5 Ways to Help New England's Future

[YankeyMCC]

(I posted first in Mass, but I thought I should post it in all NE states too)

From a Conservation Law Foundation email today:

CLF has just released our climate change vision for New England,
defining the five steps in five years our region must take to
confront the climate threat and we need your help to make our vision
a reality!

Visit www.newenglandclimatesolutions.org today and sign the petition
urging the region's leaders to make a down payment on New
England's future by adopting CLF's five steps toward a
cleaner, healthier future!


Visit www.newenglandclimatesolutions.org today and help make our
vision a reality by taking action and spreading the word! We’ve
also identified five things in five minutes you can do to help curb
climate change.


From the full report:

(snip)
The most sound, peer-reviewed science tells us that the
goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80
percent by 2050 is the critical investment in the future
that an industrialized nation like the U.S. must make.2
Even this level of reduction may not be enough.3 But
we must not allow the scope of the climate challenge to
paralyze us. Our regional focus should be on the “down
payment” we can make toward climate stabilization during
the next fi ve years.
(snip)

(snip)
The five actions called for in this document will not only
significantly slow and reduce carbon pollution—they will
enhance the region’s prosperity, energy security and global
competitiveness by building on the resources, creativity
and industries we already have.
(snip)

(snip)
Failure to maximize the power of wind will leave
New England dependent on carbon-intensive—and far
more environmentally damaging—coal-fi red and nuclear
power plants. The true price of conventional power generation
includes a legacy of strip mining, mercury pollution,
acid rain and radioactive nuclear waste. Wind power
was the force behind New England’s successful Clipper
ships and will be the force behind New England’s successful
energy future.
(snip)

(snip)
In addition to converting or closing two coal-fi red power
plants, we must also prohibit construction of any new
coal plants in the region.
(snip)

The Five steps summarized:

1. Reduce Pollution From Cars and Trucks. The transportation sector
is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New England.
Transportation-related emissions are increasing because we are driving
more, covering greater distances (often because of where we live and
work), and have few opportunities to rely on less-polluting and more
energy-effi cient public transit. At the same time, the vehicles we drive
are not becoming more fuel-efficient.

2. Transition to Clean, Coal-Free Energy Sources. The emission intensive
electricity sector, already subject to heavy regulation, must be
provided with the necessary incentives to innovate for rapid, large-scale
transition to coal-free power generation.

3. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Buildings. Building
efficiency dictates the energy and money we spend heating and cooling
our homes. In New England, the largest non-electric portion of home
energy use is attributable to home heating. Energy efficiency measures
and greener building practices will reduce the carbon footprint of our
homes and other buildings.

STEP FOUR: Shut Down at Least Two
Regional Coal-Fired Power Plants, or
Convert Them to Cleaner Fuels.

STEP 5: Enact Climate Legislation that
Mandates Reductions in Global Warming
Pollution and Requires Review of Climate
Impacts in State Permitting and Infrastructure
Decisions.

A two page Fact sheet: http://action.clf.org/site/DocServer/clf_factsheet2.pdf?docID=142

To sign the petition: http://www.newenglandclimatesolutions.org/