From Pennsylvania Interfaith Power and Light (http://www.paipl.org):
Federal action opportunities:
*Submit comments in support of investment in energy efficiency and clean energy, especially in low-income communities across the Commonwealth under the proposed Clean Energy Incentive Program. Click through for opportunities to learn more, sign a ready-to-go letter, or write and sumbit your own comment. Comment period closes November 1.
*Write a letter to the Editor (LTE) in support of the Clean Power Plan, and send a copy of the published letter to your Senators and Congressman. Express the faith roots of your own convictions. Also consider examples of private sector support: in April 2016, over 100 of America’s most successful and iconic businesses signed a public statement calling for “swift implementation” of the Clean Power Plan. This included MARS (West Chester PA and Elizabethtown) — check for companies in your own area. Find “leading by example” quote from Mars, Inc.’s Chief Sustainabilty Officer.
*Affirm the importance of climate change as a national issue by voting on public polls and surveys to give climate change a central place in upcoming reporting and debates. NYTimes poll.
State action opportunities:
* Register for the Pennsylvania Community Rights Workshop at Pendle Hill to learn how to exercise your community’s rights to act on climate at the local level.
*HB568 Everyone is encouraged to read up and let their elected officials know whether they wish PA to adopt industry-standards for the building code. Learn more in State Updates below. Find your legislator.
*SB 805 would exempt some industries from PAs very successful Act 129 energy efficiency programs. Let your state Senator know that the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance is working with lawmakers and industry on alternatives that will make adjustments, but keep all players engaged, and keep efficiency moving forward. Ask your legislator to help. Find your legislator. FAQs and more.
Sustained Advocacy efforts:
October provides us with an opportunity to attend any candidate panels to ask how they plan to address climate change, and ask them to specifically consider the impact of energy and extraction policies on PA’s most vulnerable communities. There are elections at all levels of government this fall.
FEDERAL UPDATE SUMMARY
Clean Power Plan On 9/27 the DC Court of Appeals heard oral arguments related to objections from a few states to the CPP. News of this case is a good opportunity for Letters to the Editor (LTEs); This document from national partners offers a few talking points that may help streamline your letters. This report from the EDF indicates that many of the suing states are on track to meet or nearly-meet targets just by upholding current policies. This rich set of toolkits will help you learn more if you want to dive deeper.
The voluntary Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) incentivizes immediate work on energy efficiency and zero-emitting renewable clean energy by allowing early action credits, with double credits earned for work focused in low-income communities. But states can only claim these credits once they have submitted a state plan to the CPP, so PA will lose out ever day that we delay. The CEIP has the potential to get us moving much faster, which is vital, especially for the poor and vulnerable. In the best case, incentivizing early action would also shift markets to favor more and faster zero-emissions action, which would speed coal plant retirements generally.
CEIP comment period open until Nov. 1.
Energy Bills from Senate and House are in conference, but are not likely to come up until lame duck session.
THIS WEEK we should communicate with our elected officials on the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act (which is being added to the comprehensive energy bill. It is now in the Senate version, S. 2012, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016, but not yet in the House version.) There are no PA conferees, but we urge our Congressmen (and Senators) to reach out to their colleagues who are conferees, and to energy Chairs Fred Upton (R. House. Energy and Commerce) and Lisa Murkowski (R. Senate. Energy and Natural Resources)
The Nonprofit Energy Effciency Act will will establish a new program at the U.S. Department of Energy to provide financial grants. It will enable our schools, houses of worship, hospitals, etc., to become more energy efficient and therefore reduce their operating costs, lessen impact on the environment and bolster America’s energy independence.
Under the proposal, $50 million would be authorized for Fiscal Years 2017-2021; nonprofits could apply for grants up to $200,000 for renovation costs. The legislation contains an offset from other DoE program resources so it is budget neutral.
