Here's some pretty cool advanced stuff that is happening on the Hill this weekend in support of Energy Bill 2007, http://www.energybill2007.org, My coalition is running a display ad at the Capitol South metro station in Washington, DC, (see photos below) as well as a huge student lobbying effort about global warming and the Energy Bill (http://powershift07.org/lobby) going on right now and through Monday (see talking points below). This big event is called Power Shift Day 07 and you're welcome to explore the web site and also check out the talking points, either in HTML or as the original PDF. (Via Memes.org, SMNR, and Power Shift 07)

Display Ads at the Capitol South Metro Station

Power Shift 2007 Lobby Day Talking Points (PDF)

Dear Lobby Day Participants:

Thank you for your very important decision to participate in the Power Shift 2007 Lobby Day, the single largest lobby day on climate change ever! As you head to Capitol Hill this Monday you will be making history, and sending a very strong message to Congress that it’s time they listen up and get to work!

The strongest thing we are brining to capitol hill on Monday is ourselves. We have compelling stories to tell, and the ability to passionately articulate the urgent action we need our federal government to take to address the issue of global warming.

In this packet you will find a number of materials that we hope you find helpful as you prepare for your lobby visits. We’ve included a listing of all scheduled meetings with Senators, Representatives, and their Staff, a list of voting records to help you see where your members stand, and a sample lobby ask.

A few very important notes about the lobby ask itself. We as the Energy Action Coalition do not currently feel that there is any legislation that goes far enough to solve the global warming crisis. We have attempted to illustrate which current bills help us go in the right direction and what measures should be taken to get them to a better place than they are right now. The 1Sky ask that appears in the beginning of the document has been voted and agreed upon by the Energy Action Coalition – it represents a bold policy platform that takes us where we absolutely need to go. Its important to note that the rest of the ask we’ve outlined has not been voted on or supported by the Energy Action Coalition, but instead represents the input and advice of many leaders who have experience working on global warming legislation.

Go in and speak from your heart. Tell the members of Congress what matters to you, use these documents as much as you feel comfortable and know that there is no wrong position to advocate for as long as it’s what you believe.

Ask questions of the staff we have available, ask your peers, do your own research, and enjoy the fact that you are making history. It’s our job to hold our members of Congress accountable – they work for the American people, and as the leaders of the youth climate movement, we have to make sure they hear us loud and clear.

Good luck!

The Power Shift 2007 Team

Power Shift 2007
Lobby Day Talking Points

Introduction:
My name is _________. I go to school or live in _________. I've been fighting global warming at my school or in my community by _________.

Problem:
We are here today as students and voters of your district. We represent thousands more, back on our campuses that are deeply concerned about global warming. We are here to talk to you about the extreme urgency we see around global warming, and most importantly we are here to discuss the bold solutions that you must support in order to halt global warming and work towards a clean, efficient and just energy future for our generation and generations to come. The stakes are incredibly high for us; we are already seeing the effects of global warming all around the world, particularly in the most vulnerable communities that have done the least to cause the problem. TALK ABOUT LOCAL IMPACT HERE.

Leading scientists say that we’re nearing a “tipping point” where if we don’t make immediate and significant reductions to our global warming emissions, we run the risk of causing catastrophic changes to our country and the world. Fortunately, we have the ability and technology available to make changes that will dramatically cut global warming pollution and make a just transition to a clean energy economy. We need your leadership to help move us as quickly as we possibly can to implement these changes.

Platform:
We’re part of the bold new 1 Sky Campaign, and we want to talk first with you about our policy platform and then about specific pieces of legislation. The 1 Sky platform presents three priorities for what it takes to address global warming.

1. Green Jobs Now
Create 5 million new jobs through a Clean Energy Corps to conserve 20% of our energy by 2015. A sweeping national mobilization for efficient buildings and transit systems, healthy communities, and energy independence would create pathways out of poverty and service opportunities for millions of Americans that want to join the fight against global warming.

2. Cut Carbon 80% by 2050: Start by reducing emissions at least 30% by 2020
This is consistent with what the European Union has committed to do. We need to lead, not follow, in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our generation. 100% of any pollution allowances generated from a cap on emissions must be auctioned from Day 1.

