GOVERNOR CARCIERI OF RHODE ISLAND URGES RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTRACT MANDATE

GOVERNOR URGES RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTRACT MANDATE

BRAVO !!! THIS is what I'M talking about !!! (Feel free to send a copy of this to your Governor.) Governor Donald L. Carcieri today sent a letter to the members of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) urging the Commission to mandate that National Grid enter into long-term energy contracts with renewable energy generators. The PUC has such authority under Title 39, which gives the Commission broad powers to guarantee that ratepayers' costs are minimized. In the letter, the Governor Carcieri said that: large-scale renewable energy can provide stable, cost-effective electric prices far into the future to facilitate the construction of such projects, it is necessary that National Grid be compelled to enter into long-term contracts in order to provide lower cost financing for these projects he vetoed the renewable energy bill passed by the House and Senate because it did not guarantee renewable energy projects be located in RI, it did not assure cost-effectiveness, and it allowed National Grid to reap great monetary benefits without taking any risk." Governor Carcieri Urges Public Utilities Commission to Mandate Renewable Energy Contracts for National Grid 08-14-2008 Governor Donald L. Carcieri today sent a letter to the members of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) urging the Commission to mandate that National Grid enter into long-term energy contracts with renewable energy generators for the Company’s standard offer supply. The PUC has such authority under Title 39, which gives the Commission broad powers to guarantee that ratepayers’ costs are minimized. In the letter, Governor Carcieri wrote, "I believe that besides being an environmentally responsible action, large-scale renewable energy can provide stable, cost-effective electric prices far into the future. However, to facilitate the construction of such projects, it is necessary that National Grid be compelled to enter into long-term contracts in order to provide lower cost financing for these projects, such as the wind farm I have proposed." National Grid, a regulated utility, is afforded justifiable compensation for its costs by virtue of that status. A cost-effectiveness test needs to be applied to assure that energy produced by these projects is competitively priced. The Governor reinforced his reasons for vetoing the renewable energy bill passed by the House and Senate. "I was forced to veto the bill passed by the House and Senate because it was fatally flawed. Renewable energy projects guaranteed by our ratepayers should be located in Rhode Island and also be cost-effective, and should not allow National Grid to reap great monetary benefits without taking any risk." “Considering the out-of-control nature of the energy markets, the stabilizing effects of cost-effective renewable energy, produced in Rhode Island, should be part of National Grid’s portfolio based on prudence,” added the Governor.

Just Say "NO" to Off-Shore Drilling: It Won't Help a Bit; Here's Why:

(This just in from Greenpeace, including a link to their petition. Register your opinion!) Gas prices have been jumping over and under the $4 mark all summer, your grocery bills are soaring, and campaign ads are blasting you about the benefits of offshore drilling. So what's an average Joe or Jane supposed to believe? Will offshore drilling really make things better for you? What you're hearing on the news is pretty one-sided, and most reporters are talking about this issue like it makes perfect sense. Well, it doesn't. What can I say, sometimes dumb ideas get a lot of attention. That's exactly what's happening right now as President Bush has lifted the executive moratorium on offshore drilling, and Congress is being pushed to do the same. Let me take just a second to review the top 10 reasons offshore drilling is such a dumb idea: 10. Offshore oil drilling won't impact gas prices today, and it won't have a significant impact on gas prices in the future. 9. This is nothing more than a money grab by the oil companies - who are already making record-breaking profits. 8. We burn 25% of the world's oil here in the U.S., but we have only 3% of the world's oil reserves. So even if all offshore oil magically came to market today, the vast majority of our oil would continue to be imported, and we wouldn't see price relief at the pump. 7. The current moratorium was put in place decades ago to protect us from the danger of oil spills along our coastlines and beaches. 6. Burning fossil fuels like oil causes global warming, which causes stronger hurricanes, which will threaten the very offshore drilling rigs being proposed, which will contribute to even more global warming. 5. To avoid the worst impacts of global warming, we need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy within the next 10 years. The billions of dollars that would be spent on offshore oil drilling just postpones the inevitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 4. Oil exploration requires massive seismic testing - which threatens whales and dolphins. 3. Oil prices are set on the global oil market, so American oil is no cheaper than Saudi oil. We won't get a discount for oil drilled in the U.S. 2. We can't solve the world's energy problems with the same drilling that created them. 1. Renewable energy is available now, so it's time to walk away from fossil fuels and toward a clean energy future. Take Action >> make sure Congress hears from YOU about offshore oil drilling. Let's face it, there's really no good reason to drill offshore. More drilling is good for Big Oil, not for you and your family. We can't drill our way out of this mess - oil drilling is already at an all-time high and prices are still skyrocketing. As a matter of fact, even if we could tap into all of the energy stored in the Earth's reserves - coal, oil, and natural gas - it would equal the energy in just 20 days of sunshine. Tell Congress to look on the bright side to solve our energy crisis. It's time to invest in renewable energy and leave oil to the dinosaurs. It's time for an energy revolution. Power to the people, Melanie Duchin Global Warming Campaigner

Ways to Help Take Action Now Get the Facts Learn the truth about offshore drilling. Want to do even more? Get out there and blog, tell your friends, or write a letter to the editor. This is a war of words, and losing means increased global warming, oil spills, and beached whales and dolphins. We need YOUR help to beat back Big Oil's PR machine.

