Neuton Battery-Powered Mowers Look & Cut Cool

All you will smell is fresh cut grass. This sounds like a godsend for asthma sufferers and those who want to make a personal statement in preventing smog and global warming. The Neuton Mower runs on battery power. It is so quiet you can hear the birds singing while you mow.

"The sleek little mower, which looks a bit like a grass-eating version of the Toyota Prius, fires up at the touch of a button and quietly hums along for an hour before it nees recharging." --The Colorado Springs Gazette

Maryland & Virginia Electricity Bill Increases

The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a 50% electricity rate increaese for the 1.1 million Baltimore Gas & Electric residential customers that went into effect on June 1, 2007.

Dominion Virgina Power is increasing rates for its customers 18 percent beginning on July 1, 2008. Rates for commercial customers will rise 20 to 44 percent depending on usage. The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved the Dominion rate increases.

Although the rate increases are mostly a result of botched deregulation (retail rates were frozen for about a decade in the hope that competition would take hold in the states - - it did not). Yet some are questioning the 'stranded cost' relief the utilities received that in the case of Dominion equals between $1 and $2 billion.

The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008

AAEA is supporting The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6049), which extends for another eight years the investment tax credit for installing solar energy, extends for one year the production tax credit for producing wind power and for three years the credits for geothermal, wave energy and other renewables. The bill is sponsored by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), right, and passed in the House of Representatives on May 21, 2008 with 263 Ayes, 160 Nays, 12 Present/Not Voting.

Unfortunately, the bill has stalled in the Senate being unable to invoke cloture: Jun 10, 2008 failed a cloture motion, preventing consideration of the bill with 50 Ayes, 44 Nays, 6 Present/Not Voting. Jun 17, 2008 failed a cloture motion, preventing consideration of the bill with 52 Ayes, 44 Nays, 4 Present/Not Voting.

GREEN PRODUCTS

Carolyn Barnes, left, contacted us about her green products. Many of you might be familiar with the melaluca brand of products (catalog). In addition to being a wellness coach, Carolyn conducts a healthy home tour. The amazing fact is, the most common substance to poison children is a household cleaner. Many of these products are considered safe! Think of your own home - you probably have dozens of bottles of cleaners, containing hundreds of chemicals. Could an accident happen in your home? Find out today by taking a Tour of Healthy House.

Carolyn Barnes is pictured above at left holding a bottle of MonaVie, made from the legendary Acai Berry, is one of the few Brazilian exports that can directly protect the mighty Amazon rainforest itself.

New Leaf Paper LLC - - a maker of recycled paper.

Eco-Products Inc - - a Boulder, Colorado company that makes comnpostable dinnerware. They use a corn-based polymer produces by NatureWorks LLC of Minnetonka, Minnesota, a unit of Cargill & Teijin Ltd. of Japan.

TerraCycle - - a maker of fertilizer from worm castings is marketing an artificial fire log for winter chimney use that has soy was as a key component.

Annie's Inc - - a Napa, California-based maker of organic macaroni and cheese, pizza and other foods.

Supreme Court Gives Exxon Relief and Guns To DC

We agree with both Supreme Court decisions. Exxon had a horrible accident in Alaska trying to service America's, as President George Bush calls it, "oil addiction," and spent a couple billion on trying to clean up the oily mess it created. But America cannot have it both ways. We cannot want to use at least 20 million barrels of oil every single day, yet demonize the oil industry for doing what it takes to service this very important public need. The court ruled 5-3 to slash the $2.5 billion in punitive damages in the Exxon Valdez disaster to $500 million on June 25. Justice Samuel Alito recused himself in the case because he owns Exxon stock. In 1989, the supertanker dumped 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, fouling 1,200 miles of coastline. A jury decided in 1994 that Exxon should pay $5 billion in punitive damages. In 2006, a federal appeals court cut that verdict in half. Exxon has spent $3.4 billion to clean up the spill and compensate Native Alaskans, landowners and commercial fishermen. Nearly 33,000 plaintiffs are in line to share in the award, an average of about $15,000 a person.

