Archive for the ‘federal policy’ Category

East Coast Greenway Route Awarded Largest Bike/Ped Federal Stimulus Grant

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

TIGER grant to create unified regional trail system in Pennsylvania & New Jersey

bicyclePennsylvania/New Jersey, February 18, 2010 – The East Coast Greenway (ECG) is about to get safer and more accessible throughout the Philadelphia region thanks to significant support from the US Department of Transportation (DOT). On Wednesday, $23 million was awarded to complete numerous sections of the ECG through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants (more…)

Pedaling Climate Action

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Pablo&GabiI got a call a few weeks ago from my good friend and former college roommate, Pablo Torres from Durham, NC. He said he and his girlfriend, Gabrielle Trapenberg, were planning to ride their bicycles from New York City to DC (a 300-mile journey) as part of the 2009 Climate Ride! Covering the distance over just five days, they will ride with hundreds of others to raise public awareness and put pressure on federal lawmakers to act to address climate change.

The Climate Ride initiative started (more…)

House Passes Climate Bill, Now for the Senate

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

US CapitolLast night, the US House of Representatives passed climate legislation to get greenhouse gas emissions falling to 83% below 2005 levels in 2050. This step is huge, and needs to be followed by a similar bill passing the Senate in the weeks ahead to get the President’s signature and become law. Here are some details from the Solar Energy Industries Association: (more…)

Climate Bill up for House Passage Today

Friday, June 26th, 2009

climatechangeThe world is watching as US federal leaders vote on climate legislation that would put US emissions on a downward trajectory in the decades ahead. While some organizations such as Greenpeace do not support the Waxman-Markey bill due to its large offsets provisions and its free allocation of many emission permits, most environmental organizations are supporting it and hoping to improve it in the years ahead. You can be a part of history! Here is an action alert from (more…)

House committee passes climate bill as electricity emissions plunge

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

climatechange1Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed Waxman-Markey’s American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act by a 33-25 vote. This passage does not guarantee ultimate passage in the full House or Senate, but gets some positive political momentum behind necessary federal (more…)

Oil price passes $60 on weaker dollar: Gas may hit $2.50

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

oilpump500-11The price of oil is retracing its 2004-05 climb rather quickly of late. While some of the rise in oil prices relates to supply concerns from Nigeria and a perceived stabilization in the economy, it is also linked to (more…)

May report: US emissions expected to fall further

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

us-mapThe US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook today. And their projection for 2009 US carbon dioxide emissions from energy fell even further than last month’s. The drop was led by (more…)

Wind conference gets record attendance, calls for federal Renewable Electricity Standard

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

wind-farmThe American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is in Chicago this week, hosting its largest conference ever. Over 20,000 people are filling the McCormick Place Convention Center, representing a 60% growth from last year’s attendance. And they are sending a clear message too: we need to ensure continued US wind power leadership by passing a  (more…)

Thanking Our Electeds for the Green Stimulus

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

dc-white-houseWhen elected officials do the wrong, they need to hear from their constituents. And the same is true when they do something right. That’s why our allies at 1Sky.org are making it easy for everyone to thank the President and the 306 members of Congress who supported (more…)

Obama Climate Campaign Promises turn into Transition Pledges

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Federal climate policy progress will take a series of favorable events to come to fruition, especially regarding the President.

Step 1: The issue must be high enough in the positive public consciousness to win the attention and campaign promises of Presidential candidates. Check: Obama said he would set in motion a cap and trade bill to get US emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and then 80% lower by 2050 and he emphasized (more…)