More Than 3,600 1Sky Members Mobilize to Urge Passage of Bold Climate Legislation in 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13th, 2010
Contact: Alex Posorske, 1Sky: (301) 270-4550 x230; alex@1sky.org

Takoma Park, MD – 1Sky, one of the largest collaborative campaigns in the country dedicated to bold federal action on climate change, announced today that more than 3,600 1Sky members from all 50 states committed to call their senators on Tuesday, January 12th to ask for strong climate legislation in 2010.

Along with urging senators to support bold climate legislation, 1Sky volunteers and allies also voiced the importance of voting against Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) proposed amendment that would likely eliminate the ability to use the Clear Air Act to regulate and crack down on dirty coal-fired power plants.  This use of the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon emissions, which the Supreme Court authorized in 2007, is a crucial resource for reducing dangerous global warming pollution in the near-term.

“The Clean Air Act is one of the most successful environmental laws ever created and we must defend it from the interests of the Big Oil and Dirty Coal industries that have gotten behind the Murkowski amendment,” said 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell. Caldwell also noted that, according to a recent Washington Post story, two lobbyists with a connection to energy interests helped Murkowski draft her proposed amendment.  

“After years of inaction in Washington, the Obama administration is making sure that the Clean Air Act is used to protect Americans from the dangers of global warming air pollution,” Caldwell said.  “This can help make sure the oldest, dirtiest coal plants will have to clean up or shut down but first we have to beat back this attack sponsored by dirty fossil fuel interests.”

The Murkowski amendment could make an appearance as a part of unrelated legislation in the U.S. Senate next week.  The U.S. Senate returns from winter recess on January 19 and is expected to take up climate legislation in the near future.  

“The number of calls yesterday shows the widespread support throughout America for strong climate legislation,” Caldwell said.  “Senators who are champions for clean energy legislation will have a grateful and enthusiastic base to support them in the months ahead.”