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Free Webinar March 15 th 2011 12-1pm

Inside Scoop on This Congress and The Climate What to expect from the 112 th Congress on Climate Legislation and Environmental Policy. Free Webinar March 15 th 2011 12-1pm. Overview. Introduction – Kristin – Clean Currents Nancy – Alliance to Save Energy Jason – 1Sky

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Free Webinar March 15 th 2011 12-1pm

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  1. Inside Scoop on This Congress and The ClimateWhat to expect from the 112th Congress on Climate Legislation and Environmental Policy Free Webinar March 15th 2011 12-1pm

  2. Overview • Introduction – Kristin – Clean Currents • Nancy – Alliance to Save Energy • Jason – 1Sky • Ted – Chesapeake Climate Action Network • Remaining Questions & Discussion

  3. Nancy Gonzalez • Bio: • Nancy Gonzalez, Policy Associate, joined the Alliance’s Policy and Research Team in September 2010. She works closely with the Director of Government Relations and actively participates in legislative analysis and outreach. As manager of the Energy Efficiency Coalition, Nancy stays current on the latest relevant legislative news and regularly disseminates pertinent information and materials to both the Policy Team and to the external energy efficiency community. Additionally, Nancy follows, analyzes, and reports developments in various issue areas for the team including appliance standards, FEMP, and schools and workers training. Prior to joining the Alliance, Nancy worked as an Energy Analyst in the office of Facilities and Management Planning at Boston University. There she conducted energy audits and research to identify opportunities for energy efficiency and conservation projects. She also helped monitor and assess the impacts of energy retrofication projects. Nancy graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Analysis and Policy, and a M.A. in Energy & Environmental Policy from Boston University in 2010.

  4. Clean Currents“The Inside Scoop on Congress” March 15, 2011 Nancy Gonzalez Policy Associate

  5. What is the Alliance to Save Energy? Mission: • To promote energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security. • Organization: • Staffed by 80+ professionals • 33 years of experience • $12 million annual budget • Recognized as the premier energy efficiency organization in the world

  6. What is the Alliance to Save Energy? • The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security. • Non-profit organization headquartered in U.S.; operations world-wide • Led by SenatorJeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Peter Darbee, Chairman of the Board, CEO and President, PG&E Corporation • Includes 13 Members of Congress – Bi-Cameral; Bi-Partisan • Also includes environmental, consumer, and trade association heads, state and local policy makers, corporate executives

  7. Working with and Across All Sectors of the Economy • 171 companies, organizations, and institutions in Associates Program • Associates Program membership represents all economic sectors • Initiatives underway in research, policy advocacy, education, technology deployment, market transformation and communications

  8. Overview • Everything you always wanted to know about the New Political Environment* • Current budget impasse over FY 2011; • What to Expect (and What Not to Expect) in the 112th Congress; • Communications and Messaging *(But Were Afraid to Ask)

  9. New Member Count

  10. Midterm Elections: Seat Change from President’s Party

  11. Key House Committees:Energy and Commerce Committee Members

  12. Key House Committees:Appropriations Subcommittees Energy and Water Committee Members Interior Committee Members

  13. Key Senate Committees:Energy and Natural Resources Committee Members

  14. Key Senate Committees:Appropriations Subcommittees Energy and Water Committee Members Interior Committee Members

  15. 2010 State Legislature Race • Alabama - House and Senate • Colorado – House • Indiana – House • Iowa – House • Louisiana – House • Maine – House and Senate • Michigan – House • Minnesota - House and Senate Republican Gains Chamber Pickups • Montana – House • New Hampshire - House and Senate • New York – Senate • North Carolina - House and Senate • Ohio – House • Pennsylvania – House • Wisconsin - Assembly and Senate

  16. 2010 State Legislature Race • None Democrat Losses Chamber Pickups

  17. 2010 State Legislature Race • Republicans picked up more than 650 Democratic held seats in state legislatures • Rs now control more legislative seats than at any time since 1928 • Rs took control from Democrats in 19 chambers of state legislatures; Democrats took control of none. Rs picked up an additional 2 previously tied chambers. • Republicans will have unchallenged control of the design of approximately 170 Congressional districts next years after the Census releases the 2010 population data; Democrats will get to draw about 70 districts; • Democrats picked up one state legislative seat in Delaware --- the party’s only gain in the 50 states.

  18. Perspectives on Budget & Appropriations: FY 2011 • Major fight looms over FY 2011 Continuing Resolution (expires March 18th); • Short-term extension through March 18th just “kicks the can down the street” and postpones the confrontation; $4 billion in cuts pro-rated over two weeks; • Difficulty for agencies having to absorb deep cuts over the remaining seven months of the fiscal year; • “Trojan Horse” effect with pro-rated cuts achieving essentially what H.R. 1 accomplishes in bits and pieces; • Complications mount with debt ceiling extension

  19. FY 2012 Appropriations

  20. A quick preview • No appetite for climate legislation • Focus on “austerity” and spending cuts • Focus on jobs and energy security --- document jobs impact • Expect early votes on limiting EPA regulatory authority • Expect attacks on issues ranging from stimulus spending, weatherization, SEP and EERE appropriations • Expect rigorous oversight from House E&C Committee • 6-8 month window for legislating before 2012 election cycle kicks in • Sen. Cantwell expected to reintroduce the “CLEAR" Act this year

  21. What’s Possible in the 112th? • Possible bipartisan “ACELA 2” bill in Senate ENR, but will likely be broken down in several smaller bills; • EE elements may include appliance standards, building codes, project financing (Green Bank), Shaheen bill • Clean Energy Standard? Uncertainty • Possible Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bill • Possible transportation reauthorization • WAP & SEP authorizations are up in 2012 • Gas prices over$4 dollars a gallon?

