Largest Ethanol Producer
| Press Release: Bill to Provide Relief from High Gas Prices Introduced in House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sean Crowley, 202-572-3331, scrowley@edf.org
Michael Replogle, 202-572-3321, mreplogle@edf.org
(Washington, DC – July 16, 2008) A leading national environmental group today endorsed new bipartisan legislation in Congress that would offer Americans relief from high gas prices by providing expanded transportation and housing options.
The bill, “The Transportation and Housing Options for Gas Price Relief Act of 2008” (H.R. 6495), was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). It is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Chris Shays (R-CT), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Hilda Solis (D-CA). Both Tauscher and McNerney are members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation.
Gas prices in the United States have tripled during the past seven years. As a result, Americans now spend an average of more than $2,000 a year on gas to commute to work. Transportation costs are now Americans’ second largest average expense after housing.
"This timely bill provides Congress with a great opportunity to show it is responding to Americans’ pain at the pump, insufficient public transit and costly housing options,” said Michael Replogle, transportation director at Environmental Defense Fund and a former consultant for the U.S. Federal Highway Administration and the World Bank on sustainable transportation strategies. "America has less than three percent of the world’s oil reserves, so we will never be able to produce what we need domestically. Our best bet is to use our limited domestic gas supply wisely and facilitate alternatives to driving where possible, as this legislation does.”
“The Transportation and Housing Options for Gas Price Relief Act of 2008” would allocate funds to:
1. Upgrading key websites for easier access to services without having to leave home and work; and
2. Encouraging federal agencies and offices to participate in local Transportation Management Agencies, which provide transportation options.
“Public transit use and demand for other transportation options are continuing to rise throughout the country," concluded Replogle. “This bill would support current transportation options while encouraging the creation of new and necessary transit alternatives. It would ultimately benefit all Americans by saving them gas money, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, alleviating traffic, and reducing pollution.”
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| Mayor Hickenlooper Adopts Denver’s Climate Plan Denver’s Climate Action Plan was officially adopted on October 24, 2007 following eight months of research by Denver’s Greenprint Council and five months of public feedback. Mayor Hickenlooper also signed Executive Order 123, which formally establishes the city’s sustainability policy. It includes Denver’s first municipal green building policy along with several measures to promote sustainability within city operations. |
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| Insulate and Seal Rebates Now Available Insulating and sealing your home helps reduce heating and cooling needs, which saves energy and money. But many of Denver’s older homes lack proper insulation. If you’re a homeowner of an existing home that needs retrofitting, rebates are now available to help with your installation costs. Learn more. |
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| Press Release: Report: Climate Change Threatens Georgia’s Economy and Environment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Emily Diamond-Falk, 202-572-3365, ediamondfalk@edf.org
(Washington, DC – July 23, 2008) –A new report released today details the devastating effects climate change will have on Georgia’s economy and environment. The study was produced by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER) at the University of Maryland. Environmental Defense Fund helped to finance the research and production of the report.
The report found that climate change will have wide-spread consequences across Georgia, including:
· Drought. Last year, Georgia experienced an extreme drought costing $1.3 billion in economic damage, much of that stemming from agriculture losses. Researchers predict that if climate change triggers an additional crop shortage of 5%, the economic impacts could cost nearly $110 million annually.
· Infrastructure. Georgia’s expansive road, rail, and air transportation system is vulnerable to increasing disruptions and damage from extreme weather events brought about by climate change.
· Coastal Areas: Scientists warn climate change could bring more powerful hurricanes. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused $68.8 million in property damage in Georgia, and it is projected that the cumulative cost of sand for protecting Georgia’s coastline from another hurricane could cost as much $1.3 billion by 2100.
The study was part of the report State Economic and Environmental Costs of Climate Change, which examined the impacts of global warming on 12 states around the country. NCSL released the report today during an energy conference at the group’s Legislative Summit in New Orleans. In addition to Georgia, the report looked at how climate change will impact the economy and environment of Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
The overview of the project can be found at: http://www.ncsl.org/print/environ/ClimatechangeOver.pdf Individual states have already begun to address the issue of climate change: Six states enacted mandatory greenhouse gas reduction laws; 13 states have set voluntary targets; and 26 states have passed renewable energy portfolio standards.
“This report shows that climate change poses a great risk to Georgia’s infrastructure,” said Jerry Karnas, former Regional Outreach Coordinator for National Wildlife Federation in Georgia and now Florida Climate Project Director at EDF. “If severe weather impacts Georgia’s transportation system, the entire U.S. would feel the consequences."
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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
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| Changes to European Chemical Standards Affect US Companies As reported by Lyndsey Layton of the Washington Post, new regulations in Europe about the use of toxic and carcinogenic chemicals are affecting US manufacturers, if those manufacturers want to maintain exports to European countries. It is no surprise that the Bush administration and US chemical manufacturers oppose these new laws, which require companies [.] |