From Rose Garr and Emmet O'Hanlon of PIRG We have set up a town-hall style meetings on the energy bill with Senator Harkin's staff in both Des Moines and Davenport, and would like to open the meetings to you and members of your organization. The meetings are set for next Thursday, Feb. 19 at noon. If you, members of the organization you represent, or your friends and family would be interested in coming to a meeting with Senator Harkin's staff feel free to forward this email. To sign up now to participate in a town hall meeting with your senator, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: http://meetings.SaveOurEnvironment.org For more information, visit: http://newenergyfuture.com/newenergy.asp?id2=5750 Background America needs an energy policy that makes our electricity supply more reliable and prevents future Enron-type scandals, but the federal energy bill before Congress increases the risk of future blackouts and allows more energy market manipulation by energy companies. America needs an energy plan that promotes clean, efficient, renewable energy like wind and solar power, but the energy bill subsidizes the same old polluting oil, coal and nuclear industries, while leaving out entirely a renewable energy standard that would have guaranteed real increases in renewable energy production. We need to reduce our dependence on oil, but the energy bill fails to increase fuel economy standards at all. America needs an energy plan that protects the environment, but the energy bill would allow more drilling on pristine public lands and pave the way for damaging oil and gas exploration off our coasts. America needs an energy plan that cuts global warming pollution, but the energy bill completely ignores the threat of global warming and lets oil companies off the hook for groundwater contamination with the gas additive MTBE in every state - shifting billions of dollars in cleanup costs from polluters to local taxpayers. People who live in smoggy areas will breathe dirty air for longer, and the oil and gas industry will be allowed to pollute rivers, lakes and coastal areas when they drill or build refineries. To sign up now to participate, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: http://meetings.SaveOurEnvironment.org For more information, visit: http://newenergyfuture.com/newenergy.asp?id2=5750 Sincerely, Emmet O'Hanlon Iowa PIRG Energy Associate [log in to unmask] http://www.IowaPIRG.org P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends. Rose Garr Midwest Field Organizer Iowa PIRG and Illinois PIRG 180 W. Washington St., 5th floor Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 252-0050 [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]