiveness. It also is vital to include a border provision to make sure other countries do not gain a competitive advantage by failing to address the issue. Because climate change is a global challenge, legislation should establish a single, national standard that precludes states from setting their own standards, particularly for mobile sources.

Finally, the legislation should include targets and timetables that also are technologically achievable. On August 6, 2009, I sent a letter, along with several other Senators, to the President outlining many of these concerns.

As the Senate continues to craft climate change and energy legislation, I will be sure to keep your views in mind. Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,
Carl Levin

Do you know what your own senators think about climate legislation?  Ask them, then tell us what you find out.

Here’s more on Levin and climate, as written by Kate Sheppard on 21 July 2009:

Carl Levin is a Midwest, industrial-state Democrat with concerns about the economic impacts of climate legislation, but he thinks something needs to be done about global warming.

“Global climate change is occurring and swift action is needed to protect our planet for future generations,” he says on his Senate website.

Levin wants climate legislation to include funding for advanced auto technologies like hybrids and hydrogen vehicles and advanced biofuels—no surprise, as he represents Michigan. The House climate and energy bill dedicates $20 billion to electric vehicles and other advanced automotive technologies, thanks to the work of fellow Michigan Democrat John Dingell. It’s unclear whether those concessions will be enough for Levin.

Track the debate and take action >>>

Last year, Levin voted to bring the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act to a floor vote, but also signed a letter from 10 swing-vote Democrats saying he would have opposed final passage of the bill.

Do you know more about this senator’s stance on climate legislation?  Tell us.

Find out about other senators by clicking on their names in the right column.

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Yesterday, on a beautiful summer day in Lansing, Michigan, more than 500 activists from all corners of the state lent their voices to a call for a massive investment in clean energy and moving the state beyond coal.

Clean Energy Now, a coalition made up of over 40 environmentalist groups including Sierra Club, organized this Rally for Clean Energy Jobs to support Michigan’s clean energy future – and as a grassroots response to the proposal of new coal plants in Michigan.

The rally speakers and activists in particular took aim at plans in Michigan to build at least six more massive coal plants.



These plants would eliminate any market for clean energy and derail Governor Jennifer Granholm's bold vision to put Michiganders to work producing a clean energy manufacturing boom, not only to meet the state's energy needs as the state retires its old fleet of coal plants, but also to export around the world to help other states and other countries do their part to cut pollution, including dangerous emissions of carbon dioxide.

At the rally, citizens spoke out for a clean energy economy in Michigan, which will create jobs and bring money into the state, rather than the construction of new coal plants, which will continue to weaken our economy.

Michigan residents want Gov. Granholm to get that message loud and clear: No more coal – We want clean energy!

We also had a lot of fun – as people listened to great musicians, browsed informational tables from various clean energy industries, used our communications tent to send in comments and letters to Governor Granholm, signed our clean energy petition, and even threw a few baseballs at a dunk tank where we had folks dressed up as various dirty energy villains.

But clearly the fight for clean energy won’t be over any time soon. For now, all eyes are on Michigan. Can it harness its legions of highly skilled workers and legendary manufacturing base into a clean energy power house, or will it go the route of 19th-century coal technology and export its dollars to line the coal barons' pockets in Appalachia?

Governor Granholm can help make this happen by choosing clean energy now instead of coal.

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Debbie StabenowSen. Debbie Stabenow wants to make sure climate legislation doesn't hurt her home state's auto industry.

She has called for financial support for emerging industries such as advanced batteries, specifically praising plans for a clean energy revolving loan fund.

"Shame on us as a country if we lose the capacity to manufacture this here," she said. "I talk to businesses all the time, and I think there's an explosion in energy technology that is happening but could happen even more if we had a better mechanism to finance the commercializing of this technology."

Last year, Stabenow voted to bring the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act to a floor vote, but also signed a letter from 10 swing-vote Democrats saying she would have opposed final passage of the bill.

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Photo: kuba425 via FlickrWhile your standard summer music festival may consider its primary mission to be "rocking out," the Rothbury Music Festival being held this weekend in Michigan states its purpose to be "harnessing the spirit of the music festival community into a durable social movement." Then again, Rothbury isn't your standard summer music festival.

The festival organizers consider it a "party with a purpose," and for the most part, that purpose -- as showcased by their greening initiatives and educational events -- is sustainability. Now, this is not to say there won't be rocking out; headliners this year include The Dead, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson. But their artist line-up isn't the only star-studded guest list.

