2020 Vision Honored at Clinton Global Initiative
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| 2020 Vision National Director Tom Collina with President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative in September |
In September, 2020 Vision National Director Tom Collina went to New York City for the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) where 2020 Vision’s work on oil dependence and climate change was recognized "as an exemplary approach to addressing a specific global challenge." 2020 Vision’s work was chosen from among a larger pool of proposals to receive this honor.
CGI specifically endorsed 2020 Vision’s campaign to promote Plug-in Electric Vehicles as a key solution to oil dependence and global warming. We are working with corporations including GM, Toyota, A123 (a maker of revolutionary new batteries), and electric car makers Tesla Motors, among many others, and with other advocacy organizations to promote Plug-in Electric Vehicles and to educate congress on the need to create incentives so all consumers can buy these cars, not just those who can afford to pay a “green premium." After all, only by having millions of these cars on the road can we hope to make a significant contribution to the challenges we face.
National Summit on Energy Security a High Energy Affair
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| Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) opened the session with a keynote address |
2020 Vision's Third Annual National Summit on Energy Security was held on July 16, 2008 at the Top of the Hill Banquet and Meeting Facility in Washington, DC. The Top of the Hill, located across the street from the Capitol Building, hosted a diverse and interesting cross-section of industry, analysts, civil servants and activists learning more about the issues facing America and the challenge of cleaner, safer energy.
The session was opened by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI). “We are clearly in an era of extraordinary transition in which climate change, energy supply, and sustainability will reshape the world, influence our economy, our national security, and the way we live. Resolving these problems will be among the most complex and challenging issues that the next president will face,” said Reed, a West Point graduate and former Army Ranger. (Read the full text of Sen. Reed's speech here.)
Sen. Reed was followed by a presentation by Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn (USN-Ret.), who explained the impact of climate change on military planning. Admiral Gunn was joined by Klaus Scharioth, Germany's Ambassador to the US, which explained how climate change was being tackled in the European Union and the lessons that America could learn from our European allies.
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| Jim Woolsey answers a question about Sen. McCain's views on energy security while Kenneth Berlin, representing Sen. Obama, looks on. |
Following that, Newsweek's Eleanor Clift hosted a panel featuring representatives of the the Presidential Campaigns. Kenneth Berlin of Skadden Arp, an advisor to Sen. Obama, spoke for the Democratic nominee, while R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence and a long time advocate on energy security, representated Sen. McCain. The good news of this election, both men agreed, is that whoever wins the general election will be more dedicated to the cause of stopping climate change than the current Administration.
The day continued with discussions about the state of the electric grid and whether or not we're prepared for the next generation of energy issues with John Moore of Acorn Energy, a holding company that invests in and acquires energy companies that are focused on environmental solutions to America's energy needs, and former FERC Commissioner Nora Brownell. This was followed by representatives from Toyota, GM, Tesla Motors and Project Better Place discussing the road to cleaner cars.
Perhaps the most heat of the day concerned the divisive issue of biofuels in the US. While ethanol has long been touted as both cleaner than gasoline and a renewable resource, some recent studies have questioned the efficacy of biofuels and their environmental benefits. The debate was heated between the two camps, and was captured by E&E-TV, a daily internet show focusing on energy and the environment. Watch the panel here.
The whole day was interesting and brought together a group dedicated to finding solutions to America's energy needs that both enhance our security and protect the environment. The room was packed, and we're committed to having another Energy Summit next year. We thank all of the sponsors and participants, and look forward to seeing you at the event next year.
The Unusual Suspects
On April 25, 2020 Vision hosted a unique event in Tacoma, Washington. The event, "Flying in a Carbon-Constrained World: Aviation's Role in Oil Dependence and Climate Change," brought together academics from the University of Puget Sound's Department of Politics and Government, scientists from the National Energy Technology Lab, members of the US Air Force, engineers and business leaders from aviation, including Boeing and political leaders from the environmental community to discuss how both private and government aviation can look forward to working in a world where scarce and increasingly expensive fossil fuels need to be replaced with fuels that emit fewer greenhouse emissions.
Military and civil aviation play a key role in America's addiction to oil and our contribution to global warming. Recently, both sectors have taken major steps to address these challenges. Over the next decade, the Air Force is planning to replace much of its oil with fuel derived from domestic coal. On the civil side, Boeing is working with Virgin Altantic and Continental to develop bio-based renewable fuels, and test flights have already begun.
In addition to this unique lineup, we were honored to have as our lunch keynote speaker Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash). Rep. Inslee has been a leader on environmental issues since he first arrived in Congress in 1993. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has been a strong advocate for lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In March 2007, he was appointed to the 15-member Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. 2020 Vision was honored to hear him speak at our first National Summit on Energy Security in July, 2006. His district's unique placement and stunning natural beauty, combined with the proximity to Boeing's Washington roots, make him a visionary leader on the environmental impacts of aviation.
The rest of the world is beginning to understand how crucial this issue
is to a discussion of greenhouse gas emissions. We can't ignore the
issue or wish it away.
That's why 2020 Vision Executive Director Tom Collina and University of Puget Sound professor, and chair of the Department of Political Science, Patrick O'Neil wrote an editorial on the topic that was published in the (Tacoma) News-Tribune. Read the editorial here.
Victory in Kansas!
Coal-Fired Plant is the First Plant Ever Rejected for Carbon Dioxide Emissions
2020 Vision is celebrating a key victory over coal fired electric generation. For the first time, a State regulatory body used its authority under the Clean Air Act to reject an application for expanding a power plant because of the global warming effect of carbon dioxide (CO2)
2020 Vision worked for over a year against an expanded electric plant in Kansas. The plant would have emitted 10 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, and would be the largest coal-fired plant west of the Mississippi. Coal fired plants have been linked to elevated mercury, a heavy metal toxin that gets into the food chain through fish, and which has been shown to increase the chances of developmental problems in infants and fetuses.
With that in mind, 2020 Vision's 2006-2007 Regional Director Raymond "Studie" Red Corn, a student at the University of Kansas, started to organize against the plant. Working on campus, he arranged a stunning turnout for a hearing on the plant last year. The surprising crush of people lined up to ask the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to deny the permits for the plant. Their sheer number forced KDHE to schedule a second day of hearings, and Studie used this as the basis for more organizing.
This year, the battle was joined by 2007-2008 Regional Director Margaret Tran. Working with 2020 Vision's DC staff, Margaret helped pull together a coalition that included environmentalists, farmers and religious leaders to oppose the plants.
This decision clears the way to take the battle to more states. Last year the Supreme Court ruled that CO2 is a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Now we need to take this battle to the rest of the country! We need to fund cleaner, preferably renewable, ways to provide electricity. Coal plants are not the future of power!
Many 2020 Vision activists signed the petition we sent to KDHE. Thank you for your efforts, and we'll keep working. Together, we can prevent global warming!
NEW: Please click here watch the television commercial from "Know Your Power" featuring 2020 Vision Regional Director, Margaret Tran.