The Supreme Court in a 5 to 4 decision struck down the District of Columbia's ban on handgun possession on June 26 deciding for the first time in U.S. history that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to own a gun for self-defense. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion and was joined by Chief Justice John G. Robers, Jr., Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito, Jr.:

"We hold that the District's ban on handgun possession in the home violates the Second Amendment, as does its prohibition against rendering any lawful firearm in the home operable for the purpose of immediate self-defense. The Second Amendment surely elevates above all other interests the right of law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home."

Dissenting justices included Stephen G. Breyer, John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

We agree with this ruling because law abiding citizens of the District of Columbia and other violence prone cities should be able to protect themselves in their homes. The gun ban has not reduced gun violence in the District of Columbia and Black-on-Black murder with guns is the most immediate environmental threat to youth all over America.

AAEA Featured in "Black Enterprise" Magazine

AAEA is featured in the June issue of Black Enterprise magazine in an article entitled, "Environmental Group Strives To Educate." The article was written by Erinn Johnson and AAEA President Norris McDonald is quoted:

McDonald believes that it’s important to reach the African American community in relatable ways. “I’m trying to break the stigma and stereotypes of what an environmentalist is, and repackage it to reach our community,” he says. The organization also reaches its target audience through various programs. McDonald hopes that the group will hit home with African Americans when it comes to issues that they can relate to, one being asthma. “Black people have the power to influence policy issues just as long as they are educated and aware of the issues.” “Our communities are often the path of least resistance for waste,” he explains. McDonald encourages African Americans to voice their opinions, as there is currently no national legislation to protect communities from such toxic waste.

First New Nuclear Plant Will Be Built In Mississippi

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) held two public environmental scoping meetings at the Port Gibson City Hall in Port Gibson, Mississippi on June 19. The meetings are part of NRC's review of an application submitted by Entergy Operations Inc (EOI) for a combined license (COL) for construction and operation of a new nuclear power plant at it Grand Gulf Nuclear Station (GGNS) site in Claiborne County, Mississippi. The first meeting was held at 1 p.m. and the second meeting was held at 7 p.m. The NRC presented an overview of the COL environmental review process and described how the process will be implemented for the review of the GGNS COL application. AAEA participated in the meetings (see videos below).

ALL VIDEOS

The proposed new reactor, designated GGNS Unit 3, would be located within a 2,100 acre site, situated approximately 6 miles northwest of Port Gibson, Mississippi. EOI currently operates one reactor, GGNS Unit 1 on the site and plans to construct Unit 3 adjacent to the existing reactor. Plans for a unit 2 never happened, but to avoid confusion, the proposed unit is being designated Unit 3. The construction site cleared for GGNS Unit 3 covrs approximately 234 acres within EOI's 2,100 acre site.

EOI submitted the application for the COL by letter dated February 27, 2008. The application was accepted for docketing on April 24, 2008. The application is liste under NRC's Agencywide Documents Access Management System (ADAMS)under accession number ML080640433. The EOI COL application is also available on the Internet.

In addition, roughly 30 NRC staffers visited Mississippi to gather data at Grand Gulf on June 16 and met with the New Plant organization June 17 through June 18.

Boxer Versus Inhofe on Global Warming: Inhofe Wins

Global warming skeptic Senator James Inhofe delivered a knockout blow to Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer. Inhofe turned the global warming bill into a 'tax' by describing it as another way to raise energy prices. It worked. Although nobody really expected global warming legislation to pass this year, the 'Big Mo' was building until high gasoline and electricity prices scared the public back into its myopia.

Senator Boxer did get 48 of the 60 votes needed to pass the Lieberman-Warner legislation. AAEA supported the bill and generally supports climate change legislation. We do no support auctioning the offsets. That increases the price tag. The second heavyweight global warming fight will see a new president in office and a new energy bill will probably be in play. But unless energy prices start moving south, prospects for any climate change legislation will be dim. The Ali-Frazier contest still favors Ali (Boxer as Ali and Inhofe as Frazier).

