Complete list of press releases

NEWS RELEASE

Contacts:
Sean Crowley, 202-550-6524-c, scrowley@edf.org
Sara Hopper, 202-422-1823-c, shopper@edf.org

(Washington, DC — Feb 13, 2012) President Obama’s congressional budget request to slash funding for Farm Bill conservation programs in Fiscal Year 2013 by about $600 million could cost more than it saves in the long term, according to a leading conservation group. Farm Bill conservation programs assist farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners in adopting land management practices that improve water quality and wildlife habitat and help maintain the long-term sustainability of their operations by reducing soil erosion and improving soil health.

“Farm Bill conservation programs represent an investment by the government in the long-term health of both American agriculture and our environment, and this investment leverages additional resources from agricultural producers, who have to share the cost of implementing conservation practices on the land,” said Sara Hopper, agricultural policy director for Environmental Defense Fund and a former staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “When farmers volunteer to put up their own money to share the cost of providing all Americans with cleaner air and water, more productive soils, and habitat for wildlife, our government should meet them half way, not reject them.”

Over the last 25 years, Farm Bill conservation programs have increased farmland sustainability, reduced soil erosion by more than 40 percent, dramatically decreased net wetlands loss on farmland, preserved and enhanced critical habitat for endangered species, and produced a substantial financial return for farmers and landowners.

Conservation programs are very popular with producers; farmer demand for conservation assistance routinely exceeds available funding. For example, in 2009, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) had nearly $1.4 billion in unfunded applications [PDF] by 54,000 farmers [PDF] nationwide (a state-by-state breakdown is available). Yet, the president’s FY 2013 budget proposes to cut EQIP by $347 million, from $1.75 billion to $1.403 billion.

Over the last five years (FY 2008-2012), Congress has cut conservation funding by $2.8 billion, representing 81 percent of the nearly $3.5 billion in Farm Bill spending cuts during that time period. At the same time, high commodity prices have driven an increase in production on marginal, environmentally sensitive lands.

“Because increasing global demand for food is intensifying pressure on America’s land and water resources, it is more critical now than ever to maintain and strengthen conservation programs, not slash them further,” concluded Hopper.

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Sean Crowley, 202-550-6524-c, scrowley@edf.org
Elgie Holstein, (703) 241-2776, eholstein@edf.org

Washington, DC — Feb 13, 2012) Environmental Defense Fund praised President Obama’s congressional budget request that would provide funding for sustainable fisheries and shift some of the $4 billion a year in subsidies for oil and gas companies to invest in clean technology in Fiscal Year 2013. However, EDF lamented the fact that the president’s budget proposes cutting funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by $105 million and Farm Bill conservation programs by about $600 million in FY 2013.

“Despite some flaws, the president’s budget is a big net plus for the environment, and we urge Congress to embrace the positive aspects of it,” said Elgie Holstein, senior director for strategic planning at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and a former associate director of the Office of Management and Budget for Natural Resources, Energy and Science.

“The fact is: clean energy and responsible environmental policy make good economic policy as well because they create jobs, while cutting energy and medical bills for American families,” said Jim Marston, vice president of EDF’s Energy Program. “Look at it this way: environmental conservation is cheaper than environmental cleanup, just like preventive medicine is cheaper than emergency room treatment. We applaud the President’s support of job-creating, clean energy programs.”

“We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that important fishery management functions have adequate funding and fishermen have all the tools they need, including sustainable market programs such as catch shares,” said John Mimikakis, associate vice president of EDF’s Ocean Program.

Good news:

• $27.2 billion for the Department of Energy, a 3.2 percent increase over what Congress enacted last year:
  • $2.3 billion would go towards research and development for energy efficiency, advanced vehicles and biofuels.
  • $522 million increase in renewable energy sources and an additional $174 million for a revamped industrial technology-advanced manufacturing program.
  • $12 million would go towards multi-year research investments in safer natural gas infrastructure in order to reduce risks associated with hydraulic fracturing in shale formations.
    • Pipeline safety would receive a 70 percent, or $64 million, increase.
• Approximately $1 billion for energy conservation efforts in the Department of Defense (DOD), which is the world’s largest energy consumer.
  • DOD is increasing its commitment to renewable energy, which now makes up 8.5 percent of its energy production and procurement.
• $174 million for sustainable fisheries work by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which supports the science and management needed to support the commercial fishing industry that supports 1 million jobs and yields more than $32 billion in income every year.
• $28 million for the National Catch Share Program, a critical part of the nation’s strategy to return its fisheries to abundance, the same level adopted by the Congress last year.

Bad news:

• Counterproductive cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency
  • The fiscal 2013 budget seeks $8.3 billion, which is $105 million below the current funding level for the agency.
  • If Congress approves the proposal, it would be the first time since 1994 that the agency’s budget was cut for three consecutive years.
• Counterproductive cuts to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • The fiscal 2013 budget seeks to cut funding for Farm Bill conservation programs by about $600 million.
  • Congress already has cut conservation funding by $2.8 billion over the last five years (FY 2008-2012), representing 81 percent of the nearly $3.5 billion in Farm Bill spending cuts during that time period.

