Well, maybe America can, although the full flowering of the rail renaissance is unlikely to get under way while Obama is still in the White House. With an initial infusion of $8bn, set aside under the spring’s economic stimulus plan, the Obama administration is embarking on the most ambitious expansion of passenger rail in 50 years, with the construction or upgrade of up to 10 routes from California through the midwest to Florida.

Apart from California, none of the other routes envisaged would meet international standards for high-speed trains. But rail advocates say Obama has still taken an important first step towards the transformation of US rail.

Read the rest of the article here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Through Greater Energy Efficiency
 

Environmental Law and Policy Center Joins Partnership in National Coalition Advocating for Federal Energy Efficiency Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Iowa residents and businesses could save over $690 million on their utility bills if utility companies cut demand for electricity by 15 percent and natural gas by 10 percent by 2020, according to a new report released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The new national and state-by-state analysis of energy efficiency benefits was made public as more than 60 business leaders, industry groups and environmental advocates, including The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) launched the Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America, a coalition calling on Congress to enact a national target for energy efficiency (www.energyefficiencyworks.org).

“Making homes and businesses more energy-efficient will create jobs, save Iowa residents money on their utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the bottom line for Iowa businesses,” said ELPC Policy Advocate Andrew Snow. “That’s why we’re proud to join business and environmental groups in urging Congress to enact a federal energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) that will help us achieve these crucial goals.”

The ACEEE report found that in addition to generating utility bill savings, passage of a federal EERS could create 1,000 jobs in construction, manufacturing, and other fields in Iowa and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change by 2.9 million metric tons. The measure would also eliminate the need to build more power plants in Iowa and prevent environmental risks associated with traditional power generation.

A national EERS would set a target for gas and electric utilities to meet, but allow states flexibility on how to achieve the targets through rebates and financial incentives for energy efficiency home improvements, use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, combined heating/cooling systems and other measures.  Nineteen states have established a state EERS.

The Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America supports a national EERS that would require utilities to reduce electricity usage by 15 and natural gas usage by 10 percent by 2020. This proposal for a federal EERS is included in House and Senate versions of the Save American Energy Act (H.R. 889 and S. 548), introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA-7) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), respectively. 

ACEEE’s economic analysis reveals that by 2020, the proposed federal EERS could save American consumers $168.6 billion, create 222,000 jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 262 million metric tons – the equivalent of removing 48 million cars from the road – and eliminate the need to build 390 power plants. Laying the Foundation for Implementing a Federal Energy Efficiency Resource Standard is available at www.aceee.org/pubs/e091.htm.

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The Environmental Law and Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization. www.elpc.org

Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America is a coalition of more than 60 leading businesses, industry groups and environmental organizations advocating for a national energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) to help the nation maximize energy efficiency – the fastest, cheapest, cleanest way to meet our growing energy needs while creating jobs, saving consumers money, boosting American competitiveness and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, visit our Web site at www.EnergyEfficiencyWorks.org.

The highlight of the week was, of course, our office opening on Wednesday night. The office was packed with a variety of people including ELPC staff, elected officials and their representatives, members of other environmental organizations, students, and people who just wanted to know more about what we’re doing. News and ideas were exchanged over food and drink and then we all had the honor to hear from Mayor Frank Cownie, Governor Culver’s chief legal counsel and deputy chief of staff for policy and legal Jim Larew, and ELPC executive director Howard Learner.

Just being in the same room with these individuals and able to hear their ideas in such an intimate setting was an experience in itself. Mayor Cownie began with an emphasis on Iowa’s opportunity to lead the rest of the country in energy efficiency. Branching off from this, Jim Larew entertained listeners with a story about his first experience with promoting rail service and went on to discuss the importance of the ELPC’s new push for passenger rail. Howard Learner finished off with an overview of what ELPC is hoping to accomplish in Iowa, including pushing for clean energy legislation and securing funding for the proposed rail service between Chicago and Iowa City.