Speculators Helping To Hurt You At the Gas Pump

Experts speculate that anywhere from 30 - 50 percent of the $4 per gallon gasoline is due to, well, speculators. According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CTFC), Wall Street dealers, hedge funds, pension funds and other speculators hold 70 percent of the oil futures traded in New York. Such speculation to generate short term profits is driving crude oil up towards $140 per barrel and gasoline to $4 per gallon and more. These speculators are not under tha same strict regulations imposed on other financial investors. Moreover, global speculation is also driving the prices up. The CTFC simply is not capable of controlling this speculation. People are becoming more aware of this situation as reporting on it educates the public.

Black Billionaires Should Buy Exxon Mobil Gas Stations

Although some people get uneasy when we start taling about 'black' stuff, the fact is that Blacks do not own any part of the energy infrastructure in the United States. Nigerian-born Kase Lawall, with his offshore oil and gas drilling company, is the exception but you know what we mean. Blacks have only been out in the marketplace for about 40 years, so we have some catching up to do. Exxon Mobil just announced that it plans to sell its 2,200 U.S. gas stations. This is a prime opportunity for African Americans to get in the oil business at the retail level. We hope Oprah Winfrey, Robert Johnson, Sheilia Johnson, and Victor MacFarlane are listening.

Exxon Mobil will probably sell the other 10,000 stations that carry Exxon Mobil signs to the distributors that already own and operate those stations. It is projected that the stations will sell for between $500,000 and $2 million. Gas stations clear a few cents profits on each gallon of gas sold. Evidently, the $40 billion from the gasoline stations is not profitable enough for Exxon Mobil when they made $400 billion last year. Regardless, this is an excellent opportunity for a black entrepreneur to get into the oil and gas business. We bet $40 billion is an attractive income figure too.

Obama & McCain On Energy & Environment

McCain

Opposed expanding offshore oil drilling (changed position)

Opposes drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR)

Good on the global warming issue (except for auctioning offsets)

Supports Cap-and-Trade for Global Warming mitigation

$300 million reward for development of new battery powered car

Eliminate ethanol tax credit

Opposes Renewables Portfolio Standards

Very pro nuclear power (wants 45 new plants in next 20 years)

Supports Yucca Mountain

Friendly to Coal-to-Liquid (CTL)

Supported a temporary suspension of federal gasoline tax

Voted AGAINST the Energy Policy Act of 2005

Missed vote on Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007

Opposed Kyoto Protocol in Senate Vote in 1997

Opposes tapping Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Obama

Windfall profits tax on oil companies

Good on the global warming issue (except for auctioning offsets)

Supports Cap-and-Trade for Global Warming mitigation

Opposed expanding offshore oil drilling (changed position)

Opposes drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR)

Pro cellulosic ethanol

Friendly to Coal-To-Liquid (CTL)

Luke warm on nuclear power (opposes reprocessing)

Opposes Yucca Mountain

Opposed temporary suspension of federal gasoline tax

Supports Renewables Portfolio Standards

Voted FOR Energy Policy Act of 2005

Missed vote on Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007

Opposed Global Warming Legislation in Illinois State Senate in 1997

Opposes tapping Strategic Petroleum Reserve (changed position)

PRESIDENT'S CORNER: Robert Boone Retires

President's Corner. By Norris McDonald.

I first met Robert Boone, right, in 1989 at the Interstate Commission for Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) where I was their first education coordinator and Boone was the second for the Anacostia River Watershed. Boone went on to become a legend in Anacostia River protection. Boone and I walked and boated tributaries to the Anacostia River together. We partnered for river clean ups for Earth Day. Boone absolutely loved the Anacostia River and it loved him back. He cleared countless tons of garbage from that river and conducted countless land and water tours.

One thing I always liked about Robert is that although we sometimes disagreed on local issues, he was never disagreeable with me. And anybody who knows Boone knows that he can be VERY disagreeable. Thanks Bob. For that and much more I consider you an old friend and colleague.