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contact: Georgette Foster, gfoster@edf.org, 919-881-2927

(Raleigh, NC - Feb. 13, 2012) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the first cities and universities to be selected in 2012 for EDF Climate Corps, which trains MBA and MPA students to indentify cost-effective ways to save energy.  New host organizations include the City of Cleveland (Ohio), City of Atlanta, City of Los Angeles, Envision Charlotte (NC), Housing Authority of the City of El Paso, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Port of Oakland, San Diego State University-Imperial Valley, the Smithsonian Institution and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  The New York City Public Housing Authority and Howard University (D.C.) are hosting fellows again this summer.

During their 10-12 week summer engagements, EDF Climate Corps fellows analyze energy-saving opportunities and develop custom energy efficiency investment plans that cut costs and carbon emissions.

“Cities and universities know the value of saving a dollar and saving a kilowatt, and EDF Climate Corps gives them a plan in a few short months,” said Michael Regan, EDF energy efficiency director.

Now in its fifth year, EDF Climate Corps has recommended changes in lighting, computing and ventilation systems that could:

• Cut 1.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity use and 27 million therms of natural gas annually, equivalent to the annual energy use of 88,000 homes.
• Avoid over one million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of 200,000 passenger vehicles.
• Save $1 billion in net operational costs over the project lifetimes.

The application deadline for 2012 summer hosts is February 23.  Cities and universities are encouraged to apply at edfclimatecorps.org.  For more information and a list of 2012 hosts, contact info@edfclimatecorps.org.

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About Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EDFEnergyEX; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; and http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/.

About EDF Climate Corps

EDF Climate Corps (edfclimatecorps.org) places specially trained MBA and MPA students in companies, cities and universities to build the business case for energy efficiency. EDF Climate Corps fellows analyze energy-saving opportunities and develop custom energy efficiency investment plans that cut costs and carbon emissions. 

Contact:
Mark MacLeod, 202-270-0798, mmacleod@edf.org
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington, DC – February 8, 2012) – Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) criticized FirstEnergy, today, for blaming its decision to close old coal-fired power plants on the Clean Air Act rules that will protect Americans from mercury, acid gases and other toxic air pollution.

FirstEnergy announced today that it will close three old plants in West Virginia. EDF sharply disputed its claim that EPA regulations make the closures necessary.

“These plants are closing because they’re old and inefficient, and because they are facing competition from natural gas — not because of clean air regulations,” said Mark MacLeod of EDF. “The fact is these plants were built when Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower were in office.”

Many utilities are making a business decision to shut down aging and inefficient coal plants – and clean air rules are only the smallest part of the story.

EDF outlines the main reasons for these business decisions on a new fact sheet. They include:

• Age – 59% of America’s coal fired power plants are over 40 years old, with many over 60 years old. In this case, the three plants FirstEnergy will close were built between 1943 (while we were still fighting World War II) and 1960. According to former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, “In 1970, the [Clean Air Act] required that new sources meet tight emissions standards. At that time, it was assumed that electrical utility units had an average lifetime of 30 years.”

• Competition from Natural Gas – with increasing natural gas supplies and lower prices, the market is shifting to more efficient combined cycle natural gas generators over old, inefficient coal plants.

• Low utilization –the older units are often small, inefficient, and operated only part-time. From a business perspective, it is not cost effective to keep paying the fixed costs needed to maintain them for limited operation. Energy efficiency and demand response programs are far more efficient ways of meeting these energy needs. In its press release, First Energy itself points out that, “these plants served mostly as peaking facilities, generating, on average, less than 1 percent of the electricity produced by FirstEnergy over the past three years.”

• Health and the Environment – it is not surprising that these old, inefficient power plants are also disproportionately higher emitters of pollutants, and often have not had modern pollution control equipment installed.

First Energy recently announce the retirement of six other coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland; it also blamed those closures on EPA regulations. Undercutting that assertion is the fact that the compliance deadline for new EPA rules is 2015, with possible extensions to 2017. FirstEnergy will retire its plants by September 1, 2012.

What’s more, FirstEnergy announced a decision to switch some of those six units from full-time to seasonal operation, and to temporarily mothball others, more than 16 months ago — before EPA even issued its proposal for the new rule.

“Many factors contribute to the new utility investment cycle,” said MacLeod. “Don’t let plant owners use health protections as a scapegoat for retirements.”

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

Contact:
Sean Crowley, (202) 550-6524-c, scrowley@edf.org
Audrey Payne, (202) 572-3340, apayne@edf.org

(Boulder, CO – Feb. 1, 2012) The Bureau of Reclamation today received a proposed set of common-sense solutions to solve the imbalance between supply and demand for water in the Colorado River Basin, where the Bureau projects river flow will decrease by an average of about nine percent over the next 50 years due to climate change. The proposal by Environmental Defense Fund — which includes ideas by other conservation groups and stakeholders — was in response to today’s deadline for public input of “options and strategies” for a study to define and solve future imbalances in water supply and demand in the basin through 2060.