3. No New Coal
Reprogram fossil fuel and highway investments for clean energy and smart transportation choices. Start with a firm moratorium on new coal plants.

These principles are BOLD, but our future is on the line and we need a serious response.

SUPPLEMENT: SUGGESTIONS ON EXISTING LEGISLATION

Note: These are suggestions, but are not an officially passed position by the Energy Action Coalition. We recommend choosing only a few things to talk about, and you should interject any positions not listed that you feel are important for the members to hear.

HOUSE AND SENATE: The Energy Bill
The most immediate thing you can do to help curb global warming pollution is to pass a very strong Energy Bill. For us, the bill must include:

• A minimum 35 mpg by 2020 fuel efficiency standard similar to the legislation that passed the Senate. We have the technology to go much farther, and urge you to support a significantly higher MPG standard.
• A Renewable Electricity Standard (RPS) similar to the legislation that passed the House that will require utilities to get at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources like wind and solar power by 2020. The RPS eligible resources should not include nuclear, municipal solid waste, or other non-organic waste and resources. 24 states have passed similar standards, and it is time for Congress to act.
• The inclusion of the Green Jobs Act of 2007 H.R. 2847
• Absolutely NO subsidies for Liquid Coal or Nuclear Energy.

These items must be included for the Energy Bill to be a down payment on the emissions reductions we need and put us on the path toward a new energy future.

ASK: Will you support a final Energy Bill that includes these policies?

HOUSE: For members NOT on the Waxman Safe Climate Act
We are here today to ask you to cosponsor the Safe Climate Act (HR 1590), a bill introduced by Representative Waxman that provides a comprehensive, science-based solution to global warming. The Safe Climate Act is the strongest global warming legislation in the House, because it contains four elements that must be in any realistic attempt to stop global warming:

• A national cap on global warming pollution that produces real reductions from today’s
  levels within a decade and reaches 80% reductions by 2050.
• A strong national renewable electricity standard by 2020. 15% Minimum.
• Strong standards to reduce global warming emissions from cars and SUVs.
• A national energy efficiency standard to cut down on our wasteful use of energy.

The Safe Climate Act aims to keep emissions below the critical tipping point. It would put in place the emission limits that the science shows are needed to avoid dangerous global warming.

Here’s how the bill works: it would freeze U.S. emissions in 2010 and then gradually reduce them by roughly 2% per year through 2020. We can make these reductions by using cleaner energy technologies that we already have such as hybrid cars and solar and wind power. After 2020, the bill cuts emissions by roughly 5% per year, as more advanced technologies, such as zero-energy buildings and biofuels from waste materials, become widely available.

To help achieve the emission reductions, the bill calls for a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, improved energy efficiency, and cleaner cars.

ASK: Will you co-sponsor the Safe Climate Act?

HOUSE: Co-Sponsor the Clean Water Protection Act (H.R. 2169)
We also ask you to reverse the rule change in the Clean Water Protection Act that altered the longstanding definition of "fill material" to include mining waste. This rule change was implemented in 2002 by the Army Corps of Engineers under the direction of the Bush administration and without congressional approval. This rule change accelerated the devastating practice of mountaintop removal coal mining and the destruction of more than 1,000 miles of Appalachian streams.

ASK: WILL YOU REVERSE THE RULE CHANGE TO THE CWPA?

SENATE: For members not on the Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Reduction Act
The recently released Warner-Lieberman Bill does not take us far enough in the essential areas necessary to solve global warming. We are here to ask you to cosponsor the Global Warming Reduction Act, a bill introduced by Senators Sanders and Boxer that provides a comprehensive, science-based solution to global warming. This is the strongest bill in the Senate because it contains four elements that must be in any realistic attempt to stop global warming:

• A national cap on global warming pollution that produces real reductions from today’s levels within a decade and reaches 80% reductions by 2050. We support at 30% reduction by 2020 to get on track with the EU commitments.
• A strong national renewable electricity standard. Minimum 15% by 2020.
• Strong standards to reduce global warming emissions from cars and SUVs.
• A national energy efficiency standard to cut down on our wasteful use of energy. The Global Warming Reduction Act aims to keep emissions below the critical tipping point. It would put in place the emission limits that the science shows are needed to avoid dangerous global warming.