Although I am disappointed that he is retiring from the Anacostia Watershed Society, which he founded and built into an institution, I know Bob will continue to give voice to environmental issues. (Photo: The Washington Post, article)

AAEA Promotes Expensing As Environmental Justice Tool

AAEA is promoting expensing as a mitigation tool in addressing environmental justice issues. Specifically we are pushing federal legislation that would allow business purchasers of homes in Turner Station to expense the cost. Expensing is a tax depreciation tool where the investor can write off the value of an asset in the year that it is purchased instead of spread it out over years. Turner Station is an at-risk community in Baltimore, Maryland that is surrounded by serious pollution sites.

AAEA is working directly with Turner Station activists to get the community bought out. Expensing would also allow for those who want to stay to remain in their residences, although we cannot understand why anyone would want to live in this heavily polluted industrial zone.

AAEA recently testified at a FERC Hearing and described its recommendations for Turner Station in relation to the proposed AES Sparrow's Point liguefied natural gas (LNG) proposal.

We will be meeting with members of the Maryland Congressional delegation to request introduction of the legislation. We want expensing up to $200,000 per residence. The members include Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin and Representatives Elijah Cummings and Dutch Ruppersburger.

Photo: Phyllis Seward & Maxine Seward

FERC Hearing on AES Sparrows Point LNG Proposal

AAEA President Norris McDonald presented testimony at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hearing at Patapsco High School in Baltimore, Maryland. The hearing was to hear public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at the shore line of the Severstal Steel Plant in Dundalk, Maryland.

Video FERC/Federal Agencies Panel

Video Testimony of Maxine Thompson

Video Testimony of Phyllis Seward

Video Testimony of Norris McDonald (Below)

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) being used for this public meeting is woefully inadequate in addressing the environmental justice issues related to the LNG proposal. FERC failed to, “…assess potential impacts on the...human environment that would result from the implementation of the proposed actions.” The DEIS identified potential environmental justice impacts but did not assess the impacts. The DEIS states that, “AES addressed these concerns through the identification of environmental justice areas in the vicinity of the proposed Project.” There is nothing in the DEIS showing that AES assessed environment justice issues. The outreach by AES via open house meetings, project updates, tours and learning opportunities does not seem to have led to an adequate assessment. We are deeply concerned that the environmental justice issues were not assessed in the DEIS and they should be thoroughly assessed and included in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

FULL STATEMENT

There are numerous environmental justice issues that need to be assessed:

1) An additional source of air pollution in the local area.
2) An additional source of water pollution in the local area.
3) Relocation and/or compensation for Turner Station residents.
4) Minority business opportunities related to the proposed project.
5) Arrangements to assist with any increases in insurance premiums.
6) Arrangements for community amenities
7) Examining partnership agreements with area businesses to expand community mitigation and/or relocation.

AAEA made the recommendation below at the 2006 public meeting and we stand by those recommendations today:

1. AES should purchase the homes or pay homeowners and businesses near the exclusion zone a reasonable fee. Another alternative would be building a relocation community.
2. AES should pay for any increase in homeowners and business owners’ insurance premiums near the facility for those choosing the fee.
3. AES should provide 51 percent minority ownership in the Mid-Atlantic Express, LLC, the proposed owner of the 87-mile pipeline. Mid-Atlantic Express, LLC is a regulated project company formed by The AES Corporation to own and operate the Mid-Atlantic Express Pipeline.
4. If the community is not relocated, then AES should build a state-of-the-art recreation and computer facility similar to the Fed Ex Field facility in Landover, Maryland.
5. AES should provide college scholarships to students.

Transcript of the 6/9/08 scoping meeting held in Baltimore, MD at the Patapsco High School Auditorium re AES Sparrows Point LNG, LLC's et al Sparrows Point Project under CP07-62 et al.

AAEA Supports Soccer Stadium In The Washington Post

AAEA President Norris McDonald, right, described our support for the soccer stadium plan in The Washington Post Outlook section article, "A Stadium Plan That Will Pay Off."

In addition to expressing support for the soccer stadium, McDonald also recommended a tunnel for Interstate 295 along the riverfront so that locals can have easy access to the park area, soccer stadium and the Anacostia River. He also recommended environmentally friendly transit-oriented development around the Anacostia Metro Station, which is near the proposed soccer stadium site.