“Our proposed solutions don’t include expensive new infrastructure and diversions that threaten the health of the Colorado River and the recreation and tourism economy of the region,” said Dan Grossman, Rocky Mountain regional director for Environmental Defense Fund and a former vice chairman of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee in the Colorado Senate.  “Instead, we are focusing on common-sense ideas — including water banks, water re-use and municipal and agricultural efficiency — to solve the imbalance between supply and demand, while protecting the healthy flows of the river.”

Water banks are institutional mechanisms that can be set up in one state, or by multiple states, to use existing storage in a more flexible manner — particularly during drought — by holding “deposits” of water leased or purchased from existing users.  For example, they hold the potential to be a cost-effective way of preventing the chaotic effects of a “call” on the river under the Colorado River Compact.  The compact stipulates that when river flows are insufficient to satisfy the Lower Basin states’ water entitlement on the river, the lower basin can place a call on the river water, forcing upper basin states to stop diverting water until the lower basin’s water entitlement is satisfied.

“Managing the Colorado River in a hotter and drier west requires bold and innovative thinking,” added Grossman.  “We can’t continue to adhere to the dogmas of the 19^th and 20^th centuries and expect to solve this impending crisis.”

The Colorado River Basin is one of the most critical sources of water in the western United States and Mexico, providing water to 30 million people in seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.  The Colorado River Basin Water Supply & Demand Study – due to be completed in June by the Bureau of Reclamation and agencies from the seven basin states – is focusing on the needs of basin resources that are dependent upon a healthy river system.  They include:

• Water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use;
• Hydroelectric power generation;
• Recreation;
• Fish and wildlife and their habitats;
• Water quality including salinity;
• Flow and water-dependent ecological systems; and
• Flood control, all under a range of conditions that could occur over the next 50 years.

“As we begin forging a new path forward for managing the Colorado River in the age of limits, we need to think about the impacts of our actions on future generations in the west,” concluded Grossman.  “Current demands from residential development and agriculture are overtaxing a river that is diminishing because of a changing climate.  We need flexible, market-driven solutions that will protect the river and the ecosystems and western economies it supports.”

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter @EveryDayFactoid and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the first 20 companies to sign on for EDF Climate Corps in 2012. New companies including Boeing, Caesars Entertainment, DirecTV and National Geographic are joining repeat participants including Dunkin’ Brands, Facebook, JPMorgan Chase and Verizon in employing EDF Climate Corps as a cost-effective way to find energy-saving opportunities.

During their 10-12 week summer engagements, EDF Climate Corps fellows craft a custom-tailored financial case for operational savings achievable through specific investments in energy efficiency.

“EDF Climate Corps fellows have uncovered more than a billion dollars in energy savings for participating organizations,” said Victoria Mills, managing director with EDF’s Corporate Partnership Program. “The program is designed to make it easy for companies to unlock straightforward solutions that cut energy bills and improve environmental performance.”

Now in its fifth year, EDF Climate Corps has uncovered efficiencies in lighting, computer equipment, heating and cooling, and other systems that could:

• Cut 1.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity use and 27 million therms of natural gas annually, equivalent to the annual energy use of 88,000 homes;
• Avoid over one million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of 200,000 passenger vehicles; and
• Save $1 billion in net operational costs over the project lifetimes.

Companies report that projects representing 86 percent of the energy savings so far identified by EDF Climate Corps fellows are either complete or underway.

“Verizon has had tremendous success working with EDF Climate Corps, identifying important ways to drive measurable improvements for the environment and our business,” said James Gowen, chief sustainability officer for Verizon. “We look forward to continuing our work together this year, and utilizing the talent and resources provided by the program to bolster our overall sustainability efforts.”

“In this economy, companies need to find ways to improve their bottom line, and energy efficiency is a proven and effective strategy,” said Mills. “The companies already enrolled in EDF Climate Corps recognize that big savings are at stake, and the fact that many hire fellows for multiple years speaks volumes about the value that they derive from this program.”

EDF Climate Corps fellows work with host organizations to capture immediate energy savings through equipment modifications and upgrades, and also through strategic projects, such as employee engagement campaigns and decision-support tools. These types of projects empower more stakeholders at companies and help inform business decisions to better capitalize on energy opportunities. “We are pleased to establish a relationship with EDF’s exemplary Climate Corps program and look forward to many successful outcomes this year,” said Eric Dominguez, Corporate Director of Energy & Environmental Services. “Caesars Entertainment is proud to be the first gaming entertainment company to participate in EDF Climate Corps, and we are eager to advance our energy efficiency efforts through the program.”

In the U.S., buildings consume 70 percent of electricity and emit more than a third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. McKinsey & Company also estimates that by 2020, the U.S. could reduce its annual energy consumption by 23 percent through energy efficiency measures, cutting GHG emissions by over a billion tons and saving over a trillion dollars.

