Where there's a Will, there's a way

I called my Congressman, John Shimkus, on the day of the Waxman-Markey ACES vote. I know it won't change his mind but I won't allow him to claim that everyone in the district agrees with him.

I received a quick, courteous email response on Saturday, June 27. He starts by stating his support for "renewable and alternative" energy (that's what they all say) "including solar, wind, nuclear, ethanol and biodiesel."

He continues with two misstatements of facts in this paragraph:

Currently, 85% of electricity generated in the United States comes from carbon based fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. Therefore, any cap on these sources of energy would essentially be a tax on everyone who uses electricity. This new tax could total up to $3,128 per household annually. As family budgets are tightening around the country in this recession, higher electric bills are the last thing Americans need.

More bothersome is his use of the widely discredited $3,128 estimate trumped up by Republican leaders. They claim to base the number on a study that wasn't about the ACES bill specifically. It has been widely reported by FactCheck.org and others that an author of the report called the number "simplistic and misleading."

Coincidentally, Al Gore wrote this morning about the cost of the ACES bill.

In Washington, the CBO is considered one of the best sources for the cost of legislation. They wrote: "On that basis, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the net annual economy wide cost of the cap-and-trade program in 2020 would be $22 billion-or about $175 per household."
That works out to approximately the cost of a postage stamp a day.

Shimkus' letter mentions nothing about job creation and residential efficiency programs to lower monthly electric bills that are part of the legislation.

I can only assume that the same claims are made in all his constituent letters about global warming, plus his Congressional website links to a debunked study from the corporate advocacy group, Heritage Foundation. Why does Shimkus feel the need to make his case by misleading his constituents?

Posted by Will at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (1)

I shouldn't read Thomas Friedman. It irritates me every time.

Friedman's main purpose in life is to sell a kinder-gentler version of free trade to liberals and intellectuals. He soothes bleeding hearts by convincing us that the downsides of WTO, IMF and World Bank globalization policies can be fixed with band-aids, like educating our workforce.

He casts all who disagree as "protectionists" while he ignores the fundamental goal of trade pacts that are designed to lower the cost of production for corporations by lowering wages, lowering environmental standards, weakening unions, weakening national sovereignty, and lowering the standard of living in all nations involved.

His latest column proposes that cheap-labor trade policies do for America's educated workforce what they already did to our manufacturing workforce. Much like those who still believe that lowering taxes will magically solve our economic problems (in spite of the Bush years proving otherwise), Friedman's column is full of his usual grandiose promises that cheap-labor policies will magically create more jobs for everyone (despite the failure of NAFTA/WTO to live up to their promises).

Here's what his hype boils down to:

Now is when we should be stapling a green card to the diploma of any foreign student who earns an advanced degree at any U.S. university, and we should be ending all H-1B visa restrictions on knowledge workers who want to come here. They would invent many more jobs than they would supplant. The world’s best brains are on sale. Let’s buy more!

For years, Friedman and his NAFTA allies have told us that the answer to American manufacturing jobs going overseas is to have a highly educated workforce. Now he claims that it's in our interests to have foreign, low-wage workers occupy the jobs that Americans re-trained and re-educated themselves for.

I'm glad Friedman wrote a book about the environment. It's good to have new supporters so I read the Introduction and first chapter. I stopped there because I didn't see an adequate apology.

It's absurd for Friedman to present himself as an authoritative environmental advocate unless he's going to first apologize at length for over a decade of promoting globalization policies that destroy environmental regulations in the name of removing "trade barriers," deprive people in developing countries of the power to protect their natural areas, and fueled a race to consume what little natural resources the world has left.

He needs to admit that the mechanisms of free trade he advocated for are responsible for untold environmental destruction. I can't take him seriously until then. I won't hold my breath since I still haven't seen his apology for supporting the Iraq War.

Posted by Will at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

It passed! The most important energy and climate change legislation in American history passed the House and next stop is the Senate.

Everyone in Congress claims to care about clean energy. Here's how the Illinois delegation voted when it mattered most.