Black Enterprise 2008 Annual Report on Black Business

Black Enterprise (BE) magazine has issued its 36th Annual Report on Black Business, which features the 2008 listing of the BE 100s (formerly BE 100), the nation's largest black-owned businesses. Black Enterprise founder Earl Graves, left, says on his Publisher's Page:

"In the area of commerce , in particular, there is nothing like the threat of recession, economic turmoil, and market uncertainty when it comes to separating the real leaders from the pretenders. In the midst of a rapidly shifting global economy, seemingly filled with limitless amounts of both
adversity and opportunity, true leaders stand out from the rest. Leaders don't chase fortune and fame; they serve missions and are able to articulate a future for that mission in clear, simple language. They understand that wealth and power are not primary objectives, but inevitable byproducts of fulfilling a need and making a consistent, positive investment in achieving a larger goal. Leaders have vision."

Mr. Earl Graves continues:

"Few people in the world enjoy a greater combination of fame, fortune, social status, and wealth than the inimitable Oprah Winfrey, CEO of Chicago-based Harpo Inc, our 2008 Company of the Year, for all the ways she is celebrated--as a dominant media force; an extraordinary producer for television, stage, and screen; a world class philanthropist--she is rarely celebrated as one of the most consistently excellent business leaders of our generation. In fact, Winfrey hardly sees herself that way. Yet the results speak for themselves, as Harpo continues to spin gold from nearly every media venture and partnership it undertakes, from O: The Oprah Magazine to the Oprah & Friends XM satellite radio channel to the television juggernaut that is The Oprah Winfrey Show."

"Yet, the $345 million in revenues generated by Harpo last year is almost beside the point. As counterintuitive as it may seem to commony held notions of leadership in business, Winfrey is far better known for enriching others--giving away automobiles to her studio audience, building schools for girls in South Africa--than she is for achieving wealth for herself."

We love Black Enterprise at AAEA and have enjoyed its information for decades. BE is second to none and provides a valuable service to the African American community and the general public. The 36th BE 100s covers four categories in listing the top black businesses: 1) Industrial, 2) Auto Dealerships, 3) Advertising and 4) Financial Services.

In 2007 the Industrial/Service sector had total sales of $29 billion. Of particular interest to us in this sector are: 1) CAMAC International Corp (Kase L. Lawal of Houston, Texas), which provides crude oil, gas exploration, productiona and trading. 2) NDR Energy Group LLC (Rickey Hart of Charlotte, NC), which provides sales and transportation of natural gas and energy consulting. 3) Hightowers Petroleum (Stephen L. Hightower of Franklin, OH), which is a supplier of fuel and petroleum products. 4) New Technology Steel LLC (Sarah J. Bates of Detroit, MI), which is a steel processor. 5) MPS Group Inc (Charlie Williams of Detroit, MI), which provides industrial and environmental services. 6) SoBran Inc (Amos L. Otis of Dayton, OH), which provides biomedical and environmental research, technical support.

In 2007 the Auto Dealer sector had total sales of $9 billion. We believe that these dealerships could lead the way in selling plug-in fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles to usher in cars that produce no smog forming or greenhouse forming gases and do not use petroleum (although we like petroleum).

In 2007 the Advertising Agency sector had total billiings of $2.1 billion.

In 2007 the Financial Services sector Banks had $6 billion in assets, $500 million in capital, $5 brillion, and loans of $4.1 brillion. Asset Managers had $84 billion. Investment Banks had Total Managed Issues of $821 billion. Private Equity Firms had Capital Under Management of $28 billion.