The application deadline for summer 2012 is February 23, 2012. Matching of host organizations and EDF Climate Corps fellows is already underway, so interested companies are encouraged to apply now at edfclimatecorps.org. For more information, please email info@edfclimatecorps.org.   The list of 2012 EDF Climate Corps companies to date includes: AT&T, Au Bon Pain, Boeing, CA Technologies, Caesars Entertainment, DirecTV, Dunkin’ Brands, Facebook, HCA Healthcare, Hilex Poly, Ingersoll Rand, JBG Properties, JP Morgan Chase, National Geographic Society, QTS, REI, Sealed Air (Diversey), Shorenstein Properties, Union Pacific Railroad, Verizon Communications

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About EDF Climate Corps
EDF Climate Corps (edfclimatecorps.org) places specially-trained MBA and MPA students in companies, cities and universities to build the business case for energy efficiency. EDF Climate Corps fellows analyze energy-saving opportunities and develop custom energy efficiency investment plans that cut costs and carbon emissions.

Contact: Lori Sinsley, lsinsley@edf.org, 415.293.6097

(SACRAMENTO, CA) — Environmental Defense Fund applauds California for adopting a strong suite of standards that are expected to drive innovations in advanced vehicle technologies that help cut air pollution and save consumers money.

The state’s Air Resources Board (CARB) today unanimously approved an Advanced Clean Cars program in part to reduce emissions for model years 2017 through 2025. When the standards are fully implemented in 2025, new vehicles would emit 34 percent fewer global warming gases and 75 percent fewer smog-forming emissions.

“EDF applauds California’s leadership in adopting these standards that will cut dangerous air pollution, create new jobs and drive investments in the fast-growing clean energy economy,” said Erica Morehouse, a policy and legal analyst at EDF who testified in favor of the standards. “Because this program will be done in parallel with national standards, all Americans will reap the many environmental, health and economic benefits this program offers.”

One set of standards—focused on California’s Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV III) program—is an important tool in helping ward off the consequences of climate change. They will also provide Californians with health and environmental benefits by reducing criteria pollutants. California estimates that smog forming pollutants that cause serious health problems will be reduced by 75 percent by 2025. These estimated reductions are expected to avoid up to 530 premature deaths by 2025. The LEV III program will also reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 52 million tons by 2025 and save $5 billion in operating costs that same year.

“This is an important first step in leading our nation toward oil independence and helping to ward off global consequences of climate change,” said Morehouse.

The Advanced Clean Cars program is being carried out in coordination with the second phase of the proposed greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards announced by the Obama Administration in November. The Administration worked in collaboration with California and automakers to provide a clear regulatory future for industry and strong achievable standards for cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars and light trucks.

When combined with the 2010 standards, the clean cars program will save consumers an estimated $8,200 in fuel savings over the lifetime of a new vehicle by 2025, for a total of $1.7 trillion in national fuel savings over the life of the program. The combined standards will reduce oil consumption by an estimated 2.2 million barrels a day by 2025 – more than our 2010 oil imports from the entire Persian Gulf. They will also reduce carbon dioxide pollution by over 6 billion metric tons over the life of the program – equivalent to emissions from the United States in 2010.

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About EDF

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter at @EnvDefenseFund and @EDF_CA, at our California blog, California Dream 2.0, and on Facebook at facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contacts
Kevin Cate, 850-320-7189, kevin@catecomm.com
Sean Crowley, 202-550-6524, scrowley@edf.org

Environmental Defense Action Fund launched a two-day, $30,000 radio ad blitz in Florida today to highlight strong congressional, editorial and voter support across the political spectrum for a multi-billion dollar Gulf Coast restoration bill funded by BP oil spill fines.

Last week, Reuters reported that BP is likely to agree next month to pay $20-$25 billion to settle all charges around the unprecedented Gulf oil spill — including fines for violating the Clean Water Act (CWA) — before the scheduled start of legal hearings in New Orleans on February 27.

“Florida, the Gulf Coast states, and the nation’s economy are still are suffering from the BP oil disaster, so we wanted to highlight this vital issue before the nationally televised presidential debate tonight and the first Gulf state primary on Tuesday,” said Elizabeth Thompson, director of congressional affairs & president of Environmental Defense Action Fund. “All candidates for public office need to know that newspapers and voters in Florida and the Gulf Coast across the political specturm consider support for this Gulf restoration bill an important litmus test to determine which candidates they will support.”

The bipartisan Gulf restoration bill in the Senate and House — the RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act (S. 1400/H.R. 3096) — would dedicate the CWA fines for the Gulf oil spill to restoring the Gulf Coast ecosystem and economy.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has approved the RESTORE Act. The bill is cosponsored by nine of the 10 Gulf Coast senators, including Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson. In addition, nine Florida newspapers have endorsed the RESTORE Act, including the Bradenton Herald, Ft. Myers News-Press, Gainesville Sun, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post (twice), St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Bay Tribune (twice), The [Lakeland] Ledger and The Tallahassee Democrat.

The 60-second ads will air a total of 55 times today and Friday on news-talk radio stations in Jacksonville (WOKV-690AM/106.5FM), Tallahassee (WFLA-100.7FM Tallahassee) and Tampa Bay (WFLA-970AM Tampa). See the ad copy is below ore listen to the ad [MP3]

Unbelievable!

Did you know that Florida and other Gulf states will NOT get ANY of the 5 to 20 billion dollars in estimated fines for the BP oil spill, unless Congress takes corrective action?

To right this wrong, Florida Senators Rubio and Nelson have joined over 40 members of Congress to cosponsor the RESTORE Act.