Yes -11
Bean
Davis
Gutierrez
Halverson
Hare
Jackson
Kirk
Lipinski
Quigley
Rush
Schakowsky

No -8
Costello
Biggert
Foster
Johnson
Manzullo
Roskam
Schock
Shimkus

Mark Kirk was the only Republican to vote in favor. Costello and Foster were the only Democrats to vote against.

Foster surprised me. The Sierra Club made a strong effort to help elect him. Any member of Congress who voted against this bill will have a very difficult time getting the support of any major environmental group.

Of course, the bill is imperfect. Compromises to the coal industry and other polluters were made to get it passed. The next step is getting a stronger version through the Senate.

Posted by Will at 7:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Aaron Schock is a new Congressman, so even though his previous environmental record isn't very impressive, I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Soon we'll find out if he was serious about the windmills and promises to protect rivers that appeared in his campaign ads. It isn't looking good so far.

Although Schock appeals to some as the kind of reasonable Republican his district historically elects, like Ray LaHood and Bob Michael, on energy issues he's gravitating toward the Shimkus fringe of his party. I've read that Schock will likely oppose the ACES global warming bill.

Even worse, he's co-sponsoring the "American Energy Act" which comes from the Republican energy group co-chaired by John Shimkus. The bill is full of measures to weaken environmental regulations and increase corporate welfare for polluting industries.

Schock echoes Shimkus by bragging that the bill threatens ANWR. His press release admits he supports "lifting restrictions on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), the Outer Continental Shelf, and oil shale in the Mountain West."

Schock is a politically ambitious freshman so I still hope that he'll choose a reasonable path to represent his constituents rather than following Shimkus and the polluting interests into national disgrace. That will only happen if he hears from people who live in his district.

Posted by Will at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In a recent New York Times article Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson said,

"I've always through the whole process been open-minded, but I also wouldn't want to leave anybody with the impression I'm likely to vote for something when pretty clearly my constituents are not enamored with the bill,"

The polluting industries, their allies and their lackey talk radio show hosts are encouraging everyone to call Congress in opposition to the ACES bill. If you live in Tim Johnson's district TODAY is the day to let him know that his constituents want meaningful action on climate change by passing the ACES bill.

Posted by Will at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It amazes me that some Congressmen are threatening to oppose the Waxman-Markey global warming bill (ACES) because it might cost farmers money.

Central Illinois is lucky to have a leading scientist on the UN’s Panel on Climate Change. He gave a local interview on how climate change could impact farmers if no action is taken.

Under a higher-emissions scenario, Illinois summers could be like those currently in eastern Texas, said Don Wuebbles, a professor in the UI's Department of Atmospheric Sciences.

(Family members not pictured...mavericky)

Weubbles goes on to say,

"Basically we're talking about very extensive warming," he said. "Chicago has two days of about 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) and a dozen above 90 (degrees Fahrenheit)."

By the end of the century, with a high-emissions scenario, Chicago could have a month of temperatures at 100 degrees or more and an entire summer of temperatures around temperatures at 90 or above, he said.

Environment Illinois used a federal study on the impacts of climate change to report how it's already costing Illinois agriculture and how much worse it could get. It shows that global warming could cost Illinois corn growers $243 million per year and $1.4 billion nationally.

Among other impacts, heavier rainfall, floods, and unpredictable severe whether will harm corn crops. As I wrote last week, the planting season was severely delayed for area farmers this season due to heavy spring rainfall, which is one of the impacts specifically named in the federal study.

The complaints rural Congressmen make about the ACES bill look pretty silly compared to how much farmers have to lose if no action is taken. If those Congressmen had been on the sinking Titanic they would have refused to get on a lifeboat because their hair might get wet.

Illinois farmers need to decide if they want to do something about climate change or else start learning how to herd cattle and grow peaches.

Posted by Will at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The next Liberty Brew & View movie is "The Take" on Tuesday, July 21, 7:00pm, Capital City Bar & Grill, Springfield, Free.

The short synopsis:

In the wake of Argentina’s spectacular economic collapse, Latin America’s most prosperous middle class finds itself in a ghost town of abandoned factories and mass unemployment. Thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory in Buenos Aires, roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave. All they want is to re-start the silent machines. But this simple act has the power to turn the globalization debate on its head."

