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Resources to Win We have an uphill struggle ahead of us. It is absolutely critical to America and Earth’s long-term prosperity – in fact, our long-term viability, that the US take a huge step towards a strong global response to climate change.
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Declare Your Community’s Energy Independence This July 4th Holiday! July 1st, 2009 marks the opening of a remarkable opportunity; a chance to transition your community from coal dependency to clean energy independence. On this day, the Focus Roots Fellowship program will begin to accept applications, and for two individuals this will mark the turning point in their innovation and activism. In order to accelerate the transition away from energy sources like coal, and toward a just and prosperous clean energy future, every town needs stronger roots and deeper community engagement. And the deeper these clean energy roots reach throughout your community, the faster we can move toward utilizing renewable energy systems and redefining prosperity. Young people across the country have the ability to create and deepen these roots. Focus the Nation is proud and excited to provide the operational and financial support for them to succeed. |
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Waxman-Markey (ACES) Passes the House: a Job, Well, Done. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 passed the House of Representatives Friday afternoon, with only one vote to spare. We owe Chairmen Waxman and Markey their fair due for getting this done – molding a bill that reduces US emissions 83% below 2005 levels by 2050 and that 217 other members of the house will actually vote for is impressive. Its passage is groundbreaking. But the bill itself isn’t. As soon as we’re done congratulating Mr. Waxman, Mr. Markey and the other 217 representatives on the “yes” side, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to light a fire under them, the rest of the House, the Senate and President Obama. ACES isn’t good enough. It isn’t smart enough. And gosh darn it, people who fully understand the science and economics of climate and energy don’t like it. But that’s the sorry state of the US Congress today – even with a handsome Democratic majority, legislators are still more concerned with dirty industry’s short-term profits than they are with the long-term feasibility of our modern economy. This bill compromises our economy and our environment for political necessity. To the credit of Chairmen Waxman and Markey, the slim margin of passage tells me they compromised almost exactly as much as was needed to get this done, and not a bit more. The environmental community was anything but united behind this bill. While dirty industry allies like NRDC and Environmental Defense Fund celebrated the bill as the end-all, be-all policy, organizations like 1Sky, Energy Action Coalition and Focus the Nation urged passage of the bill with steep caveats – calling it out for its weaknesses and demanding improvement. To the left organizations like Greenpeace and Congressmen like Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) opposed the bill, protesting its weakness and potential for financial corruption. In order for the passage of this bill to go down in history as a step forward, it must be followed by bigger steps, bolder steps, truly transformational decisions at every level of government and in every sector of society. This won’t be easy. Conventional wisdom says the Senate is a much more conservative body than the House, with the interests of dirty energy and dirty industry even more deeply entrenched. Read More... |
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Twitter / Cover it Live on ACES Here's what people are tweeting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act. FYI here's Focus's Statement on ACES and our Online Call Your Congressman Tool. We've also been using this list, published by Environment and Energy Daily, to track yes's and no's. Grist also has an excellent vote tally. Well its passed! Thanks for following this historic debate on Focus the Nation. Click read more to see the Cover it Live replay. Read More... |
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Statement on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 would be an enormous step forward towards a more just and prosperous clean energy future, but for America to fully address the challenges and opportunities we face, its passage must be the first step of many.
That fact that ACES has made it this far is a sign of the growing influence and success of America’s movement for a more just and prosperous clean energy future. Still, ACES is far from perfect. The current strength of the bill reflects the disturbing political realities in Congress – and is further inspiration to increase the impact of our work and vision for a clean energy future in every corner of America. |
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Call Congress Now! The House of Representatives will vote this Friday on landmark legislation to reduce global warming pollution and invest in clean energy and green jobs. Passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 would be an enormous step forward towards a more just and prosperous clean energy future, but for America to fully address the challenges and opportunities we face, its passage must be the first step of many. First things first, we're asking you to call your Representatives today and tell them to strengthen and pass the AmericanClean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (HR 2454, "ACES"). ACES does have a renewable electricity standard (RES), but it is presently too low to drive needed investments in clean energy development and deployment. Call your Representative now and ask them to increase the RES to 30%. Recently the Supreme Court ruled that EPA can regulate CO2 emissions, and EPA has found that CO2 emissions are in fact a threat to public health, ACES in its present form would take away EPA's authority to regulate point-sources of global warming pollution, including power plants. Call your Representative now and ask them to restore EPA's authority. Read More... |
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Would Obama Do It? After listening to Congressman Peter DeFazio(D-OR) speak today on all the reasons the Waxman-Markey cap and trade plan (ACES) is deeply flawed and that advocates for greenhouse gas reductions should be working to kill it, not pass it, I find myself almost convinced. |
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350.org Launches October 24th Day of Action We wanted to share this sweet video produced by our friends over at 350.org. Stay tuned on how Focus the Nation plans to work with 350 on their October 24th Day of Action. (Teaser photo from Powershift 09's Rally on the Capital) Read More... |
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From Coal to Copenhagen: An Opportunity for Leadership This April, the roots of leadership were laid in the Climate movement. From Powershift to the FTN Town Hall Campaign, young people across the country moved into positions of leadership, and engaged their community and policy makers on our vital clean energy future. A sea change in the quality and quantity of leadership occurred, and on the eve of the first ever US climate legislation it continues to breed success and momentum. |
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Do Not Adjust Your Browser We've made some minor style adjustments to the web site. If you experience any loss of functionality, please email the web master. If you are using Internet Explorer 6.0 PLEASE UPGRADE OR DOWNLOAD FIREFOX OR CHROME. Sorry to shout, but you'll thank us later. Hope you like the new feel. Click read more to see before / after shots. -Scott Click Here If Things Aren't Workin Read More... |

