Bi-partisan House Climate Caucus. The first piece of legislation from the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, the Transparency in Energy Production Act was introduced last week. It ivolves an online database to measure and publicly declare all the emissions coming from fossil fuel production on public lands. If your Rep has yet to join this groups,as them to. If they have, share your appreciation and your priorities. Find your Representative.
The RECLAIM Act of 2016. No new news on the RECLAIM Act, but watch for After Coal (trailer) about the coal boom and bust in Appalachia (US) and Wales (UK) to educate ourselves and others.
Dakota Access Pipeline update. The departments of Justice, Army, and the Interior have entered a voluntary pause of work within 20 miles of Lake Oahu. Environmental reviews will now go forward for that portion of the line. The ruling will give court more time to consider an emergency injunction. Faith letter and Philadelphia PA IPL letter posted on our website.
People who wish to pursue this farther might reinforce that one small piece of the line is not the only concern. We might praise the government representative’s statement that this experience has “highlighted the need for a serious discussion on whether there should be nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure projects” and to urge President Obama to require a full environmental review as his administration did for KXL.
STATE UPDATE SUMMARY
Good news:
Drilling Moratorium in State Lands extended
A new decision from the PA State Supreme Court on Act 13 protects local ordinances and lifts medical gag orders, among other things. (Decision occurred in the week after call.)
SB 805 Republican Senator Pat Brown has taken this on as a priority and is offering an amendment that will further restrict commercial participation in the efficiency program. SB 805 would allow large commercial and industrial entities to opt out of participating in PA’s very successful Act 129 energy efficiency programs. Senator Brown wants to hold hearings in 2017 to allow businesses to testify against the efficiency requirements. The Governor has indicated he does not support SB805.
HB568 The latest state Climate Action Plan reported that the building sector is the largest source of carbon pollution in PA. Despite that, the state legislature is delaying further any efforts to adopt new building code measures. Every 3 to 4 years, the International Code Council proposes standards to update state codes for the building industry. Most states adopt these standards when they are proposed. In Pennsylvania, this practice ended in 2011 and our state wide code has not been brought up to standards since 2009. Everyone is urged to let their elected officials know whether they wish PA to adopt the highest standards for the building code. These standards effect housing affordability for low income families, in addition to being critical to reducing PA’s share of carbon emissions.
Learn more about Building Codes in this readable article.
REGIONAL UPDATES
Chester County Focus on pipeline infrastructure continues. There was strong public participation at hearings and many comments were submitted.
Philly-area
Continued collaboration with Neighborhood Networks for a regional environmental lobby at the state legislature focusing of 26 Reps and 13 Senators on the issue of SEPTA‘s Nicetown proposed gas-fired electricity generation plant. SEPTA riders encouraged to write letters to oppose the Nicetown plant.
We were reminded of the importance of understanding why gas fired plants are not as positive as has been claimed. It will take real effort to explain how these plants contribute to our climate and emissions problems.
Several face to face meetings scheduled with elected officials.
Harrisburg: Participation in Moral Monday on September 12th.
State College: Solar and Electric Vehicle event received excellent press coverage. Will deliver to lawmakers.
Chester County: DEP has not issued permits to Sunoco for the Mainer II. They have been given 60 days to address deficiency letters. The parent company, Energy Transfer Partners, is also a major owner of the Dakota Access Pipeline. There have been two events to highlight disapproval of company policies. There has been considerable activity focused in Middletown Township around the Sunoco pipeline, due to its proximity to a local school.
Delaware/Montgomery Counties: Has meetings scheduled with elected officials in the near future.
Bucks County: Planning on writing LTEs this month.
CLOSING MEDITATION
We close each call with a meditation or a prayer. September’s call took place on the Equinox.
Equinox Chant:
The day is balanced, the night is balanced, all is balanced this day. Let Balance be our way. The God energy is balanced, the Goddess energy is balanced, all is balanced this day. Balance in all we do, think, and say. The Sun is balanced, the Moon is balanced, all is balanced this day. Balance is the divine way. The light is balanced, the dark is balanced, all is balanced this day. From balance, may we never stray.
(source)
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