"Filmmakers Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein take viewers inside the lives of the workers and their families, who must fight for jobs and their dignity by confronting factory owners, politicians and judges. The result is a real-life political thriller that pits ordinary workers against the local ruling elite and the powerful forces of global capitalism.

If you'd like to help spread the word you can click and print the full page flier:

Or, you can cut this half page flier in half.

Posted by Will at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I finally joined facebook since myspace has been going downhill ever since Rupert Murdoch took over, and now I'm neglecting my blog. It's way more time consuming than twitter. It's evil.

I made some time for actual human interaction this weekend and saw Year One. It's very stupid and very funny. It might be my new favorite Jack Black movie.

I also rented Crossing Over, which is far more serious, but a very good movie I strongly recommend.

If Facebook really wants to dominate the social networking world it should create a careers section. It would allow their many recent college graduates to create a resume page available to employers without the rest of their profile being viewable.

They already have the educated workforce that employers are looking for. All they have to do is add features to make it easy for existing users to post a resume and search for jobs. Why would anyone create yet another profile with another site like monster.com if they can simply add it to their facebook page without allowing potential employers to see the party pics in the rest of their profile? They could make it easy for employers to solicit applicants who have the interests and experience they're looking for. Or do they already do that?

Posted by Will at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The Sierra Club's grassroots Scrapbook blog let me write a guest post to brag a little about what Springfield, the state, and the Sierra Club are doing to support clean energy. The contract to power state buildings with wind energy is old news in Springfield but the blog reaches a national audience.

Posted by Will at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The much anticipated federal report on the coming impacts of climate change was officially released today. It's at whitehouse.gov and at a turbo-cool new site for the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

All the big enviro blogs will write about this and Grist is doing a coverage round-up. The flat-earthers accuse scientists of using scare tactics but I rarely see the most frightening possibilities get major news coverage. Read the report before bedtime if you want to give someone nightmares.

One of the fun features on the new site breaks down impacts by region. The Midwest section summarizes some of the impacts for farmers.

Spring flooding is likely to delay planting. An increase in disease-causing pathogens, insect pests, and weeds cause additional challenges for agriculture.

It's been an unusually wet spring, and farmers have been hard pressed to get corn planted this year in between rains. As a result, fields were not worked until much later in the season and weeds grew.

It reminds me of the old saying, "don't eat your seed corn." They're thinking about the short-term costs of taking action but doing nothing is gambling with the long-term livelihood of all farmers.

Posted by Will at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

I was flipping through the FM dial and stopped on a voice blaming the ills of society on the poorest and least powerful. Immigrants in this case. It turns out that the local station blasts in a daily dose of fascism from Glenn Beck.

The part that surprised me was the song he used for a few seconds before commercial. It took me a minute but I realized it was "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine. Given the recent trend of politically motivated attacks by right-wing talk radio fans, don't you think he should lay off the songs about killing?

Maybe Rage will sue him. I'll take a wild guess and say that Zach de la Rocha and Tom Morello don't appreciate Beck's politics.

Anyway, here's the uncensored video of Killing in the Name.

Posted by Will at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

New Congressman Mike Quigley showed courage by speaking the hard truth about coal that you don't often hear from Illinois politicians. "Nothing about coal is clean." I spotted the video at Progress Illinois.

I don't mind the coal industry researching carbon capture technology but it's disappointing to see billions of taxpayer dollars wasted on the FutureGen pipe-dream instead of real energy solutions.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce was pushing a bill for the state to subsidize coal research and facilities, including pipelines for carbon transfer. It failed this year but you can be sure that the coal industry will keep coming back to the trough for more handouts beyond the billion dollars they just got from the US Department of Energy.

FutureGen may be located in Mattoon Illinois with a population of 18,290. If the $1.073 billion in federal stimulus dollars targeted to FutureGen were simply given to the residents of Mattoon, every man, woman and child whould get about $58,663 each. I'd take the money and skip the experiments.

Posted by Will at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

As the environmental movement enters it's third stage to focus on global warming, it has long been recognized as a human rights issue. But it's still uncommon for leaders to speak about it in those terms.