We are also delighted that BE is covering environmental issues and thanks for quoting us and listing our website on p. 189. (BEing Green)

[Special Thanks: Tamara E. Holmes--Writer/Editor]

Congressman John Sarbanes - "No Child Left Inside"

June 3, 2008

Dear Mr. McDonald:

At a time when the world is confronting issues such as the finite supply of fossil fuels, global warming, and many other important environmental problems, organizations such as yours have helped to raise public awareness and taken steps to improve the environment. Our nation's future relies on a well-educated public to be wise stewards of the environment that sustains us, our families and communities, and future generations. Environmental education in our schools can help us as individuals make the complex, conceptual connections between economic prosperity, benefits to society, environmental health, and our own well being. "No Child Left Inside" has become a national movement to establish environmental education programs that promote healthier children and communities and to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

In line with this movement, I am the author of H.R. 3036, the No Child Left Inside Bill, which would establish environmental education programs that promote healthier children and communities. I am deeply committed to both improving education in our nation's public schools and to protecting our environment. H.R. 3036 combines those goals by: creating a new environmental education grant program, providing teacher training for environmental education, and including environmental education as an authorized activity under the Fund for the Improvement of Education. H.R. 3036 also requires states that participate in the environmental education grant program to develop a K-12 plan to ensure high school graduates are environmentally literate. On April 22nd, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a field hearing at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge in order to showcase the importance of this legislation.

As an organization committed to improving the environment for future generations, I would like to invite you to join the No Child Left Inside Coalition [We joined]. For more information please visit our coalition website. I look forward to working with you and the other 270 member organizations to ensure our children are ready to address the environmental issues of the future.

Sincerely,
John Sarbanes
Member of Congress

(pictured above right)
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P.S. I want to keep in touch with you. If you'd like to sign up for my newsletter, please do so by visiting my website . Thanks!

Society of Environmental Journalists 18th Annual Conference

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is holding its 18th Annual Conference from October 15-19, 2008. The conference is being hosted by Virginia Tech at The Hotel Roanoke and the theme is: "From the Appalachians to the Oceans."

SEJ is bringing together a diverse selection of tours and concurrent sessions, including one the biggest and best collection of computer lab sessions ever. Energy and climate will be a major focus, with a special emphasis on coal. They will hear from some of the top writers, scientists, industry speakers and environmentalists discussing mountaintop removal, water contamination, sludge pond hazards, air pollution and carbon sequestration. More than 800 people attended last year's conference in Stanford, California, which generated immediate stories and sources for our members.

Environmental Justice Amendment For Global Warming Bill

AAEA is promoting a very important amendment to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 (S. 3036), the global warming bill being debated in the U.S. Senate right now. Many believe that climate change legislation and regulation will need to address environmental justice concerns related to the perception that emission trading programs cause disproportionate pollution from older, dirtier plants to negatively impact low-income and minority communities. There is also widespread belief that global warming and climate change will disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities.

AAEA is recommending an Environmental Justice Allowance Reserve (EJAR) to address the racial 'Hot Spots' issue. These allowances would come from a special reserve, similar to the current Acid Rain Program Renewable Energy and Conservation Reserve, when the initial allowance allocation is made. They would be awarded to utilities, automakers and others that undertake environmental justice practices and programs designed to mitigate or prevent price shocks, increase the installation of pollution control equipment, promote community education and enhance health-related activities. Utilities and automakers could choose to work with organizations and businesses that conduct environmental justice activities related to climate change mitigation and reductions in other emissions, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury.

As an alternative to legislation and as an insurance policy in case climate change legislation does not pass, AAEA has developed a voluntary EJAR program that provides a platform for utilities, automakers and communities to address and influence the Hot Spots issue. Any utility, automaker or citizen can: sell to, donate or purchase compliance allowances from, the voluntary AAEA-EJAR or otherwise support the EJAR program. AAEA is currently meeting with interested stakeholders to develop EJAR projects. AAEA has also developed an emissions trading platform to directly facilitate exchanges. The AAEA EJAR program will leverage allowances and resources to promote environmental justice practices and projects designed to:

1) Increase the installation of pollution control equipment,
2) Promote community education and
3) Enhance health-related activities.

AAEA will alert businesses, mayors, states, civil rights groups, environmental justice organizations, Congress and the general public about innovative methods for participating in this program, enhancing electricity production, auto emissions reductions and protecting constituent communities.

Allowances are fully marketable commodities. Once allocated, allowances may be bought, sold, traded, or banked for use in future years. Allowances may not be used for compliance prior to the calendar year for which they are allocated.

