October 2009

Coffee too hot
If global warming weren’t bad enough, now we learn that rising temperatures might favor the coffee berry borer which is bad for the beans. The good news is that this threat might encourage more coffee growers to cultivate shade-grown coffee. Shade harbors the borers’ predators.

Our first step
New fuel economy standards issued in September by the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are the Nation’s first plan to regulate greenhouse gases. The rules will accelerate the adoption of the 35.5 mpg standard four years ahead of schedule. The rules must be finalized by March 2010.

Cars, light trucks, and SUVs emit almost 60% of our transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. While a significant change from actions of the previous administration, the new standards still fall short of what Europe, Japan, and China have right now. The plan will increase fuel efficiency gradually with the 35.5 mpg goal being achieved by 2016 models.

Dirty tricks
Representative Ed Markey (D-MA), Chair of the House Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, expressed outrage at forged letters urging legislators to vote against the climate and energy bill. The forgeries purported to be from prominent civil rights groups, an American Legion Chapter, and other groups but were actually from coal lobbyists.

PG&E quits Chamber
PG&E has quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of the Chamber’s extreme views on global warming. This announcement comes on the heels of the Sierra Club’s petition to the Chamber, which garnered 31,000 signers asking the member businesses to tell the Chamber to reflect their majority viewpoint that the science on global warming is settled and action must be taken.

Walkable worth more
A study of home prices in Seattle revealed that people are willing to pay more for houses that are in walking distance of stores and services. Of course they are. Walking saves money and keeps you in shape!

Blow the whistle
If you know of any staged events, forged letters, or other unethical or criminal behavior designed to kill the clean energy bill, here’s your chance to blow the whistle. Call the free hotline created by the AAUW, NAACP, National Wildlife Federation, Center for American Progress Action Fund, and the Sierra Club. 1-866-363-4648.

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