Good afternoon.
My name is Hugh McDiarmid Jr., Communications Director for
the Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of more than 70 Michigan environmental,
public health and faith-based organizations.
Today I speak on behalf of the co-sponsors of this Town Hall
meeting, a coalition of the state’s leading environmental groups including
mine, Clean Water Action, The Ecology Center, Environment Michigan, and the
Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
On behalf of this coalition, I would like to thank
Congressman Dingell and his staff for hosting this important forum.
It is now clear that manmade greenhouse gas emissions have
accelerated Global Warming exponentially. We can not escape some of the
disturbing effects that already have been set in motion.
But we can avoid the most devastating scenarios if we, as a
country, act now to lead the world toward a new, responsible model that
includes limits on carbon emissions, cleaner energy choices, smarter less
polluting transportation options and aggressive energy efficiencies.
We are fortunate to have Mr. Dingell playing a pivotal role
in an issue fraught with political minefields. As the father of many of the
nation’s bedrock environmental laws and dean of the U.S. House, Mr. Dingell is positioned
to substantially determine whether we succeed or fail. Making global warming a
key priority for the powerful energy and Commerce Committee which he chairs,
has been critical to moving this issue forward.
Given his leadership role, however, we are disappointed in
Congressman Dingell’s recent positions on some key components of this
transition so far – most notably on inadequate automobile fuel economy
standards and most recently on a key amendment on renewable energy standards.
On any other issue, voting to stall good legislation on
procedural grounds, or engaging in the crafty political calculus of constituent
groups might be justified.
But Congress has stalled far too long on urgent changes needed
to contain Global Warming impacts. Words, good intentions, and political games
no longer count. Immediate action is needed. Playing politics with our climate
is not acceptable, given the very real threats we face.
We are hopeful, however, that Mr. Dingell will work toward
achieving the critical goals he himself has set. As chairman of the House
Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Dingell has committed himself to passing
legislation that will cut global warming emissions by 60 to 80 percent by
mid-century. This amounts to about two percent per year, the rate which scientists
say is needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.
This attainable goal can only be achieved with commitment of
every sector of the American economy. But it is one that needn’t cripple the
economy or erode the nation’s quality of life. In fact, the innovations,
technology and vision necessary to achieve significant reductions in Global
Warming pollution are catalysts for a modern, new American economy flush with
clean energy jobs, energy-efficient industries and visionary transportation solutions.
But the devil, as they say, is in the details.
Here’s what we’d like to see:
- Carbon
Cap: We need a national program freezing greenhouse gas emissions before
they grow any more, and then cuts them by 2 percent every year. Time is of
the essence. Time is of the essence. Further delay will force businesses
to make far steeper and more costly reductions in the future. America
can best achieve rapid, cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
by implementing an economy-wide "cap and trade" system. The plan sets
an overall national limit on carbon emissions by major emitters while allowing
each to pick the most efficient way to reduce pollution. Emitters would
buy and sell emissions permits, rewarding companies that innovate, and offering
flexibility to everyone. It is no wonder that Ford and Chrysler recently joined
General Motors in calling for a strong, mandatory national carbon reduction
plan that includes cap-and-trade.
- State
Actions: Federal law should encourage, rather than prohibit state polices
that are at least as ambitious as state mandates. States are both fertile
laboratories for policy reform, and have varying capacities for alternative
energy development. In Michigan, we call on Gov. Jennifer Granholm
to step up the fight against Global Warming emissions. Michigan needs an energy plan and renewable
energy mandate to regain its competitive edge and attract new economy
entrepreneurs.
- Renewable
Energy Standard: The nation needs an aggressive requirement to ensure
a percentage of our energy comes
from clean, homegrown renewable sources like wind, solar and biomass. Congress just this weekend passed an energy standard, over
Mr. Dingell’s significant procedural objections, calling for 15 percent
renewable energy generation by the year 2020. That’s a good start. We support
20 percent by 2020. It’s hard to imagine reaching 60 to 80 percent reductions
without this goal. Michigan,
with its vast, untapped wind energy potential and $20 billion in imported,
dirty fuel expenditures annually, has much to gain from such a policy. Almost
two-dozen other states have their own standards. Those are the states
attracting clean-energy industries like wind turbine manufacturers and solar
panel installers. Let’s create Michigan
jobs in wind energy and other clean ventures, rather than sending that money to
coal-mining states and Middle Eastern oil barons. A Renewable standard must be
coupled with new federal building and appliance standards for energy
efficiency, which will create jobs, spark innovation and move the nation away
from energy dependence and polluting fossil fuels.
- Automobile
mileage standards: Without dramatically increased vehicle mileage we can
not hope to approach Mr. Dingell’s goal of a 60 to 80 percent carbon
reduction by mid-century. The future of Detroit’s auto industry – and the jobs
of the many union men and women in that industry – depends on innovation,
new technology, and an efficient new generation of vehicles capable of
competing in a new era of emissions caps. Analyses by our
colleagues at Environmental Defense, and others, indicate that we will need
increases in vehicle fuel efficiency of closer to 5% per year in the near-term,
along with similarly aggressive increases in the use of low-carbon fuels, in
order to meet our desired mid-century carbon reduction targets. Of course, we also need to ensure that our
domestic industry has the tools and financial resources it needs to meet these
tough targets. We also support
job-protections such as UAW’s “anti-backsliding” proposal, which guards against
the offshoring of small car production under new fuel economy rules.
In fact, a poll released days ago by the Pew Campaign for
Fuel Efficiency showed overwhelming support for strong fuel efficiency
standards, including 84 percent in your 15th District,
Congressman.
A word about nuclear
energy: As guardians of the Great Lakes,
we are understandably wary of a premature commitment to new nuclear energy
generation. The Great Lakes shorelines are increasingly littered with waste
deemed too dangerous to store in the Nevada
desert. Generating more, especially before the low-hanging fruit of energy
efficiency and renewable power are maximized, is reckless. It is also
expensive. Without the massive subsidies of public money being proposed,
nuclear does not compete financially with more responsible energy options. And,
given the tremendous energy costs of building and maintaining nuclear plants,
it is assuredly not deserving of the carbon-neutral happy face its proponents
suggest.
The world is looking to America to set the standard for
responsible, effective carbon reductions. We surely can not avert global
catastrophe without the help of nations like China and other major carbon
emitters. Nor can we expect them to reign in their own emissions unless we
demonstrate that we are willing and able to lead by example. Only when the United States
has in place sound and effective carbon control policies can we lobby, cajole
and pressure other nations for their cooperation through diplomacy and trade
agreements.
The threat is real. The time to act is now. We look to you,
Mr. Dingell, to lead the way.
Thank you for the opportunity to express our views.
