Senate Ag Committe has role to play in climate debate

In her article in Monday's New York Times, Allison Winter explores the role of the U.S. Senate's Agriculture Committee in shaping the climate debate - particularly its version of the legislation passed in June by the House of Represenatatives.

Winter reports:

Harkin and other senators on the Agriculture Committee have said they want to ensure any effort at wide-ranging climate legislation in the Senate will include all of the provisions that House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) brokered for the House cap-and-trade bill.

Ag Committee Schedule: The hearing is Wednesday, July 22, at 1 p.m. in 325 Russell.

Witnesses: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack; EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson; John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology; Roger Johnson, president of National Farmers Union; Bob Stallman, president of American Farm Bureau Federation; and Jo Pierce, a family tree farmer from Maine, representing the Forest Climate Working Group.

Committee Members:

Tom Harkin, (D-IA) Chairman	Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Ranking Member
Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont	Richard G. Lugar, Indiana
Kent Conrad, North Dakota	Thad Cochran, Mississippi
Max Baucus, Montana	Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas	Pat Roberts, Kansas
Debbie Stabenow, Michigan	Mike Johanns, Nebraska*
E. Benjamin Nelson, Nebraska	Charles Grassley, Iowa
Sherrod Brown, Ohio	John Thune, South Dakota
Robert Casey, Jr., Pennsylvania	Republican Leader Designee TBD
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
Michael Bennet, Colorado*
Kirsten Gillibrand, New York*

Crossing 100 on Facebook

The Repower American Pennsylvania page on Facebook just passed 100 fans. Our Facebook page is a great place to learn of upcoming events, post links, comment on stories, and connect with other allies of climate protection.

Canvassers of the day in Pittsburgh!

Canvass
Originally uploaded by Repower PA

Canvassers Jake and Amber hit the most doors with the greatest number of conversations during one of the Pittsburgh canvasses and scored this eco-logical water bottle as a thank you for their good efforts. Well done!

We're taking the message to the streets of rebuilding the U.S. economy one clean energy job at a time.

City of Champions Canvass!

Canvass
Originally uploaded by Repower PA

As part of the first mobilization weekend of the Repower America campaign, Randi and Kyle head out to knock on doors as volunteers in Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania team hit 997 doors in it first effort. Well done Pennsylvania!

Mobilization Weekend in Pennsylvania (July 18 & 19)

Volunteers will be out knocking on doors in Pennsylvania this weekend, talking to average Pennsylvanians about the benefits of a energy economy built around clean, renewable energy and green jobs.

We're looking for volunteers to report to one of seven canvasses being held this weekend across the state of Pennsylvania. For details on each canvass, including times and staging locations, follow the links below. We hope to see you there!

Door to Door for Green Jobs (Pittsburgh #1)

Door to Door for Green Jobs (Pittsburgh #2)

Door to Door for Green Jobs (Pittsburgh #3)

Door to Door for Green Jobs (Pittsburgh #4)

Door to Door for Green Jobs (West Chester)

Door to Door for Green Jobs (Philadelphia)

Going Green this Summer

Having a tough time navigating the new "go green" landscape. Don't be discouraged. This is a growing field with new resources available every day. Here's the latest from the cable channel devoted to promoting a green lifestyle: Green American Summer

The site includes food and beverage tips, Patriotism 2.0, and a games and quizzes to to test your knowledge of all things green.

The site also includes a video collection from Planet Green's programming lineup. A winner that you should check out now.

Can you complete this Energy Independence quiz?

Consumer Revolution 6-30 pics 001
Originally uploaded by Repower PA

1. What document is celebrated on Fourth of July every year in America?
a. The U.S. Constitution
b. The Bill of Rights
c. The Declaration of Independence
d. The White Album

2. In what year did the American colonies declare their independence from Great Britain?
a. 1812
b. 1776
c. 1482
d. 1982

3. Which of the following men was NOT an original signer to the Declaration?
a. Benjamin Franklin
b. Thomas Jefferson
c. John Adams
d. Dick Clark

4. Where was the Declaration signed?
a. Philadelphia, PA
b. New York, NY
c. Washington, DC
d. Omaha, Nebraska

5. How many barrels of crude oil does the United States consume every single day?
a. 4 million
b. 10 million
c. 12 million
d. 20 million

6. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, make up how much of the U.S.’s total annual energy production?
a. 1%
b. 8%
c. 15%
d. 20%

7. How much power is wasted every year in your house by items that are plugged in but not being used, such as cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwaves, and other electronics on standby?
a. 1%
b. 10%
c. 13%
d. 20%

8. Which nation was home to the inventors of the wind turbine, solar cell, and modern hydro-electric power?
a. Japan
b. China
c. Germany
d. United States

9. What nation was the first to pursue and complete an “energy independence strategy?”
a. United States
b. Great Britain
c. China
d. Brazil

10. What nation or region of the world currently leads the world in renewable energy production?
a. China
b. United States
c. Europe
d. Russia

Answer key

Erie declares its Energy Independence

Repower America was in Erie yesterday at Erie Downtown's block party. See what the Flagship City had to say about Energy Independence!

Energy independence week in Western PA

Energy independence week is upon us. On Tuesday, Repower America organizers took to the streets of Pittsburgh with an "Energy Independence Quiz" with questions ranging from "On the fourth of July we celebrate the signing of which document?" to "how many barrels of crude oil does the United States consume every day?" Participants were then asked to sign a declaration of energy independence, in which they promise to pay attention to their energy consumption, and try to reduce it.

Energy Independence activities will continue for the next week or so, at events and public places in Pittsburgh, Erie and Midland. A number of activists are also hosting their own Green Picnics and Green Barbeques, with an eye to sustainability in these recreational activities, as well as talking at these gatherings about what we can do to reduce our energy consumption and overcome the Climate Crisis.

Answers to the Quiz

1. What document is celebrated on Fourth of July every year in America?

a. The U.S. Constitution

b. The Bill of Rights

c. The Declaration of Independence

d. The White Album

2. In what year did the American colonies declare their independence from Great Britain?

a. 1812

b. 1776

c. 1482

d. 1982

3. Which of the following men was NOT an original signer to the Declaration?

a. Benjamin Franklin

b. Thomas Jefferson

c. John Adams

d. Dick Clark

4. Where was the Declaration signed?

a. Philadelphia, PA

b. New York, NY

c. Washington, DC

d. Omaha, Nebraska

5. How many barrels of crude oil does the United States consume every single day?[1]

a. 4 million

b. 10 million

c. 12 million

d. 20 million

6. Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, make up how much of the U.S.’s total annual energy production?[2]

a. 1%

b. 8%

c. 15%

d. 20%

7. How much power is wasted every year in your house by items that are plugged in but not being used, such as cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwaves, and other electronics on standby?[3]

a. 1%

b. 10%

c. 13%

d. 20%

8. Which nation was home to the inventors of the wind turbine, solar cell, and modern hydro-electric power?

a. Japan

b. China

c. Germany

d. United States

9. What nation was the first to pursue and complete an “energy independence strategy?”

a. United States

b. Great Britain

c. China

d. Brazil

10. What nation or region of the world currently leads the world in renewable energy production?[4]

a. China

b. United States

c. Europe

d. Russia