This rare bipartisan bill would ensure that 80 percent of the BP oil spill fines are dedicated to restoring the Gulf Coast’s ecosystem and economy.

One study shows that the RESTORE Act could generate jobs in nearly 100 Gulf Coast businesses.

No wonder nine Florida newspapers have endorsed the RESTORE Act.

In fact, a recent poll shows over 70 percent of Florida Republicans, Tea Party supporters, Independents and Democrats are more likely to support candidates who support the RESTORE Act.

Join them.

Tell candidates: if they want your support, they should publicly support the RESTORE Act.

Paid for by Environmental Defense Action Fund.

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Environmental Defense Action Fund (www.edactionfund.org) is at the forefront of educating legislators about developing new solutions that protect the natural world while growing the economy. Through grassroots and direct lobbying, EDAF amplifies Environmental Defense Fund’s ability to champion laws that are based on science, economic incentives, and, above all, the protection of our environment.

Media contact
Lori Sinsley, 415-293-6097(office), lsinsley@edf.org

What
An attorney from Environmental Defense Fund will testify today in Los Angeles about California’s Advanced Clear Cars Standards, and is available to speak with the media before and after she testifies.

Why
The United States (U.S.) is addicted to oil, which threatens our national and economy security and puts our health and environment at risk. The country consumes nearly a quarter of the oil consumed worldwide, but controls less than 2 percent of the supply. We import more than half of it from foreign countries led by unfriendly regimes. In 2008, we sent more than $1 billion a day overseas to pay for oil, the high price of which threatens our fragile economy, leaving consumers with less money to spend elsewhere.

More than 70 percent of imported oil is used for transportation, which accounts for 27 percent of our national carbon emissions, with on-road vehicles contributing about a third of the country’s smog-producing air pollution that impacts public health. In California’s Los Angeles region alone, transportation accounts for more than two-thirds of smog-forming pollution and more than 40 percent of the greenhouse gas pollution (GHG). Reducing emissions are an important part of efforts to ward off the worst consequences of climate change.

California’s Advanced Clean Cars program will protect our economy, cut climate pollution and protect health.

These standards will save consumers more than $3000 over the lifetime of a 2016 vehicle, are expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from light-duty vehicles by roughly 21 percent by 2030 and save 1.8 billion barrels of oil. The model year 2017-2025 standards currently under consideration at the state and federal level will save approximately 4 billion barrels of oil and 2 billion metric tons of emissions. Fuel savings are expected to far outweigh higher vehicle costs, and that the net benefits to society of the proposed standards will be as much as $421 billion over the lifetime of the program.

California’s Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV III) program is an important tool in helping to ward off the consequences of climate change. Existing and proposed LEV standards will provide Californians with health and environmental benefits by reducing criteria pollutants. California estimates that smog forming pollutants that cause serious health problems will be reduced by 75 percent by 2025 [PDF]. These estimated reductions are expected to avoid up to 530 premature deaths by 2025, and will help hard hit areas like the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin and the South Coast Air Basin meet health-based air quality standards.

EDF urges California to adopt these standards without delay in order to reap the many environmental, health and economic benefits this program offers and to continue its critical leadership in promoting advanced clean cars.

Who, how, when and where
Erica Morehouse of Environmental Defense Fund is available to comment before and after testimony, reachable at 919.971.6419 or in person at the hearing in the Board Room at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 700 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California 90012. (Map [PDF])

Download Morehouse’s testimony [PDF]

Media contact
Lori Sinsley, 415-293-6097(office), lsinsley@edf.org

About EDF: Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter at @EnvDefenseFund and @EDF_CA, at our California blog, California Dream 2.0, and on Facebook at facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, 202-905-5718, sstein@edf.org
Eric Pooley, (917) 859-2037, epooley@edf.org

In his State of the Union address, President Obama drew some firm lines in the sand, including a strong defense of the importance of clean energy to America’s long-term economic prosperity. 

The President ended 2011 with historic action to reduce mercury in our air, water, and food. Last night he stood by that action, declaring, “I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning, or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean.”

The President also said, “I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy.” He called for Congress to pass a clean energy standard and extend clean energy tax credits, while ending a century of tax subsidies for oil companies. 

On natural gas, the President committed to full disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing on federal lands, but he missed an opportunity to lay out the bargain that must be struck. We can help revolutionize America’s energy picture with our newly abundant supplies of gas, but to do so responsibly, we must get the environmental rules right to protect our air, land and water wherever ‘fracking’ wells are drilled. 

Getting the environmental rules right means disclosure of the chemicals used in drilling. It also means reasonable standards to ensure high-integrity well design, safe water and chemical management, and methane gas containment to prevent additional harm to our climate. With those kinds of safeguards in place, gas can reduce our environmental problems instead of increasing them. The blueprint for action already exists in the recommendations of the Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board. They must be swiftly implemented.

The President again rejected the false choice between a clean environment and jobs, saying, “we don’t have to choose between the environment and our economy.” His description of the remarkable comeback of American vehicle manufacturers, which are rapidly innovating to meet aggressive fuel economy standards, proved his point.