702 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20001
(800) 326-0959

The U.S. burns close to one-quarter of the world's oil.

Bush Administration Trying to Redefine Birth Control as "Abortion."

(His Relevancy appears to be working on His Legacy. Found this, from MoveOn.org, in today's e-mail. Talk about Draconian.)

Can you imagine living in a place where birth control is considered an "abortion" and health insurers won't cover it? Where even rape victims are denied emergency contraception?

It seems unbelievable, but the Bush Administration is quietly trying to redefine "abortion" to include birth control. The Houston Chronicle says this could wipe out dozens of state laws that protect women's reproductive freedom and protect rape victims.¹ Access to basic health care for millions of women would be jeopardized. And it's being pushed as a "rule change"—meaning, it doesn't need congressional approval.

Can you sign an emergency message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, whose department is considering this rule change right now? Tell him: "Contraception is NOT abortion. The Bush Administration's proposal to change the definition of abortion and reduce women's access to birth control must be stopped."

Clicking here will add your name to this message:
http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/o.pl?id=13468-2881118-cK1VL6x&t=4

The best way to beat back this proposal is to show Secretary Leavitt massive public outrage—that's why today we're launching this petition jointly with Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Together, we'll deliver every signature to Leavitt. You can help add to our momentum by forwarding this message to friends.

Here's what some others are saying about this proposal:

The draft regulation would define birth control as abortion...it could deny access to critical family planning for women across the country.—Letter signed by Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators.²

The draft rule could void laws in 27 states that require insurance companies to provide birth control coverage for women requesting it [and] laws in 14 states requiring that rape victims receive counseling and access to emergency, day-after contraceptives.—Houston Chronicle editorial³

The administration needs to stop playing word games with women's health and state clearly they will reject any regulations that will undermine women's access to basic health care.—Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.⁴

[It's] a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right... —RH Reality Check, Information and Analysis for Reproductive Health⁵

The birth control pill, the IUD, and emergency contraception might all become unavailable—illegal—as a result.—Brigid Riley, executive director of a Minnesota teen pregnancy prevention organization⁶

Can you help send a loud message to Secretary Leavitt that birth control is NOT abortion? Clicking here will sign your name:
http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/o.pl?id=13468-2881118-cK1VL6x&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Laura, Patrick S., Adam G., and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle, August 10, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html

2. Letter to Secretary Mike Leavitt from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and 26 other senators, July 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4042&id=13468-2881118-cK1VL6x&t=6

3. "Redefining abortion; Federal officials considering a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide contraceptives," Houston Chronicle editorial, August 10, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html

4. "Birth control: is administration backing down—or not?" Los Angeles Times blog, August 8, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4043&id=13468-2881118-cK1VL6x&t=7

5. "HHS Moves to Define Contraception as Abortion," RH Reality Check, July 15, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4041&id=13468-2881118-cK1VL6x&t=8

6. "White House Considering Contraception Restrictions," Public News Service, August 11, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=4040&id=13468-2881118-cK1VL6x&t=9

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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to Katherine Bradley on August 13, 2008. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

MsLaurel's Energy Plan:

Here is what I would like to see:

1. A government-sponsored program to provide every locality with a non-profit, 100% renewable (solar, wind, hydro, bio) electricity company, modeled after New England GreenStart.

2. A government rebate program to assist individuals with the cost of trading-in their gas-burning vehicles for electric vehicles that are charged via solar panels.

3. A compact solar panel that the average person could install in the top half of a window (like a sun-catcher), that would charge a battery that would power something in the room ---such as an air-conditioner or a refrigerator.

4. SALICORNIA is a prolific crop that grows in depleted, arid soil, using a small amount of seawater. SALICORNIA can be both eaten and refined into oil. SALICORNIA, therefore, is a sustainable antidote to world hunger as well as a sustainable bridge during the transition from fossil-fuel combustion to clean energy.

5. Those who prefer to save 12 cents per gallon on their $4 gas today, may inflate their tires and tune their engines. Otherwise, they are welcome to wait until 2030, when all the drilling finally produces something, and get 12 cents off their $19.99 gallon of gas at that time (not counting inflation), if they still own a gas-burning vehicle, that is.