Keep our Energy Money Home

It isn't often that I find myself reading a Charles Krauthammer column in the Washington Post and actually nodding in agreement. But just the other day, he wrote a column called "At $4, Everybody Gets Rational," in which he calls for a significant increase in the gas tax. The argument really is simple, as Krauthammer puts its:

"Want to wean us off oil? Be open and honest. The British are paying $8 a gallon for petrol. Goldman Sachs is predicting we will be paying $6 by next year. Why have the
extra $2 (above the current $4) go abroad? Have it go to the U.S. Treasury as a gasoline
tax and be recycled back into lower payroll taxes. "

The problem is that when it comes to gas or energy prices, nothing is simple. We have our elected leaders to blame in a lot of ways because they constantly tell the American people that we have some kind of God given right to cheap energy. Case in point - John McCain and Hillary Clinton calling for a gas tax holiday to lower the price at the pump this summer. There are thousands of other examples. Instead of educating people about the true cost of energy, our elected leaders seem to feel much more comfortable telling people what they think they want to hear ("vote for me and I'll lower your energy bill"). Then, when the very good idea of an increased gas tax comes up, these very same politicians turn around and say, "that's not possible because the people will never accept that." Hmmm... wonder where the "people" got that idea.

Coupling an increased gas tax with a lower payroll tax makes a lot of sense. It would be a great way to help reduce our dependence on oil and lower the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Now all we need to get this done are some elected leaders willing to do the right thing.

Take Me Out to Exxon's Ball Game

The Washington Nationals should be commended for building a LEED certified green stadium for their new home in DC, but one particularly heinous sponsor threatens to harms all of the great environmental kudos the team has earned. My good friend Mike Tidwell tells me that Exxon Mobil, the number one denier of global warming, is not only an extremely prominent sponsor, but the fossil fools are the exclusive sponsor of the seventh inning stretch. Yup, all of us DC area greenies who go to the Nats games apparently will have to rise and take off our hats for the "Exxon Mobil Seventh Inning Stretch." Mike reports there were several boos throught the stadium when the Exxon name was announced. Not a surprise. After all, it would be hard to imagine a single company on the entire planet that is more responsible for contributing to global warming and funding junk science to prevent real solutions for many years. Remember how angry people were at the cigarette companies for funding reports that "proved" smoking does not cause cancer? Well, Exxon Mobil does the exact same thing with climate science. In fact, Greenpeace has done exhaustive research to show the slimy trail of Exxon Mobil money going to fund front groups and scientists in an effort to block action on global warming and create a phony debate about the science. Click HERE to see the Greenpeace site.

The Nats have the right to take sponsorship from anyone they want. But giving such a prominent display to the single worst climate denying company in the world does not fit in with the Nats green mission.

Nobody debates the green bonifides of the Nats. They are a quality organization that is trying to do the right thing and should be applauded for that. But they need to find a new sponsor for the seventh inning stretch. Environmental activists are considering protesting at the Nats games until Exxon Mobil is given the boot. The Nats should be one step ahead of the crowd and give them the boot now.

PS - we said goodbye last week to Josh Tulkin, Claire Douglass and Paul Berman, three amazing organizers with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. They are moving on to other adventures after kicking some serious butt in Maryland, DC and Virginia for a cleaner environment. The green community will miss them, but their legacy for a better planet will live on for many, many years. Personally, I want to say thank you to each of them for fighting for the Earth. And to Josh, who I met when he was a college intern strumming the guitar one summer at Greenpeace - our paths will meet again!

Stupidity in Pursuit of Votes

I am absolutely appalled that Hillary Clinton and John McCain, two people that claim to be champions of fighting climate change are touting a "gas tax holiday" for the summer. This is pure politics and it completely undermines efforts to fight climate change in the long run. There really is no fuzzy middle ground on this. Supporting the gas tax holiday makes it crystal clear - Clinton and McCain are not green.

I could go on for quite a while about this, but Thomas Friedman did a great job in the NY Times explaining how stupid these two politicians are being for the sake of picking up a few votes.

Click HERE to read his opinion piece.

Maryland Session Wrap Up

Maryland General Assembly Recap
The Good, the Good, and the Ugly


Maryland's elected leaders just wrapped up their 2008 legislative session that was overall positive for progressive environmental issues. Clean Currents was proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the environmental community as a strong advocate for manyof the bills that passed. There were several cleanenergy and global warming bills that were debated fiercely. Fortunately, Governor O'Malley and the leaders of the General Assembly put their political capital on the line to back these important measures.

