In the News

Jared Polis, who won Colorado's gubernatorial race to become the nation's first openly gay governor-elect, is charting the state's bold path towards clean energy. The Democrat ran on a platform of transitioning Colorado to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040—the most ambitious renewable goal in the entire country. Polis had the endorsement of the Colorado Sierra Club, which praised Polis for being a leader on environmental issues during his time in Congress. The press release noted that Polis is a founding member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.

Members of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition sent a letter Tuesday to House and Senate appropriators urging higher funding levels for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., told American Shipper that Trump’s plan resembles a “skeleton” with “no meat on it,” in contrast with the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition’s plan. Lowenthal’s approach and SEEC’s plan seek to eschew the notion that environmental sustainability and economic growth are competing goals, he said. “What competes with economic development is a lack of money. That’s what stopped all these projects" Lowenthal said. "Yeah, we can always look at things that get in our way, but environmental protections are there for a reason, and we can work with them to create a better society for all involved.” SEEC co-chairs Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., Gerald Connolly, D-Va., and Doris Matsui, D-Calif., will "absolutely" follow up with Shuster and members of House GOP leadership to push for incorporation of their proposal in any sweeping infrastructure legislation, a spokesperson for the coalition said in an email. "The SEEC proposal would help make smart, long-term investments to restore critical public infrastructure and help ensure the U.S. economy remains ready to compete," she said.

A coalition of 55 House Democrats called the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition plans to release its own set of principles today, calling for investments in things like sustainable transportation, water infrastructure and reducing carbon emissions.

Rep. Mike Quigley wants you to know that America's national parks are threatened by climate change. Last week, Quigley and Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire visited the southern tip of the Sunshine State to assess how rising temperatures are affecting Everglades National Park. This is the second national parks climate change tour organized by Quigley, who serves as vice chairman of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.

A group of Democratic lawmakers is urging U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to contemplate the possible health impacts associated with rewriting the Clean Power Plan. The letter was signed by members of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, including Reps. Nanette Barragán of California, Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey, Doris Matsui of California, Gerald Connolly of Virginia, Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, Chellie Pingree of Maine, Alan Lowenthal of California, Jared Polis of Colorado and Mike Quigley of Illinois. More are expected to join the missive.

In an effort to put pressure on Pruitt as he seeks to repeal the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, House Democrats are pointing to possible negative health effects from the type of replacement rule the agency is considering. Leaders of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition are collecting signatures on a letter outlining how requiring efficiency upgrades at coal plants — rather than encouraging a shift away from coal-fired power — could cause more premature deaths than doing nothing at all.

Since the hurricanes, 23 members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition asked Pruitt — who has downplayed humans’ impact on climate change — how he will prepare for Superfund cleanups and other toxic removals “in light of increases in extreme weather.”