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from the National Wildlife Federation

ACTION ALERT ON CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION

Call Representative Costa to Support HR 2454

June 23,  2009 -- The American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act, H.R. 2454, written by California Representative Henry Waxman is a significant step forward in America’s effort to address the climate crisis.  The bill creates a comprehensive energy and climate plan that combines renewable energy production and energy efficiency standards with a limit on the biggest sources of global warming pollution.  National Wildlife Federation is asking for your help to reduce our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions through this important legislation. 
 
The bill requires that emissions from major emitters be reduced by more than 17% below current levels by 2020, and 83% below current levels by the year 2050. The bill regulates power plants, oil companies and large industrial emitters, sources responsible for 85% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.  By putting a strong limit on carbon pollution, we will drive clean energy technology to market and create millions of U.S. jobs.  Attached is a fact sheet prepared by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) on the ACES bill.
 
A changing climate is one of today’s greatest threats to ecosystem integrity, individual fish and wildlife species, coastal human settlements, and world economic development.  The bill includes language championed by Representatives Raul Grijalva, John Dingell, Nick Rahall, and Norm Dicks that provides safeguards for wildlife and natural resources in a warming world. H.R. 2454 allocates increasing percentages of the total allowance value to natural resource adaptation: 1 percent from 2012 through 2021, 2 percent from 2022 through 2026, and 4 percent from 2027 through 2050.  The "National Resources Climate Change Adaptation Fund" and "allocation of emission allowances" sections of the bill establish different mechanisms for delivering funds to state, federal and tribal agencies charged with safeguarding natural resources. 
 
NWF needs your help.  Representative Costa is a key vote on this bill. 
 
ACTION NEEDED
Please complete the following actions (#1 and #2 are most important):
1.     Phone calls from grasstops leaders to the DC office of Representative Jim Costa asking him to support HR 2454 the ACES bill
a.     His DC office number is: (202) 225-3341
b.    His district covers the San Joaquin Valley, Kings County, Fresno, McFarland, Shafter, Selma, Mendota, Bakersfield, Hanford and Lemoore.
2.     Phone calls from district constituents to Representative Costa
3.     Letters to the Editor for San Joaquin Valley newspapers (need a ghost writer? See below)
4.     Op-Eds for San Joaquin Valley newspapers
5.     Forwarding this ALERT to other environmental organizations in the San Joaquin Valley
6.     Sending this ALERT to your own members
 
TALKING POINTS
Representatives should support this legislation because:
·          Clean Energy – This bill invests in clean energy technology by funding states, regional innovation centers, and the auto sector to repower, refuel and rebuild our economy.  
·          Conservation Investments – ACES provides large-scale funding needed to ensure our natural resources, infrastructure and public health are safeguarded from climate change impacts.
·          Consumer and Community Investments – The bill provides allowances to the electricity and natural gas sectors that must be used to mitigate consumer energy bill increase during the transition to cleaner energy.
·          Global Climate Treaty – The United States will be positioned to meet our moral obligation as one of the largest GHG (greenhouse gas) emitters and to foster and international global warming agreement.
·          Innovative Leadership -  ACES encourages innovative technologies and will help grow new technologies that don’t currently exist today, in order to reduce GHG emissions.
 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you are willing to submit a Letter to the Editor or Op-Ed piece but need help, please let us know.  Contact Melanie for assistance with letters (see contact info below for help).
 
BILL SUPPORTERS (partial list)
American Rivers * Clean Water Action * Climate Solutions * Defenders of Wildlife * Earth Justice * Environment America * International Forum on Globalization * League of Conservation Voters * League of Women Voters National Audubon Society * National Parks Conservation Association * National Resource Defense Council * National Wildlife Federation * Oxfam * Oceana * Physicians for Social Responsibility * Sierra Club * Union of Concerned Scientists * Wilderness Society * World Wildlife Fund
 
Have Questions?
Please call or email Melanie Schlotterbeck at 714-779-7561 or Melanie@Schlotterbeck.net if you have questions.

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