Here’s how the bill works: it would freeze U.S. emissions in 2010 and then gradually reduce them by roughly 2% per year through 2020. We can make these reductions by using cleaner energy technologies that we already have such as hybrid cars and solar and wind power. After 2020, the bill cuts emissions by roughly 5% per year, as more advanced technologies, such as zero-energy buildings and biofuels from waste materials, become widely available. To help achieve the emission reductions, the bill calls for a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, improved energy efficiency, and cleaner cars.

ASK: Will you co-sponsor the Global Warming Reduction Act?

HOUSE AND SENATE: For Supporters of Waxman and Sanders-Boxer
I want to thank you for co-sponsoring the Safe Climate Act (House) or the Global Warming Reduction Act (Senate). This bill does what the science says we need to do to stop the worst effects of global warming, and we appreciate your support for it.

Now I want to ask you to sign our statement calling for auctioning the pollution allowances in any cap-and-trade system. We are calling on federal lawmakers to limit global warming emissions to the levels demanded by the science and to auction all pollution allowances in any cap-and-trade program.

• The atmosphere as a common resource and no one has a “right” to pollute. Many of the most egregious polluters have spent years lobbying against any action on global warming - - they should not get additional consideration for transition beyond the phase-in of the cap. 100 percent of pollution allowances should be auctioned from Day 1.
• The distribution of free allowances to polluters has caused windfall profits under the European trading system. Worse, they have not resulted in desired carbon emissions reductions. By auctioning pollution allowances, we prevent the accumulation of billions of dollars in windfall profits by polluters, and instead put those revenues to work on behalf of the public.
• Polluters should pay from day 1, and the proceeds should be invested to develop clean technologies and green job training programs, ease the burden on low-income Americans for higher energy costs, help workers suffering economic displacement, and provide physical protection for those in harm's way from global warming.

ASK: Will you sign the statement calling for auctioning the pollution allowances in any cap-and-trade system?

IN CLOSING: As our leader in Congress, we look to you to do everything you can to support strong, immediate global warming solutions. Please accept these adoption papers. We will follow up with you to see how you're progressing on these asks. Thank you for meeting with us.

FOLLOW-UP PLAN: For students meeting with staff: Ask for an in-district meeting with the Representative. For students meeting with their Congressperson: invite then to speak on the issue of global warming at their University. Remember that Focus the Nation is coming up on January 31, 2008 – a perfect opportunity!

DON’T FORGET TO FILL OUT YOUR LOBBY EVALUATION FORM!

Effective Grassroots Lobbying Meetings

1. Know your goals and roles going in. What do you want to get out of the meeting? Who starts the meeting off? Who will speak and when?
2. Who you are matters. Tell your story. Why do you care and why are you moved to act?
3. Deliver a clear message. Your message on climate change shouldn’t just be a list of bulleted policy points, but should address why the member of Congress or staff should care and act.
4. Demonstrate your power. The Millennial Generation is 50 million strong. We’re 1/4 of the potential electorate right now and will be 1/3 by 2015. We’re more active and more aware than any generation since the baby boomers. We’re not going away. And we vote.
5. Politely control the conversation. Remember what you came for. Politicians/staff often control conversations with small talk, talking about things other than the issue at hand, or asking questions they know you can’t answer. Stay focused on your goal and diplomatically move the conversation where you want it to go.
   1. Make a hard ask. “Can we count on you to support the principles of the 1Sky platform?”
   2. Shut up and listen. If you don’t make them respond, you’ll never know where they stand.
   3. Be strategic in your response: Thank supporters and help turn them into champions. If you can, give undecideds the information they need to become supporters or commit to get them something if you don’t know it. Neutralize the opposition if possible, but don’t waste too much time trying to argue with them.
6. Thank them for taking the time to meet, regardless of their position.