Renewable Energy Solar and Geothermal Grant Program
The legislature passed a bill to increase the grant available for Maryland homeowners who put solar systems on their roofs, and added money for grants for geothermal systems as well. The new solar grant is for$2,500 a kilowatt up to a maximum of $10,000. It will help make solar more affordable for middle class Marylanders. For more information on the grant amount, or if you are interested in solar for your home or business, contact us at Clean Currents and we'll help you out!

Renewable Portfolio Standard
This one is personal for me. In 2001, I went to Annapolis to push for a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and almost nobody was willing to listen. After three years of hard work and some heart ache, I led the efforts to pass the state's first ever RPS, requiring energy companies in the state to get 7.5% clean energy. Now, the RPS has been improved a great deal. The legislature passed a bill to increase theRPS to 20% and increase the penalty for noncompliance. My what a difference a few years make!

Energy EfficiencyStrategic Energy Fund
The legislature passed a bill directing where the state can spend the proceeds from the carbon allowance auctions that are part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a ten state compact committing to reducing greenhouse gases from powerplants by 10% by 2019. As a member of RGGI, Maryland has agreed to use the carbon allowances from the state's fossil fuel power plants to invest in energy efficiency and clean energy. Passing the Strategic Energy Fund makes good on that promise. Now, consumers and businesses in Maryland will have access to tens of millions of dollars in aid to reduce their energy use and get powered with clean energy. Legislators fought off cynical efforts by some to divert the money to consumer payments that have nothing to do with energy efficiency. Investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy is the best long term strategy for saving consumers money, lowering our carbon output, and being more energy independent.

Empower Maryland
Governor O'Malley has challenged all Marylanders to cut our energy use. And now the state is committing to cutting per capita energy use by 15% by 2015. This is a great effort that will save consumers money, make usmore energy independent, and fight global warming.

Global Warming
The Ugly Maryland's environmental and progressive business community joined forces to make an unprecedented push for one of the nation's first ever statewide cap andreduction of global warming gases. The bill would have required Maryland to significantly cut global warming gases from all sectors of the economy. It would have created new jobs and exciting new business opportunities while upholding our moral responsibilityto protect the environment. Unfortunately, this is where "the ugly" won out. The owners of what used to be called Bethlehem Steel used their high priced lobbyists, combining with the usual array of well heeled attorneys for the polluting interests to kill the bill. The bill passed the Senate in a weakened form, but Delegate Derek Davis' Economic Matters Committee finished the bill off on the last day of session. There were some notable champions for this bill, including Senator Paul Pinsky and Delegate Kumar Barve. Unfortunately, the forces of the status-quo won out.

The Value of a REC

A lot of people ask whether Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) actually make a difference or not. The media has stirred up some controversy about the subject lately and people want to be sure they are making a real change. Let me start by saying that the biggest difference you can make is to use less energy. The energy not used is the best kind of energy at all. And let me also say that RECs are not some kind of silver bullet that solves all your environmental problems with one easy shot. However, RECs do make a difference. They are responsible for a lot of new clean energy production coming online. They demonstrate a real viable market for renewable energy (and that gets the venture capital and deep pockets guys interested). They help educate the public about the impacts of energy choices.

At the end of the day, we will need a government mandate to move us quickly to a clean energy future. But voluntary purchasing or RECs will always have an important role to play, one step ahead of government action.

Green vs. Real Green

I'm tired of "green" companies selling all kinds of green products and services, but refusing to stand up for the thing that will really make a difference - mandatory carbon reduction legislation.
I've often heard some green companies proclaim they are not "against" coal, etc., merely "for" wind and solar. That is bunk!

Clean Currents is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with colleagues in the environmental, faith, labor and business community fighting for legislation to dramatically cut greenhouse gases.
We have testified on numerous bills to support the environment.
We are not going to solve global warming by voluntary green purchase alone. They are important. But to really solve the problem, we need to pass comprehensive legislation.

So, the next time a company tells you they are "green" or they want you to buy their green product, ask them what they are doing to help pass environmental legislation at the state or national level. If the answer is "nothing," than go elsewhere.