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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2008
    Contact: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384


           Sierra Club Welcomes Senate Floor Debate on Climate Bill


    Senators Should Strengthen & Pass Bill, Fend Off Any Weakening Changes


    Washington, D.C.—The Senate voted this evening by a margin of 74 to 14
    to proceed to a floor debate on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security
    Act. Floor debate on the bill and potential amendments is expected to
    begin as early as Tuesday evening, with votes to follow later in the
    week.


            Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director


    "Debating global warming in the Senate is a historic achievement, and
    the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner substitute amendment is a major step in the
    right direction. We commend the sponsors for putting this issue
    directly before the Senate and the American public. However, the
    legislation must be strengthened to effectively reduce U.S. emissions
    in the short-term, achieve emission reductions consistent with the
    latest science over the long-term, and use public resources for public
    benefit by investing in a clean and secure energy economy and reducing
    the overall cost of the program to society.


    "We also urge strongly urge Senators to reject efforts that would
    undercut our nation’s progress on global warming by voting against
    amendments that would block states from addressing global warming,
    create loopholes and safety valves that further undermine the
    pollution caps, and provide additional subsidies for fossil fuels or
    nuclear power.


    "Only bold, science-based action can stave off the most catastrophic
    effects of global warming. We strongly urge Senators to strengthen the
    Climate Security Act and to oppose efforts to weaken it, so we can
    pass global warming legislation truly equal to the task of addressing
    this global crisis."


    -----


    Examples of potential strengthening amendments include, but are not
    limited to:


    SCIENTIFIC REVIEW -- The amendment would require the Environmental
    Protection Agency (EPA) and the president to quickly propose new
    legislation to adjust the emissions reduction framework—including
    targets and timelines—based on National Academy of Sciences findings.
    It would also call for expedited congressional action to speed passage
    of these proposed adjustments.


    CONSUMER AND JOBS PROTECTION --The amendment would ensure that funds
    are available each year to fully cover the increased costs of goods
    and services for the bottom income quintile and phase out the
    assistance over the second income quintile. The amendment would also
    increase funding for green jobs.


    CLEAN ENERGY/POLLUTER PAYS --This amendment will end the practice of
    fossil fuel generators receiving free allowances after 10 years and
    move the savings to the states to be used for increased funding for
    renewable energy, energy efficiency, workers transition, and
    low-income consumer assistance.


    Examples of potential weakening amendments include, but are not
    limited to:


    SAFETY VALVE -- An amendment may be offered that freezes the price of
    carbon allowances at a specific price. That would bust the cap and
    allow significantly higher emissions than called for in the bill.


    UNLIMITED OFFSETS -- A Senator may offer an amendment that would allow
    polluters to buy unlimited offsets, meaning that they would not have
    to reduce their own pollution at all and would be able to buy their
    way out of meeting reduction requirements.


    NUCLEAR GIVE-AWAY -- Some Senators want to use a global warming bill
    to give billions to the nuclear industry to build new power plants.
    We have yet to solve the nuclear waste problem and with new estimates
    pegging the cost of new nuclear power plants at $12-14 billion each,
    nuclear power is a dirty, dangerous, and costly distraction that saps
    resources better spent on cleaner, cheaper, safer, and faster
    emissions reductions.


    PRE-EMPTION -- We may see an amendment that pre-empts state activities
    on global warming, including eviscerating the landmark California
    global warming emissions standards for autos that have been joined by
    more than a dozen states.





    For the full text of the letter sent to the Senate today by Sierra
    Club and Environment America, please visit:


    http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/downloads/2008-06-envam-letter.pdf





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