In contrast, polluters are quick to adopt the language of freedom, rights and liberty. Conservative business groups such as the Heritage Foundation, Illinois Policy Institute, and Chamber of Commerce promote the concept of a company's economic freedom and rights to pursue wealth without restraint or accountability.

When Franklin Roosevelt spoke of economic freedom he advanced the right to food, shelter, employment, health care, education and the opportunity to have a decent standard of living. Since that speech was given, the conservative movement has focused on ensuring that Americans are never guaranteed those rights.

It wasn't yet clear in Roosevelt's time how much industrial pollution was harming the public. Given all he did for the National Parks through the CCC, I'm sure he wouldn't mind adding the right to clean air and water to his list of freedoms.

Today, major polluters seek the right to inflict all manner of sickness on the public including cancer, asthma, birth defects, pandemic disease, and more maladies yet to be discovered, along with the impacts of global warming, (such as more severe natural disasters, flooded cities, arid cropland etc.) and they wish to do it all without legal consequences. And every step of the way their rallying cry is "more jobs" as though the only way for a person to make a living is by harming others.

If I went into a person's house to poison their water, give them a disease and damage their food supply, wouldn't I justly be put in prison? Yet the polluting interests use their wealth to defend those actions in the name of economic rights and freedom.

This kind of free-market anarchism results from the millions spent on campaign contributions to Congress and every state legislature. A recent report documented the perversion of the democratic process in Illinois through contributions designed to stop public interest environmental laws.

It looks as though the same polluting interests may stop meaningful legislation in Congress to reduce global warming. It's disappointing that so few so-called representatives of the people are able to resist the lure of campaign contributions from callous and selfish polluters who trample on our right to a healthy environment.

Posted by Will at 4:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

At last night's CWLP Energy Forum, Bill Mills spoke about the new program to offer customers renewable energy credits (RECs). An official announcement should happen next week.

Since federal offices are encouraged to use renewable energy, CWLP already has their first customer: Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

Who knows what Abe would have thought about today's energy debate but buying renewable energy at his home respects his environmental legacy. Lincoln took the first step toward establishing the National Park system when he signed a bill granting federal land to protect the Yosemite valley. Sierra Club founder John Muir would be instrumental in making Yosemite an official National Park in 1890.

You can buy RECs for your home or business by contacting CWLP's Energy Services Office.

Posted by Will at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last Friday I was lucky enough to attend a talk with famed NASA scientist James Hansen at the Sierra Club Midwest new energy future conference. He was the first scientist to testify before Congress about global warming in 1988. If climatologists were rock starts he would be Mic Jagger and Eddie Vedder rolled into one.

The first part of his talk was an overview of how CO2 got so far beyond normal levels in the atmosphere and what the likely impacts will be. Since I waited a week to write this post I won't try to summarize it from memory. In response to a question, he said that, while scientific predictions about the rate of global warming have proven to be accurate, they underestimated how quickly the negative consequences would impact the planet.

Hansen believes that, in order to return CO2 to levels safe for civilization, we must start shutting down the oldest and dirtiest coal fired power plants and phase them out completely over the next 20-30 years. He identifies coal as the most urgent source of global warming emissions to cut, partly because it's the largest man-made source of CO2, and also because the United States has more coal reserves than any other nation. Having so much of the world's supply allows the U.S. to cut off coal from nations that don't reduce their global warming emissions.

The Sierra Club Beyond Coal campaign has stopped 99 coal fired plants from being built so far. In line with Hansen's scientific research, the campaign is now working to retire the oldest coal plants that produce the most pollutants.

Hansen also spoke in favor of a carbon fee over a cap-and-trade system. That was a hot topic of debate all weekend so I may write about that when I find the time.

Posted by Will at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

CWLP's next Smart Energy Forum is Thursday, June 11, 6:00pm, Illinois National Bank Downtown Conference Center, Fourth and Jackson Streets, Springfield. Things are happening rapidly so we'll probably hear updates about federal stimulus projects CWLP is applying for, progress on the power plant, and new efficiency programs being developed. It's also a chance to have a voice in what our public utility does next.