The Rothbury Think Tank -- "an event within the event" -- will include panel discussions, workshops, and town-hall-style gatherings, all focused on solutions for the emerging "new green economy." And the lineup of scientists, political leaders, youth activists, and artists includes luminaries like Energy Action Coalition founder (and Grist contributor) Billy Parish, Michigan Congressman Dan Scripps (D), Mayor George Heartwell (of Grand Rapids, Mich.), and um, me!

I'll be participating on two panels, sharing my thoughts on "voting for change with your everyday actions" and "getting involved in the new green economy." (If you'll be at the festival, check me out on Friday and Saturday from 12:30-1:45 p.m.)

In addition to the Think Tank events, Rothbury will also be taking a number of steps to green operations. They'll be using compostable dishware, choosing alternative energy sources where available, employing an "around-the-clock" green team to assist with recycling/compost efforts, offsetting what can't be reduced, donating to the local community, and more. (A six-star operation, according to our scoring chart of festivals past.)

But as now-Grist-staffer Jonathan Hiskes noted during Rothbury's inaugural festival last year, there's always room to improve. Once I'm done with my speaking commitments, I'll be putting on my reporter hat and asking the sustainability folks what they learned from last year's festival, what more they wish they could have done this year, and ... whether they can get me backstage.

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Clean energy opportunities

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A Michigan state law requiring oceangoing ships to keep their ballast water onboard or treat the water to kill any live organisms before discharging it into the Great Lakes has been upheld by a federal appeals court. So far, over 180 different invasive species have made a home in the lakes -- many of them originally carried there in ballast water.

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The Bush administration misread the law when it removed endangered-species protections from a population of some 4,000 gray wolves in the Great Lakes region, a federal judge ruled Monday. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman reinstated the wolves onto the endangered-species list, agreeing with green groups that Great Lakes wolves are not a "distinct population segment" able to be de-listed without regard to wolf well-being elsewhere. Friedman's ruling reverses new state rules that allowed residents in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to kill wolves that attacked livestock or pets. The ruling echoed recent goings-on in the Northern Rockies, where the Bush administration recently declared wolves recovered, inspiring states to lift bans on wolf hunting, only to see a judge reinstate endangered-species protections. Notes Amy Atwood of the Center for Biological Diversity, "The Bush administration's repeated attempts to push the limits of the Endangered Species Act have been decidedly rejected by the courts."

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If you don't border the Great Lakes, keep your grubby hands out of 'em. That's the general message of a bill that would bar any major water diversion from Lakes Erie, Ontario, Huron, Michigan, and Superior, unless all eight lake-bordering states approve. The so-called Great Lakes Compact, which has passed Congress and heads to the welcoming pen of President Bush, also holds Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to new conservation standards and requires that they regulate their own large-scale water use. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have agreed to similar conservation measures. The compact -- which exempts diversions of fewer than 5.7 gallons, a favor to bottled-water producers -- eases fears that thirsty states and even countries would try to siphon the lakes, which hold 90 percent of North America's fresh surface water and 20 percent of the world's supply.

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The Earth Liberation Front has made the news yet again: Four people tied to the radical group have been indicted on arson charges for a 1999 blaze at Michigan State University.

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Mitt Romney won Michigan's Republican primary on Tuesday, after whacking John McCain for supporting tougher fuel-economy regulations and promoting "radical climate change legislation." Romney portrayed himself as a defender of Michigan's floundering auto industry and said the automakers shouldn't be burdened with having to produce more fuel-efficient cars. McCain also got broadsided by an anti-environment front group, the American Environmental Coalition, whose members include many people with close links to the Romney campaign. Said an AEC co-chair, "When it comes to climate change, John McCain and Al Gore are far too much alike for my comfort. John McCain has been sponsoring legislation for the past several years that would give Al Gore much of the regulatory control and power he sought when he and Bill Clinton tried to get America to sign on to the UN's Kyoto global warming treaty." The Michigan outcome was a big blow to McCain after his New Hampshire win last week, in which he seemed to get a boost from talking about fighting climate change.

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Are you thinking what we're thinking? Yep: It's time for a green college roundup! Maine's College of the Atlantic has made good on its pledge to be a carbon-neutral campus, say school officials. "As far as we know, [COA is] the first in the world to make the commitment, and as far as we know, the first to do it," says David Hales, president of the 300-student college, which offers one major: human ecology. Meanwhile, Oregon's Portland State University plans to hire as many as 10 professors with expertise in sustainability to teach subjects from economics to biology to art. Michigan's Walsh College has green-built an extension to its campus, and Northern Kentucky University has launched a campus-wide campaign to reduce fossil fuels. We give 'em all a gold star.

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