Climate Coalition Delivers “Oily Hands Awards” to Senators Murkowski and Landrieu to Decry Senate Inaction on Clean Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2010

Contact: Adi Nochur, 301-270-4550 ext 224 or adi@1sky.org

Climate Coalition Delivers “Oily Hands Awards” to Senators Murkowski and Landrieu to Decry Senate Inaction on Clean Energy, Preview Nationwide Grassroots Activities for August Congressional Recess

Washington, DC – With the Senate set to adjourn for the August congressional recess without considering legislation addressing the Gulf oil disaster, a climate coalition today presented symbolic “Oily Hands Awards” to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Mary Landrieu’s (D-LA) offices to decry the Senate’s failure to address climate change and clean energy.

“It is absurd that in the wake of the worst oil spill in U.S. history, the Senate can’t even pass a narrow oil spill response bill, let alone a comprehensive climate and energy bill to address the root of the problem: our fossil fuel dependence,” said Gillian Caldwell, Campaign Director for 1Sky.  “Senator Murkowski and Landrieu’s combined acceptance of over $1.1 million in campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests, their blocking of oil spill response legislation and their attempts to gut the Clean Air Act are emblematic of the fact that too many senators today are siding with polluters over the public.”

May Boeve, U.S. Campaign Director for 350.org, noted that the coalition’s oily hands presentation to Senators Murkowski and Landrieu was a preview of coming attractions for the August congressional recess.  “By failing to act to reduce our fossil fuel dependence, Congress has oil on its hands,” said Boeve.  “Beyond Petroleum isn't the only BP we need to be citing for dirty practices -- it's time to turn up the heat on Big Polluters and Bad Politicians, too.  Senators should expect an outpouring of concerned citizens, many with oily hands, in their home states this summer to remind them of their responsibility to enact strong solutions.”

“Americans are ready to hold their elected officials accountable for squandering every opportunity they’ve had to reduce our global warming pollution and jumpstart investment in a clean energy economy,” said Ted Glick, Policy Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.  “The dirty energy status quo is no longer an option.”

“As the Senate fails to address the threat of climate change, oil and coal corporations and their allies in Congress are scheming to take us a giant leap backwards by gutting the Clean Air Act,” said Erich Pica, president of Friends of the Earth.  “The Senate must hold fossil fuel interests accountable and protect the health and welfare of American families by standing strong against all attacks on the Clean Air Act.”

The Senate will not take up oil spill and energy legislation, including measures to increase liability for oil companies and to create clean energy jobs through home weatherization, until September at the earliest.  The debate then will also likely include consideration of a measure from Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) that would prevent the Clean Air Act from controlling global warming pollution from the largest, dirtiest emitters like coal-fired power plants and oil refineries.

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Participating organizations include: 1Sky, 350.org, Center for Biological Diversity, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Energy Action Coalition, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Hip Hop Caucus