Looking forward, I think the most significant long-term benefits of the Sierra Club agreement with CWLP will be the increased investments in energy efficiency programs and the change in mindset locally to acknowledge that we have realistic energy options other than using more coal.

Posted by Will at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The next Liberty Brew & View movie is:

Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train
Tuesday, June 16, 7:00pm
Doors open at 6:30 pm for food and beverages

On the big screen in City Nights Theater at Capital City Bar & Grill
3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL
Free Admission

View the trailer here.

Synopsis:

In these turbulent times, Howard Zinn is inspiring a new generation. This acclaimed film looks at the amazing life of the renowned historian, activist and author. Following his early days as a shipyard labor organizer and bombardier in World War II, Zinn became an academic rebel and leader of civil disobedience in a time of institutionalized racism and war. His influential writings shine light on and bring voice to factory workers, immigrant laborers, African Americans, Native Americans and the working poor.

Featuring rare archival materials and interviews with Zinn and colleagues such as Noam Chomsky, You Can’t Be Neutral captures the essence of this extraordinary man who has been a catalyst for progressive change for more than 60 years.

Narrated by Matt Damon • Featuring music by Pearl Jam, Woody Guthrie & Billy Bragg!

I'm glad a few people suggested this one because it's a good fit for Liberty Brew & View. My goal is to show movies that you don't often see in regular theaters and Zinn reveals history that you don't often read in regular text books. Noam Chomsky said about Zinn, "it is no exaggeration to say he has changed the consciousness of a generation." I'd say he changed the consciousness of several generations.

This movie is well put together so it's engaging for anyone whether you've never heard of Zinn or if you've read all his books.

The July 21 movie will be The Take.

Posted by Will at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm getting information overload with all the blogs and quickly outdated news articles on the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act. Most environmentalists believe the bill is too weak in it's current form but how should we ask Congress to strengthen it?

Kate Sheppard, my new favorite blogger, writes at Grist that the Sierra Club and ten other groups sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi calling for three amendments to improve the bill that will likely be the focal point of debate. They would increase targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, allow the EPA to regulate carbon emissions, and shift giveaways for polluters to funding green jobs instead.

I was interested to see ACORN on the letter since they don't often focus on environmental issues. A spokesperson said ACORN members were motivated to work with groups like the Sierra Club after seeing how vulnerable cities like New Orleans are to climate instability and rising sea levels.

"ACORN families understand that building a green economy that's sustainable and builds jobs for working families is good for them, good for the environment, and good for communities," Kettenring said. ... In the long term, Kettenring expects more ACORN chapters to become involved in green jobs initiatives, such as efforts to collect federal funding for weatherizing urban buildings.

Posted by Will at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm at the Sierra Club's Midwest Energy Conference. I just heard about Code Black, a program on the public health impacts of global warming by Physicians for Social Responsibility. I'd like to work with them in Illinois.

Posted by Will at 4:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last week I wrote about a public forum by Congresswoman Judy Biggert on the Waxman-Markey ACES bill to curb global warming. Congressman Peter Roskam didn't participate, as originally announced, and Biggert said she's still undecided on the bill.

I wasn't there but the Naperville Sun covered it. They extensively quote Ron Burke from the Union of Concerned Scientists who said their plan,

would trigger investments in efficiency improvements and renewable technologies that would cut America's use of foreign oil products by 6 million barrels per day by 2020, achieve a 26 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 (compared to 2005 levels) and begin to save American consumers and businesses $465 billion annually in 2030. Burke said businesses in this region would save $2.2 billion by 2020 and $15.8 billion by 2030.

The Chamber of Commerce speaker made their case that global warming should be dealt with internationally and that the United States shouldn't act until China, India and the developing world have signed onto a global agreement. The Chamber's opposition to Waxman-Markey assumes that passing a bill in the US won't influence other nations to do the same, therefore, no action should be taken.

Logically, I'm sure the Chamber is pushing for a strong agreement at the UN Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen later this year. Right? Haha!