  22. Communications and Messaging • Communications and Messaging • Need to have “rapid response” to negative media stories; • Working blogs and social networking; • Importance of smaller media outlets and newspapers (e.g. McLatchy papers), and radio; • Importance of grassroots approach— focus on meeting with Member district offices. •  “All politics is local”

  23. Thank You! Nancy Gonzalez Policy Associate Alliance to Save Energy ngonzalez@ase.org 202-530-4349

  24. Jason Kowalski Jason Kowalski, Policy Coordinator: As a Policy Coordinator at 1Sky, Jason manages 1Sky's policy team, working with elected officials on Capitol Hill to push for strong climate and energy legislation. He plans strategic grassroots campaigns that maximize the impact concerned citizens can have on the political process. 1Sky is a start-up campaign encouraging citizens to organize in their communities around climate solutions. Before working at 1Sky Jason co-authored Clean Air-Cool Planet's Campus Carbon Calculator, the leading tool for carbon reduction analysis on college campuses, currently in use on over 12,000 campuses. At StepItUp2007.org Jason helped organize thousands of climate rallies nationwide, making climate change a major issue in the 2008 presidential primary.

  25. The 1Sky Solutions are grounded in scientific necessity. They are the bottom line of what's needed to dramatically reduce carbon emissions while maximizing energy efficiency, and renewable energy. They also represent significant economic promise. By pivoting to a clean energy economy, we can relieve our dependence on foreign oil, unlock the potential of sustainable industry and usher in a new era of prosperity and green jobs. Through direct lobbying by everyday Americans, creative local actions, and work in DC by the 1Sky staff, we push our elected officials to lead on the great moral imperative of this climate fight. Together, we can convince our leaders to chart a new direction. Get involved today at 1sky.org

  26. Kyoto Protocol

  27. The Clean Air Act Lisa Jackson EPA Administrator

  28. Current 1Sky Campaigns: • Tell Congress: "Defend the Clean Air Act" • "The Chamber Doesn't Speak for Me" with 350.org • Join or start a climate team in your community • Participate yourself or support an existing team in The Climate Ride at www.climateride.org Get involved today at http://www.1sky.org contact: jason@1sky.org

  29. Jason Kowalski jason@1sky.org

  30. Ted Glick • Ted Glick has devoted 42 years of his life to the progressive social change movement. • Between the mid-70's and 2005, Ted was actively involved in community organizing efforts around environmental, tenant rights, community development and racial justice issues in Brooklyn, N.Y. and northern New Jersey. For the last six years Ted has played a national leadership role in the effort to stabilize our climate and for a clean energy revolution. • He was a co-founder in 2004 of the Climate Crisis Coalition. In May, 2006 he became the national coordinator of the U.S. Climate Emergency Council and is currently Policy Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. For three and a half months in the fall of 2007 he ate no solid food as part of a climate emergency fast focused on getting Congress to pass strong climate legislation. • He has participated in and led hundreds of actions. He has been arrested sixteen times for acts of nonviolent civil disobedience on climate issues. www.tedglick.com

  31. Chesapeake Climate Action Network The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the first grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting global warming in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to amass undeniable grassroots power in this unique region surrounding our nation’s capital to call for state, national, and international policies that will put us on a path to climate stability. www.chesapeakeclimate.org

  32. Support Offshore Wind in MD! -In Maryland we are working very hard to get a bill passed, introduced by Governor O'Malley, that would mandate that the state's Public Service Commission require electric power suppliers to enter into long-term contracts with offshore wind developers as a way to jump start the development of offshore wind energy.

  33. Go Green Virginia! -CCAN helped to get enacted in Virginia a low-interest loan fund to help Virginians install solar energy on their buildings, and we are working to strengthen state government support of offshore wind energy.

  34. A Cap-&-Dividend Approach -On a national level, CCAN continues to work with U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell and Susan Collins to build support for the cap-and-dividend approach to climate legislation that puts a price on carbon while providing financial assistance to American families to deal with higher costs for carbon-based products.

  35. Ted Glick indpol@igc.org

  36. A Grassroots Approach • The Green Neighborhood Challenge • Spreading the effect!

  37. Thanks for Joining Us! Visit our website or contact: 301.754.0430 x716 Kristin Schulz kschulz@cleancurrents.com www.cleancurrents.com – enroll today by clicking Wind Power for Home

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