Senator Gillibrand's response to Aunt Cat

Aunt Cat...YOU ROCK OUR PLANET!

NOTE TO EVERYONE ELSE: Copenhagen is not looking good for the U.S. in terms of commitments this year - just one more reason to step it up and get your voice heard.   To put it in the simplest terms, our carbon load should be no more than 350ppm and right now we are well above those numbers.  It truly is crucial that we all do our part.  If we can't get our country to sign the pact, then we can start where it all matters most anyway - with ourselves. Do your research and find ways that you can stop wasting energy, making rubbish, buying more crap than you or any one else needs and keep letting your Senator's know that you want a healthy planet for your family to survive on!

November 16, 2009


Dear Ms. Torrice,

Thank you for contacting me about your concerns about global climate change. This is a critical issue facing the world community, and as your Senator, I am working to pass comprehensive climate change legislation that will promote the growth of a green economy while setting a framework to slow, stop and reverse the effects of global climate change. The evidence of climate change is clear. It is imperative that we take significant steps now to address this global threat for the sake of our environment, our economy and our national security. As the only Senator serving on the Environment & Public Works, Agriculture, and the Foreign Relations Committees, I am in a unique position to advocate for the State of New York during this upcoming debate.

I recently voted for the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power (CEJAP) Act when it was considered in the Environment & Public Works (EPW) Committee. As the Senate continues to consider comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation, I believe we must concentrate our efforts on breaking our dependence on foreign oil, increasing energy efficiency and the use of conservation technologies, and investing in the research and development of clean, renewable energy sources to power all sectors of the economy. New York is a leader in the fight against climate change, and it is critical that this legislation accounts for the actions that New York and other states have taken in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in conservation.

I have worked to ensure that the EPW legislation addresses the transportation needs of New York. I was a strong proponent of increasing the percentage of allocations dedicated to transportation projects, by way of the Clean-TEA provisions, from 1 to 5 percent. Additionally, I fought to include a Green Taxis provision, which will amend the Clean Air Act to allow local governments to set more stringent fuel economy standards for taxi fleets. Agriculture and forestry are also critical to achieving success, and I am working to ensure that New York's farmlands and forests can participate in an offsets program.

One of my top priorities regarding climate legislation is to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retains its authority over our nation's oldest and dirtiest coal fire power plants. These plants, many of which are scheduled to be decommissioned, must not be allowed to continue to operate under the lax standards that they now follow. Under this bill, all new plants must meet rigorous emission standards, and if these plants are to continue to operate, they too should abide by the new performance standard.

It is also my goal to promote innovation and entrepreneurship as a key tool in addressing climate change; I have introduced legislation to advance development of the clean tech sector. I fought to ensure that the National Clean Technology Business Competition Act was included as part of the CEJAP Act. This program, within CEJAP, will invest $50 million through a new Department of Energy grant program to cultivate national clean technology business competitions. This proposal will not only create clean energy jobs in New York, but will also bolster the hard-hit manufacturing and financial sectors by spurring innovation and creating new investment opportunities. Clean tech business competitions in New York will also help retain talented engineers and scientists in New York State, like those found at universities and research centers from Brookhaven to Buffalo and everywhere in between.

This issue is too important to our nation's future to delay, and your passion and advocacy will be important in the coming weeks and months. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me to voice your support for the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. I ask that you continue to stay in contact with my office during this critical process. For more information and to stay connected to me during this important process please visit my website http://gillibrand.senate.gov and sign up for my e-newsletter.

Sincerely yours,
Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator