Signatures needed for letter to Stupak in support of Renewable Energy Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michigan Tech University graduate Joe Dammel, who now works for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), is requesting from northern Michigan residents, constituents of U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak, signatures in support of the UCS effort to pass a Renewable Energy Standard (RES).

"Congressman Stupak sits on the powerful Energy and Commerce committee, and we need his support to get strong RES legislation enacted this year," Dammel writes.

More information about this effort and the UCS new analysis on the jobs, consumer savings and carbon dioxide benefits of a national standard can be found on the Union of Concerned Scientists' Web site. Keweenaw Now has agreed to publish here Joe Dammel's letter to Stupak.

Please read the letter. If you wish to sign it in support of a Renewable Energy Standard, please sign it by emailing your name, occupation/organization and town or city of residence to Joe Dammel at JDammel@ucsusa.org by Friday, Apr. 3, 2009.

The Honorable Bart Stupak, Member
House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee

Dear Congressmen Stupak:

As a diverse group of university faculty, graduate students, foresters, loggers, and community members, we are writing to urge you to co-sponsor the renewable electricity standard (RES) bill (H.R. 890) introduced by Representatives Edward Markey (D-MA) and Todd Platts (R-PA) in February. The bill would require that 25 percent of our nation’s electricity would come from clean and truly renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass by the year 2025.

The RES is one of the most viable ways to develop viable, long-term markets for Michigan’s renewable energy resources, including biomass, which would create jobs and income in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

As you know, Michigan is currently bearing the brunt of this recession, with unemployment rates in many counties across our great state approaching 20 percent. The additional investment in renewable electric generation would create thousands of well-paying jobs that will put Michiganders back to work. Furthermore, because of the substantial biomass resources on private and public lands, including the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests, rural Michigan will experience a substantial economic boost through their sustainable utilization.

Increasing the market share for renewable energy resources would also have substantial environmental benefits. An RES is one of the most important and readily available approaches to reducing greenhouse gases from the electricity generation sector, a major contributor to man-made global warming. In addition, an RES also would help reduce conventional pollutants including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions.

By substantially increasing renewable electricity generation, the RES would enhance national energy security by diversifying our sources of electric generation. At a time when the United States is increasing energy imports, an RES would make America more energy self-reliant. The reduction in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity would also limit fuel price volatility, which is important to both industry and consumers. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy’s own Energy Information Administration has found in several studies that an RES would actually cause natural gas prices to decline.

We believe the time has come for Congress to move quickly to enact national RES legislation. The costs of inaction for our economy, environment and national security are too high. Although 28 states and the District of Columbia have adopted individual RES programs, the country will not realize the full potential for renewable electricity without the adoption of a Federal program to enhance the states’ efforts. With passage of a robust RES bill, we will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, save families money on their utility bills, and create jobs to help lift Michigan’s economy out of recession.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Name, Occupation / Organization, City of residence

To include your name on this letter to Congressman Stupak, simply email your Name, Occupation / Organization and City of residence to JDammel@ucsusa.org by Friday, Apr. 3, 2009.

Editor's Note: Joe Dammel, who graduated recently from MTU with a degree in environmental engineering, was an active member and former president of MTU's Engineers Without Borders and a writer for the MTU Lode.