As he told the EPA staff in person earlier this month, “we don’t have to choose between dirty air and dirty water or a growing economy. We can make sure that we are doing right by our environment, and, in fact, putting people back to work all across America.”

He’s right about that, but make no mistake — in the weeks and months ahead, there will still be efforts in Washington to block efforts to change the environmentally-destructive and irresponsible course on which the nation, and the world, are bound.  

We at EDF will continue working to remind our lawmakers, and all Americans, that the science of climate change is clear and so are the economics. The fact is that we can build a more sustainable future using market-based approaches that preserve public health and the environment while creating new businesses and new jobs for American workers.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund 

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, (202) 905-5718, sstein@edf.org
Eric Pooley, (917) 859-2037, epooley@edf.org

“President Obama ended 2011 by taking a big step for healthy children — moving to get mercury out of our air, water and food. He should begin 2012 with another huge step toward a safer future, by using tonight’s State of the Union to reaffirm his commitment to addressing climate pollution from power plants. The costs of delay are profound. This is the right time for the President to take a stand for the common-sense rules and clean energy technologies essential to our long-term health, security, and prosperity.

“If the President declares a goal of expanding domestic natural gas production, he must also lay out what’s needed to ensure this production is safe: full disclosure of hydraulic fracturing chemicals and vigorous enforcement of strong regulations for well integrity, groundwater protection, wastewater disposal, and capture or flaring of methane emissions. It’s clear how to get this done. Strong recommendations in all of these areas have been sent to the Secretary of Energy by the DOE advisory board on which I was honored to serve. The recommendations are awaiting action. It’s time to put them into practice.

“As the President told the staff at EPA earlier this month, ‘We don’t have to choose between dirty air and dirty water or a growing economy. We can make sure that we are doing right by our environment and, in fact, putting people back to work all across America. When we put in place new common-sense rules to reduce air pollution, we create new jobs building and installing all sorts of pollution-control technology.’

“The President added, ‘Our next generation is so much more attuned to these issues than I was when I was growing up. I can tell you when I sit down and I talk to my kids, probably the area where they have the most sophisticated understanding of policy is when it comes to the environment. They understand that the decisions we make now are going to have an impact on their lives for many years to come. And their instincts are right. So your mission is vital.’

“The President was right to say those things to the hardworking staff at EPA. Tonight, he should deliver the same important message to the American people.”

- Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund

EDF will have experts available to comment after tonight’s speech. Please contact Sharyn Stein at 202-905-5718 to arrange interviews.

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See http://twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; http://facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

Contacts:
Lori Sinsley, 415.293.6097 (office), lsinsley@edf.org
Erica Morehouse, 919.971.6419 (mobile), emorehouse@edf.org

(San Francisco – January 24, 2012) Today in San Francisco, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are holding a public hearing on a landmark and broadly supported proposal to provide cleaner, more fuel efficient cars for America.  

Today’s hearing is the last of three on proposed fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017-2025 passenger vehicles. Erica Morehouse of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) will testify in favor of the historic proposal, which California played a key role developing through its clean cars program and by working collaboratively with the Obama Administration. 

“California continues to show bipartisan leadership in driving our state and nation toward cleaner cars and trucks,” said Morehouse. “These standards are incredibly important, one of the single most effective ways to reduce our dependence on oil while improving our energy security, economic security and climate security.”

The proposed standards call for fleet-wide average performance comparable to 54.5 miles per gallon, or 163 grams per mile of carbon dioxide, by model year 2025. Together with the model year 2012-2016 clean car standards finalized in 2010, the light duty fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas program is expected to reduce oil consumption by an estimated 12 billion barrels, cut heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution by over 6 billion metric tons, and provide $1.7 trillion in national fuel savings over the life of the program.

America’s fleet of cars and light trucks now consumes more than 360 million gallons of fuel per day and emits about 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution. Under the new standards, the United States will reduce our oil consumption by an estimated 2.2 million barrels a day by 2025 — more than our daily 2010 oil imports from the entire Persian Gulf. The new standards will also put money back in consumers’ pockets. Based on the projected fuel savings from today’s proposal, owners could save more than $4000 over the life of their new car or truck. Those fuel savings will offset higher vehicle costs in less than four years, and consumers who buy a vehicle with a typical five year loan will see immediate savings of about $12 a month.

Increasing fuel efficiency is an important part of the effort to ward off the worst consequences of climate change, which will have a significant impact on California. A recent peer-reviewed study by EDF and Duke University looked at the impact a changing climate will have on just one California industry: cattle ranching, which accounted for $2.09 billion of the state’s economy in 2010. The study found that climate change is likely to harm the economy and cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually by reducing the types of natural, non-irrigated vegetation available for livestock forage and the ability of forest ecosystems to store carbon dioxide.

California is moving in parallel with the EPA and DOT to establish fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards to develop a complimentary Advanced Clean Cars program to help reduce harmful particulate matter and other air pollutants emitted from light-duty vehicles — strengthening vital protections against deadly particulates and the key ingredients in smog. 

Such a rigorous program would have immediate and far-reaching health and environmental benefits, such as reducing a cascade of harmful airborne contaminants, ensuring longer and healthier lives, and helping states and communities across our country restore healthy air. 