General Grassroots Lobbying Tips

1. Do: stay positive, talk in the public interest, view this as an educational process, and take the long view (no permanent enemies, no permanent friends).
2. Don’t: whine, threaten, bluff, misrepresent the facts, malign the opposition, personalize differences of opinion, or burn bridges.
3. Saying “I don’t know” is not a crime. It’s always OK to say that you don’t know but will follow up with the answer they’re looking for. You don’t have to be a policy expert to be effective.
4. Remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day. You’re not going to get everything you want out of this meeting. It’s the beginning of a critical relationship that will ultimately move them over time.
5. Follow up with any information you promise or commitments you make.

More Tips for Making Your Lobby Meetings Memorable

1. Hats Off to Green Jobs
Be sure to get a green hard hat on Monday morning before your lobby day visit or at the rally at noon. Wear it into your lobby meetings to remind your Congressperson about all of the opportunities that real solutions to global warming will bring. Ask them if they’d like to keep the green hard hat to demonstrate their support for creating a new Clean Energy Corps.

2. Adopt Your Congressperson
What better way to let Congress know that you care about them than to adopt them? At the end of your lobby meeting, give your representative adoption papers and let them know that you’ll be in touch soon to help them grow and mature into a Congressperson that will vote yes to bold and comprehensive climate legislation. Make sure to invite them to a Focus the Nation event at your school or in your community on January 31st, 2008.

3. Capture the Moment
Bring a small video camera or borrow one of the Flip digital camcorders we’ll have on hand for the day. At the end of your meeting, turn on the camera and ask your representative to commit to the 1 Sky platform on camera. Capture their response on film. Make sure you follow the detailed instructions that come with the flip camera.

4. So, Can I Give You a Call Sometime?
Before you leave the lobby meeting, take out your cell phone and ask your representative or the staff member for their number. Then, when you get back to school, spend an afternoon tabling with your cell phone. When people stop by your table, ask them to call their representatives to tell them that students demand solutions to global warming.

LOBBY DAY FAQ

NOTE: If you have any lobby day questions at any time, call our staff line at 877-328-1633.

What is a “lobby day,” anyway?
The Power Shift 2007 Lobby Day is your chance to meet your elected officials face-to-face and give them a piece of your mind on climate change. You and hundreds of your peers, representing all 50 states and hundreds of congressional districts, will go to Capitol Hill to demand bold change directly from your leaders and their staff, so they are held accountable to the demands of our generation.

What’s the timeline?
The earliest lobby meetings are scheduled for 10:00am, and you’ll want to show up a half-hour in advance outside your lobby meeting locations whenever possible (refer to your Master Schedule for your meeting times and locations, and then the Capitol Complex map for office building locations).

Where should I be when I’m not going to a meeting?
The Power Shift Rally Point for Monday is on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building. If you find yourself between meetings or without any more to attend, come back to the West Lawn where everyone else will be, so we can maintain a show of numbers and have everyone together for our rally at noon.

How many meetings am I going to?
Your top priority is to attend meetings for your state’s 2 Senators and your district’s Representative; that means you all have 3 meetings to go to! Refer to the Master Schedule included in this packet for those times and locations.

Can I go to a meeting for a state or district I’m not from?
Yes. In order to have the largest possible impact on our elected officials, you are highly encouraged to attend as many meetings as you can. The first priority should be to focus on your own representatives, but if you have the free time, definitely tag along with other groups on their lobby visits.

What should I wear?
Whatever you want. Some of you will want to dress to impress, while some of you will want to walk into meetings in t-shirts and sandals. Don’t let a dress code get in the way of your making an impact with what you say to your representatives. We’re all one big team, and when we deliver our message, that’s what counts.

What should I do if I have questions or run into any problems?
Feeling lost? Just remember to get back to the Capitol West Lawn, where our lobby support team will be able to help put you back on track.

DIRECTIONS TO THE U.S. CAPITOL WEST LAWN

BY FOOT: the United States Capitol is bordered by Constitution Avenue to the North, Independence Avenue to the South, and First Streets East and West. The Capitol WEST LAWN where we will hold our

RALLY AT NOON on Monday is directly in front of (east) of First Street NW, at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue from the north or Maryland Avenue from the south.