Participation in the EJAR will clearly show that a utility or automaker is exceeding emission compliance and is willing to include AAEA in the emission trading market. Significant participation in the EJAR will indicate that a utility's or automaker's units are not Hot Spot plants or emissions contributors. AAEA will publicize the EJAR participant list and projects.

Global Warming Cap-&-Trade Bill On Senate Floor This Week

Update June 6: Cloture (antifilibuster) vote failed 48 to 36 so new legislation will not be considered until 2009.

Bush Administration Policy On Bill

America's Climate Security Act of 2007 (S. 2191) [Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act] introduced October 18, 2007

AAEA Supports S.3036

(we do not support auction)

{reintroduced May 20, 2008 with Barbara Boxer as sponsor: Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 (S. 3036)}

is being debated on the Senate Floor this week and includes the following provisions:

America's Climate Security Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) a greenhouse gas (GHG) registry; and (2) a GHG emission allowance transfer system for covered facilities, including specified facilities within the electric power and industrial sectors and facilities that produce or entities that import petroleum- or coal- based transportation fuel or chemicals. Sets forth emission allowances for 2012-2050, with a declining cap on GHGs.

Provides for selling, exchanging, transferring, submitting, retiring, or borrowing emission allowances. Establishes: (1) a domestic offset program to sequester GHGs in agriculture and forests; and (2) the Bonus Allowance Account.

Establishes the Carbon Market Efficiency Board, which shall observe and report on the national GHG emission market and provide cost relief measures if it determines that the market poses significant harm to the U.S. economy.

Provides for the distribution of emission allowances, including initially giving allowances to: (1) specified owners and operators of covered facilities; (2) states; (3) load-serving entities that deliver electricity to retail consumers; (4) the Secretary of Agriculture to reduce GHG emissions in the agriculture and forestry sectors; (5) international forest protection activities; and (6) the Emission Allowance Account for covered facilities in the electric power and industrial sectors.

Establishes in the Treasury and provides for allocations from: (1) the Energy Assistance Fund; (2) the Climate Change Worker Training Fund; (3) the Adaptation Fund; and (4) the Climate Change and National Security Fund.

Establishes the Climate Change Credit Corporation to auction emission allowances. Provides for the use of auction proceeds, including for a zero- or low-carbon energy technologies program, an advanced coal and sequestration technologies program, incentives for production of fuel from cellulosic biomass, and an advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program.

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to set forth provisions concerning appliance energy efficiency requirements and state building energy efficiency code updates.

Requires the President to establish an interagency group to determine whether foreign countries have addressed GHGs.

Directs the Administrator to establish an international reserve allowance program. Requires the proceeds from sales of such allowances to be used to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on other countries' disadvantaged communities.
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator to permit commercial-scale underground injection of carbon dioxide for purposes of geological sequestration.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to study the feasibility of the construction of: (1) pipelines for the transportation of carbon dioxide for sequestration or enhanced oil recovery; and (2) geological carbon dioxide sequestration facilities.
Directs the Administrator to establish a task force to study the cost implications of potential federal assumption of liability with respect to closed geological storage sites.

Authorizes the President to waive this Act's requirements in a national security emergency.

Requires the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to direct securities issuers to inform investors of material risks related to climate change.

Additional language has been added to support nuclear power:

Subtitle C Role of Nuclear Power, Section 931 Findings: Congress finds that –

(1) Under a greenhouse gas reduction program that places a cap on carbon emissions, the cost of building new reactors will be less prohibitive than they currently are without such a program;
(2) The market signal sent by placing a cap on carbon will incentivize investment in mature, zero-emissions technology; and
( (3) The construction of nuclear plants and the manufacturing of nuclear components in the United States will create new jobs for Americans; and
(4) Over 40 years of experience in the United States with commercial nuclear power plants has shown that nuclear reactors can be operated safely.

Section 932 Sense of the Senate:

It is the Sense of the Senate that a portion of funds, as determined necessary by the appropriate committees of jurisdiction, deposited into the "Low- and Zero-Carbon Electricity Technology Fund" pursuant to section 914 should be used to fund a tax policy that will incentivize the manufacturing of nuclear project components in the United States.