“Timely finalization of these clean air standards would allow manufacturers to efficiently align technology upgrades with the proposed fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards — securing the suite of human health and environmental protections that are available from both standards through smart, optimized clean air investments for our communities, our state and the nation,” Morehouse said.

The proposed federal standards being considered in today’s EPA hearing have broad support from such widespread groups as auto manufacturers, United Auto Workers, small businesses, American consumers, veterans and military groups, economists, and environmental advocates – including EDF.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter at @EnvDefenseFund and @EDF_CA, at our California blog, California Dream 2.0, and on Facebook at facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

The second of three public hearings on a landmark and broadly supported proposal to provide cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars for America is taking place today in Philadelphia.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are holding the hearings on proposed fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017-2025 passenger vehicles. The proposed standards call for fleet-wide average performance comparable to 54.5 miles per gallon, or 163 grams per mile of carbon dioxide, by model year 2025.

Mark MacLeod of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is among those testifying in favor of the historic proposal.

“This is a big deal,” said MacLeod. “The proposed standards will help provide energy security, economic security and climate security. They’ll address the extensive climate-disrupting pollution from passenger vehicles, and will provide consumers with nearly double the fuel efficiency of today’s cars and light trucks. Plus, increasing the efficiency of our passenger fleet is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce our dependence on oil.”

Read MacLeod’s full testimony [PDF]

When today’s proposed standards are combined with the model year 2012-2016 clean car standards that were finalized in 2010, the light duty fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas program [PDF] is expected to reduce American oil consumption by an estimated 12 billion barrels, cut heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution by over 6 billion metric tons, and provide $1.7 trillion in national fuel savings over the life of the program.

America’s fleet of cars and light trucks now consumes more than 360 million gallons of fuel per day and emits about 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution. Under the new standards, we will reduce our oil consumption by an estimated 2.2 million barrels a day by 2025 — more than our daily 2010 oil imports from the entire Persian Gulf.

The new standards will also put money back in consumers’ pockets. Based on the projected fuel savings from today’s proposal, owners could save more than $4000 over the life of their new car or truck. Those fuel savings will offset higher vehicle costs in less than four years, and consumers who buy a vehicle with a typical five year loan will see immediate savings of about $12 a month.

The proposal already has broad support from widespread groups:

• auto manufacturers
• United Auto Workers
• small businesses
• American consumers [PDF]
• veterans and military groups
• economists [PDF]
• environmental advocates – including EDF

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contact:
Jennifer Witherspoon, 415.293.6067 jwitherspoon@edf.org
Erin McKenzie, 919.613.3652, erin.mckenzie@duke.edu

(San Francisco) Climate change is likely to harm California’s economy by reducing the types of natural, non-irrigated vegetation available for livestock forage and the ability of forest ecosystems to store carbon dioxide, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the scientific journal Climatic Change. The ability of ecosystems to store carbon dioxide is a key part of implementing the state’s climate law, the Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as Assembly Bill 32 or AB 32.

“Much of the talk about climate change in California has been about the impacts of sea level rise and droughts,” said study coauthor Linwood Pendleton, director of ocean and coastal policy at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, acting chief economist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and study author. “Our work shows that even the gritty worlds of cattle ranching and forestry may take it on the chin as California skies become increasingly carbon-rich.”

The study was conducted by researchers from Duke University, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Biology Institute, USDA Forest Service, Stanford University and the University of California at Santa Barbara. It examines how climate change will impact the fundamental character of California’s ecosystems and the valuable services that they provide to the economy.

To analyze the impact to carbon sequestration and natural, non-irrigated livestock forage—two important ecosystem services that contribute to the state’s economy—the researchers used climatic change scenario models [PDF] from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and three atmospheric-oceanic models.

The researchers identified that climate change would cause a consistent decline in conifer woodlands and forests through the end of the century that could decrease the amount of carbon storage in forestlands and harm the forestry industry. They also determined that climate change is likely to alter the amount and timing of rain, hail and snow in California, resulting in a 15 to 70 percent increase in shrub lands and a consistent decline in natural, non-irrigated forage production for livestock.

“A less stable climate will reduce the ability of natural landscapes to support cattle grazing, so ranchers may have to grow or buy extra hay instead of getting it for free from nature, as they do now,” said lead report author Rebecca Shaw, Ph.D., associate vice president of EDF’s ecosystems program and a working group member of the IPCC.

“We calculated that replacing lost forage caused by climate change with extra hay will hike costs for the California ranching industry by up to $235 million per year by 2070,” said Shaw. “That’s why it’s important for policymakers to better understand the value of services that nature provides to California’s economy, so that they can work to protect our natural resources and the economy in the face of climate change.”

“Fortunately, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act provides new economic opportunities for landowners—both inside and outside California—to be part of the climate solution,” said economist Belinda Morris, a report coauthor and regional director of EDF’s Center for Conservation Incentives. “Landowners can earn credits for capturing carbon on their land that they can sell to offset industrial carbon emissions. These credits will bring in a whole new revenue stream that can benefit the ranching industry, helping ranchers to keep ranching.”