BY METRO: Metro maps can be found at www.wmata.com or in any metro station. The closest metro stops to the Capitol by distance are Federal Center SW and Capitol South (ORANGE LINE) and Judiciary Square and Union Station (RED LINE). If you are coming from the Northwest or West, take the Red Line to Glenmont or the Orange Line to New Carollton, respectively. If you are coming from the Northeast or East, take the Red Line to Shady Grove or the Orange Line to Vienna, respectively. If you are coming from points South, take the Blue, Yellow, or Green Line to L’Enfant Plaza metro station and transfer as appropriate or walk from there.

BY CAR: Please keep in mind that there is very little public parking available near the Capitol. Metered street parking is found along the Mall to the West of the Capitol. The nearest public parking facility is in Union Station, to the North of the Capitol. For more parking info, see below.

UNION STATION BUS PARKING

Union Station, located just a five minute’s walk from the Capitol West Lawn, has parking available for buses. There are 50-60 bus parking spaces available at Union Station on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rates for this type of parking are $20 from 7AM-7PM and $10 from 7PM-7AM. Because of the limited parking space available, Union Station strongly recommends that you make a reservation for a bus parking space, which costs $50 for a 24-hour period (7AM-7AM).

UNION STATION GARAGE PARKING

In Station Parking: There is a parking garage with about 1500 spaces adjacent to Union Station. The garage is entered from the front of Union Station by going up a ramp near the right-front corner of the station just as you pull off Columbus circle and approach the drop-off area. This garage is at least $5.00 per hour and $22.00 a day, but is the most convenient and safest to the station. The garage does take several major credit cards if you are parking your car for an overnight trip, you should park on the top level of the parking garage. The top level is the long term parking section.

NOTE: Don't leave your parking ticket in your car! Besides the fact that your car is safer if you don't leave your ticket in it, most station merchants will validate your station garage parking ticket such that you can get the first two hours (two hours is the maximum total discount) of your stay in the station parking garage for just two dollars! Just ask the merchant when you make a purchase or visit the Information desk!

5 OTHER CLOSEST GARAGE

LOCATIONS:
122 C St NW
Washington, DC 20001

425 3rd St SW
Washington, DC 20024

409 3rd St SW
Washington, DC 20024

400 N Capitol St NW
Washington, DC 20001

500 New Jersey Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

The truth is clear: people cause global warming and people must begin immediately to fix it.

The 1Sky Campaign is a newly-formed, science-based education and advocacy initiative uniting Americans in all 50 states behind a clear vision and simple platform for solutions to climate change that match the scale of the challenge. 1Sky is mobilizing Americans to create the political will needed to pass stronger policies that deliver real solutions to global warming and to strengthen those policies in the next decade and beyond.

The 1Sky Vision:

Green Jobs Now:
5 million green jobs reducing energy consumption 20% by 2015, including the creation of a Clean Energy Corps.

Cut Carbon 80% by 2050
Freeze climate pollution levels now and cut them at least 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

No New Coal:
A moratorium on new coal-fired power plants.
Invest in clean energy technology.

Partners:

1Sky is mobilizing and partnering with Americans across the country and across sectors, bringing together hundreds of businesses, faith-based organizations, student coalitions, environmental advocates, and many others to build a sustained, proactive, nationwide movement dedicated to addressing climate change.

Endorsements for 1Sky have come from such disparate sources as: Reverend Sally Bingham, Director, Regeneration Project; Rocky Anderson, Mayor of Salt Lake City; James Hansen, NASA Scientist; Energy Action Coalition; Step It Up; National Wildlife Federation; Interfaith Power & Light; Natural Resources Defense Club; Sierra Club; US PIRG; Greenpeace; League of Conservation Voters; U.S. Climate Action Network, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Green for All, and many additional local, state, and regional groups.

For more information, visit www.1SkyCampaign.org.

