1Sky Calls USCAP’s Proposal: “Not Bold Enough”

For Immediate Release: Jan. 15, 2009     Contact: Liz Rose (301) 270-4550 x 231 or lrose@1sky.org

Takoma Park -- The 1Sky campaign to ensure bold federal action to tackle global warming responded today to an agreement from a group of business and environmental leaders. 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell said, “In order to create a 21st century green economy we need bold action, not loopholes.” Caldwell explained that the U.S. Climate Action Partnership’s (USCAP) proposal includes giveaways to the nation’s most powerful polluters rather than the bold solutions necessary to solve the climate crisis. “Under this proposal, 40% of the dirtiest polluters would be allowed to keep polluting,” Caldwell said, “1Sky and its allies urge the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to draft effective energy policy that closes loopholes, and auctions 100% of pollution allowances.” Caldwell noted that President-elect Obama repeatedly promised to make polluters pay and the USCAP proposal, as she says, “Lets the most powerful polluters off the hook.”

“USCAP’s scheme for coal is not any better. They propose allowing coal plants to be built now, as long as they capture and sequester the carbon once the technology becomes commercially viable. No one can predict whether or if it will ever be commercially viable,” Caldwell said. The 1Sky coalition wants an immediate moratorium placed on all new coal-fired power plants that emit global warming pollution. Caldwell said, “As the massive recent spill of coal ash in Tennessee reminded all of us: There is no such thing as clean coal, and we cannot afford to invest in more dirty plants.”

"There is broad scientific agreement that we need to keep global temperatures from increasing beyond 2 degrees Celsius in order to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.” Caldwell said, “According to benchmarks set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), developed countries like the U.S. will need to begin reducing emissions dramatically in the short term to achieve that goal - for the U.S. that means cutting carbon 35% below current levels by 2020." Calling the reductions of greenhouse gasses in the proposal “mediocre” Caldwell pointed out that USCAP proposes to cut U.S. carbon emissions 14-20% below current levels (only 0 to 7% below 1990 levels). Caldwell said there are several positive elements to USCAP’s plan, including a recognition that the United States needs to lead on solving the climate crisis. She said, “It is important that a business coalition acknowledged the need to put a price on carbon.” She also praised the coalition’s effort overall saying that we will not convert to a green energy economy without every segment of society working together.