This is a common tactic for the Chamber and other business lobbying groups. If someone proposes action at the state or local level they claim it's better to have a national standard, as we frequently heard from opponents of the Illinois Clean Car Act. When someone proposes a national standard they complain about "big government" regulation and state's rights. In all cases, they argue that taking action is always someone else's job.

An article posted on a Chamber of Commerce site makes their strategy more explicit.

James Baker, former secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush, wrote in the Financial Times last week that the Obama administration should do nothing unilaterally. While supporting the idea that the United States should lead a global effort to fight climate change, he attached enough strings to his support to sink the plan. Any U. S. legislation to bring in a "market-based" cap-and-trade regime must be accompanied by "an agreement with the rest of the world." Washington should also defer any implementation until a global treaty is signed.

The positive side is that even the organizations lobbying hardest against Waxman-Markey believe that open opposition to stopping global warming is a political liability. They don't want to be associated with the fringe that denies the science behind climate change and the need to take action.

Posted by Will at 2:40 PM | Permalink

I forgot to post about the passage of the Illinois Green Buildings Act, HB1013, earlier in May. It requires state funded construction projects and major renovations of state buildings to meet energy efficiency standards, including LEED certification.

It was sponsored by Representative Mike Boland, who spoke at the Environmental Film Fest in April. It passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.

Local governments should think about these standards when they're planning new construction projects. There's still a strong tendency in Springfield to do things the way they've always been done and cut up-front costs even though it will cost taxpayers more in the long run.

Posted by Will at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Clean energy advocates and consumers won several victories at the tail end of the Illinois General Assembly session. A major bill setting statewide efficiency standards for new residential construction, HB 3987, passed Sunday night. It makes Illinois eligible for additional federal stimulus dollars tied to adoption of the latest national standards.

WAND TV did a good report that you can watch at their website or download directly here.

State environmental groups supported the bill so you can download a fact sheet for more details. The final House vote had 89 in favor and 28 opposed. It had an even larger margin in the Senate, 48-8. Governor Quinn is expected to sign.

Once again, Springfield area representatives, Raymond Poe and Rich Brauer, voted against the bill. I guess they would rather give up millions in federal stimulus dollars and have homeowners spend more on utility bills than support widely accepted efficiency standards. Senator Larry Bomke voted in favor. Thank you Senator Bomke!

Posted by Will at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over 200 people participated in a fast "to call attention to the need for the United States to give leadership to the world on the climate issue." Nine of them fasted between 25-40 days, including Springfield resident Diane Lopez Hughes. They want Congress to pass:

-legislation that mandates a definite 25-40% (1990 baseline) or more decrease in greenhouse gas emissions;
-a moratorium on the building of any new coal plants
-no giveaways to polluters: 100% of permits to pollute under a cap must be auctioned, as President Obama supports, or a substantial carbon fee must be enacted

Mahatma Gandhi called fasting, “the sincerest form of prayer.” At this time of great danger for all of the life forms which inhabit the Earth, we need prayer, we need people to speak out and we need strong action which compels the world’s governments to take the necessary steps now towards a just and fair, renewable energy future.

Posted by Will at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Illinois General Assembly couldn't agree on a budget but the House did pass a resolution to express support for improved fuel economy and vehicle polluting emissions standards that President Obama recently proposed at the federal level. This was an easy vote since it doesn't require the state to take any action and the auto-industry agreed to the new standards.

The resolution passed Sunday night with 94 votes in favor and 24 against. Among the 24 most ardently committed against any action to curb global warming or improve mileage standards for consumers were the Springfield area's two Representatives, Poe and Brauer. Those 24 form the Shimkus wing of the legislature when it comes to environmental laws.

The resolution supports standards similar to the Illinois Clean Car Act that state environmental groups pushed for over a year. Incidentally, one of the organizations most active in lobbying against the Clean Car Act was the Illinois Auto-Dealers Association. The Green Auto stores that sponsored Springfield's Earth Awareness Fair are Association members and regularly contribute to the political fund which helped stop the top environmental bill in the state this year.

Posted by Will at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It snuck up on me. Yesterday I realized that it's time for the annual Carillon Festival and headed over to Washington Park. It's one of the best things Springfield has going for it so don't miss the bells in the park this week.

Posted by Will at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)