THE CALL FOR A NATIONAL CLEAN ENERGY CORPS

Millions of Americans wish to serve in the fight against global warming, but lack organized opportunities to do so. Millions of others seek pathways out of poverty or better employment in the clean energy economy, but lack the needed skills and connections to employers. We propose a national Clean Energy Corps (CEC) to meet both needs while significantly reducing national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CEC would be a combined service, training, and employment effort, concentrated in cities and neglected communities, to combat climate disruption and demonstrate the equity and employment promise of the clean energy economy. CEC would engage in diverse actions but prominently include efforts to improve the energy efficiency of buildings — the source of two-fifths of national energy consumption and GHG emissions. Such improvements can pay for themselves through their resulting energy savings, making this part of CEC’s program largely self-financing. It will generate enormous demand for new jobs in communities that need them.

CEC’s integrated approach to climate mitigation builds support for that effort by demonstrating its immediate benefit to our communities and offering all citizens opportunities for meaningful service to it. We call for a $200 billion federal investment in the effort over the next decade. This investment will pay for itself in direct energy savings, increased worker productivity, reduced social service and health costs, and reduced GHG emissions.

• $10 billion for enhanced national environmental service. Americans are convinced of the threat of global warming and overwhelmingly support national service. CEC would expand national service opportunities — within AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America — to combat climate change. The $10 billion new commitment, ramped up over the course of the decade, would effectively double federal support for national service.
• $50 billion for state and local green jobs development. Low-income and working-class Americans need training and other assistance to gain jobs in the clean energy economy. The Green Jobs Act of 2007 H.R. 2847 is a first step toward recognizing this. CEC would go further, with $5 billion available annually — on a match basis with states and block grants to our cash-strapped cities — for regional and community green jobs workforce development. At least half this new investment should go toward job preparation, matching, and retention efforts for the unemployed or poor.
• $140 billion for a revolving loan fund for building efficiency. Efficiency is the cleanest and cheapest way to meet our energy needs, and building energy efficiency offers enormous opportunities for energy savings and good green jobs. We propose a federal revolving loan fund to help capitalize this work. Supplemented with other public dollars from states and cities, and used throughout to leverage private capital investment, the fund would be paid for through realized energy savings.

CEC Working Group (institutional affiliations for identification purposes only)—Jeremy Hays (Apollo Alliance), Bracken Hendricks (Center for American Progress Action Fund), Van Jones (Ella Baker Center for Human Rights/Green for All), Ian Kim (Ella Baker Center), Billy Parish (Energy Action Coalition), Sally Prouty (The Corps Network), Joel Rogers (UW-Madison/COWS/Center for State Innovation), Gene Sofer (Susquehanna Group), Lisbeth Shepherd (Innovations in Civic Participation), Susan Stroud (Innovations in Civic Participation). For more information, contact Lisbeth Shepherd: 510.910.6900, lisbethshepherd@yahoo.com.

LOBBY DAY EVALUTATION

Thank you for participating in the largest youth lobby day on climate change ever! YOU have made history today. But this is only the beginning – we need to keep the momentum going and keep track of where our politicians stand on securing our future. Please fill out this form as best as you can FOR EACH OFFICE YOU VISITED, and return it to Power Shift Staff on the Capitol West Lawn OR email it to lobby@powershift07.org.

NAME OF PERSON(S) YOU MET WITH:

YOUR NAME & CONTACT INFORMATION:

How did the representative or staffer you met with react to the following parts of the 1Sky platform: 1) Green Jobs 2) Energy Conservation / Emissions Cuts 3) No New Coal?

How did they respond to your ask on the Energy Bill? Specifically, the 35mpg standard? The RES standard? The Green Jobs Act? The no subsidies for coal or nuclear?

If you visited a Senate office, did the Senator/staff agree to co-sponsor the Sanders-Boxer Global Warming Reduction Act? And if you visited a House office, did they agree to cosponsor the Waxman Safe Climate Act? What did they say they have done / would do?

Did the representative/staff support 100% auctioning of pollution permits under any capand- trade system? If not, what did they say they would do?

Please describe the rest of your discussion in as much detail as possible. Don’t leave anything out – the slightest point can be very important to holding members accountable!

Photos of the Display Ad at the Capitol South Metro Station

Other Image Sizes: 100 px, 200px. 300px, 400px, 500px, Full Resolution

Other Image Sizes: 100 px, 200px. 300px, 400px, 500px, Full Resolution