The night really served as a medium for the fostering of current ideas and the creation of new ones. As a young person, it was inspiring to be surrounded by so many motivated and optimistic people with whom I would usually not have the opportunity to engage in discussion. That is really what the Iowa Global Warming Campaign is about: creating public discussion and moving policy solutions forward. In fact, we were the first to work on building broad public support for passenger rail service across Iowa.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll have our first meeting of individuals from our activist evening who want to work on getting the project underway. The group is made up entirely of average citizens who are interested in making change where they live. Many of these are Drake students and we’re working on getting in touch with students from all over Iowa to help us in motivating their schools to sign on to rail. Still, despite its importance, rail is not our only focus. We’re still working on getting renewable energy standards as well as other energy efficiency legislation passed.

I couldn’t have asked for more in my first week at Iowa Global Warming. Stay posted next week for more updates on what we’re working on and what is going on in Iowa and across the country.

-Laura

The consensus? That there is a strong desire to ‘plug in’ and be involved in real, concrete efforts to better our lives and world. That we have the ability to make change in our communities. And that ideas are great, but action on those ideas is crucial. As far as I can tell from the signup sheets, almost every attendee committed to being involved in one of the ‘teams’ – energy, rail/transportation, campus organizing or producing public comment on the coal proposal. In a decade of political and issue organizing, I’ve never seen this high a level of engagement. Which should lead to a lot of action… which, as I think about it, makes me excited. And even more exhausted. I need a good night’s sleep. And then I need to get back to everyone in attendance; we’ve got a lot to do together!

Thanks to all the participants and the groups involved in making tonight happen. ELPC, Sierra Student Coalition, Iowa Interfaith and the Sierra Club’s Iowa Chapter all deserve credit for partnering to create tonight’s success. Special thanks also to Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL) for bringing students in – you’re a great group and we’re really excited to work with you.

If you couldn’t make it, we want to get you involved; and I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at asnow@elpc.org.

Andrew

Recovery Act Invests $9.3 Billion to Expand High-Speed Rail in America

The final version of the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act now before Congress includes an unprecedented $8 billion investment in high-speed rail. In addition, Amtrak will receive $1.3 billion to rebuild trains and improve its capacity.

“We commend President Obama and Congress for helping to get America moving again with modern trains,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Investing in high-speed rail projects will put people to work quickly, create new economic opportunities, increase mobility and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.”

The $8 billion made available through the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be awarded competitively to states to improve passenger rail service, primarily on those corridors where 110 mph service is proposed. Funds can also be used on conventional rail projects that relieve congestion. The Midwest is very well positioned, with federally designated high-speed rail corridors radiating out in a hub-and-spoke network from Chicago to St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Madison and the Twin Cities.

“The Environmental Law & Policy Center has long called for the development of a Midwest high-speed rail network. Governors and state Departments of Transportation have embraced high-speed rail as modern, fast, comfortable and convenient. We have done the homework and prep work. These projects are now ready to build,” said Learner. “We look forward to working with the states to meet Congress’s challenge to rebuild America with cleaner transportation.”

“Congress has moved on the right track toward economic recovery,” said Learner. “Investing in modern, high-speed rail is an important down payment on America’s transportation future.”

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NOTE: Due to very high web traffic, the bill itself is difficult to download from Congress’s
website. ELPC has made the documents available on its website at: http://elpc.org/american-recovery-and-reinvestment-information

The Environmental Law and Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization.

www.elpc.org

As climate change concerns creep into new laws, a recent study shows farm policy already is aiding the cause and has potential to further curb gases that cause global warming.

“Mitigating Global Warming through the Farm Bill,” a study released by the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), is the first to examine the potential greenhouse-gas savings as a result of the farm bill’s energy title programs.

“This study shows how robust clean-energy programs in the farm bill can counteract global warming while helping farm families and rural communities,” says Charles Kubert, the study’s co-author and ELPC’s senior environmental business specialist.

In a conference call, researchers cited energy crops, wind power, solar power and other clean-power sources as reasons the energy title and on-farm efforts already are making a difference in reduced emissions and has the potential to reduce emissions more if fully supported in the farm bill.

For example, among other figures, the study found:

Read the full story here