Carbon credits are an integral part of the carbon cap-and-trade program that is scheduled to begin this year under the Global Warming Solutions Act. It allows for 8 percent of the law’s carbon emission reduction goals to be achieved by offsetting emissions with carbon credits.

“EDF is working with landowners, academic institutions and others to develop cost-effective methods for capturing carbon on rangelands that could generate new revenue streams for ranchers as part of a carbon credits market, while also improving soil fertility,” Morris said.

The peer-reviewed study “The Impact of Climate Change on California’s Ecosystem Services” is available online at http://www.springerlink.com/content/q773hv252l138240/fulltext.html.

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit www.edf.org/california. Follow us on Twitter @EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream.

Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, is a nonpartisan Institute at Duke University founded in 2005 to help decision makers create timely, effective, and economically practical solutions to the world’s critical environmental challenges. For more information, visit www.nicholasinstitute.duke.edu.

Press Release from Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Southern Environmental Law Center

Contacts:
SELC, Kathleen Sullivan 919-945-7106 or ksullivan@selcnc.org
Representing:
EDF, Michael Regan, 919-946-4907 (cell) or mregan@edf.org  
NPCA, Jeff Billington, 202- 419-3717 or jbillington@npca.org
SACE, Aaron Sarver, 865-235-1448 or aaron@cleanenergy.com
Sierra Club, Jenna Garland, 404-607-1262 x 222 or jenna.garland@sierraclub.org 

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Conservation groups today announced a settlement with Duke Energy that will cut pollution by phasing out over 1600 mega watts of dirty, old coal-fired power while still meeting customers’ energy needs.

The groups reached settlement in an administrative challenge to the state-issued air pollution permit for construction and operation of a new coal-fired unit at Duke Energy’s Cliffside power plant near Shelby, N.C. The Southern Environmental Law Center negotiated the settlement on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Under the settlement terms, Duke Energy will retire old coal-fired units that lack modern pollution control technology, totaling about 1667 megawatts or more than twice the capacity of the new unit at the Cliffside facility. Duke had previously included these coal-plant retirements in its non-binding, long-range plan submitted each year to the state utilities commission. The settlement agreement makes the planned retirements enforceable, thereby locking in reductions in air and water pollution that harms the health of children and families in the Carolinas.  

As a result of advocacy by the conservation groups and other clean energy advocates, the new Cliffside unit will operate under the most stringent acid gas controls in the United States, with a 99.9 percent reduction in such pollution. Acid gases, such as sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid, from coal-fired power plants can cause eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation, chest pain, coughing, nausea, impaired lung function, asthma attacks, and chronic bronchitis.

The settlement also tightens a permit provision that Duke Energy must demonstrate best practices to decrease toxic air pollution emitted during malfunction, shut down and start up situations.

Many old power plants operate today without modern pollution controls that are overdue since the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Over 400 coal- and oil-fired power plants nationwide release in excess of 386,000 tons of hazardous air pollutants into the atmosphere each year that are linked to cancer, heart disease, birth defects, asthma attacks and even premature death.

Statements from the attorney and groups involved follow:

“This settlement phases out some of the oldest, dirtiest, and most inefficient coal plants in the Carolinas,” said John Suttles, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center who represented the groups in court. “In addition to protecting people’s health and saving lives, it also will save ratepayers’ money by paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable energy future.”

“This settlement ends another chapter in the history of polluting coal generation that jeopardizes our health, air and water,” said Michael Regan, director of energy efficiency for Environmental Defense Fund.  “In the future, energy conservation and new technologies will provide North Carolina with reliable energy while protecting our families and economy.”

“The air quality improvements that will result from this settlement will provide present and future generations with substantially cleaner air in the region,” said Don Barger, NPCA’s Southeast Regional Director “The health of our people and parks, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park in particular, will long bear witness to the benefits realized from transitioning away from coal.”

“North Carolina has long been a clean air leader, and today’s settlement is another important step forward for the Tarheel State. This settlement is critical for the health of North Carolina’s families. Coal-fired electricity is the primary source of toxic mercury pollution and is a leading trigger of asthma attacks. These retirements will allow North Carolina to move beyond coal, and focus on clean energy solutions like solar and offshore wind,” said Mary Anne Hitt, Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign.

“We are pleased to finally have a settlement agreement with Duke Energy to offset the enormous amount of carbon dioxide that the Cliffside coal plant will emit over its lifespan,” stated Stephen Smith executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Duke’s old coal plants need to come offline to reduce the company’s contribution to climate change while making room for cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.”

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About Environment Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

About National Parks Conservation Association

Since 1919, the nonpartisan, non-profit National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its 340,000 members, and partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren. www.npca.org

About Sierra Club

Sierra Club is the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization with over 17,000 members in North Carolina and more than 1.4 million members and supporters nationwide. Since 2002, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign has successfully stopped 161 new coal plant proposals from moving forward, and is working to move our nation beyond coal to a clean, safe energy economy.

About Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices that create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. www.cleanenergy.org

About the Southern Environmental Law Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC’s team of more than 40 legal and policy experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use.

WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org