Maine Interfaith Power and Light is part of a nationwide effort to mobilize an interfaith response to global warming through environmental stewardship, renewable power use, and energy conservation. Realizing that that global warming cannot be stemmed by our actions alone, we actively support public policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
We advocate from a faith-based perspective that focuses on the moral imperative of taking action on climate change. We support the passage of strong climate and energy legislation by the United States Congress that will protect human life, create jobs, and transition America to a clean energy economy. Such policy must be based on sound science and put the long term need for environmental health, energy independence, national security, and stable energy costs ahead of the short term desires of special interests. MeIPL urges Maine’s senators to work for a Senate bill that at a minimum will achieve the following:
• 20% CO2 Reductions by 2020: To avoid 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit of warming, at least a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions must be achieved by 2020.
• 15% Energy Efficiency by 2020: Energy efficiency is the cheapest, fastest and cleanest way to reduce emissions. We must pass a federal Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) that will help use energy more efficiently and therefore save money on energy.
• Strong Limits on Coal: The EPA must retain its authority over issuing pollution permits to coal-fired power plants and other major emitters as well as set performance standards for new coal plants. By retaining EPA regulatory authority, the oldest and dirtiest coal plants will not be exempt from cleaning up their act when upgrades or expansions are made to their facilities.
• Support Clean Energy: Revenue generated from the distribution and sale of carbon credits or “allowances” must be earmarked to public purposes. The best and fairest way to distribute allowances is an auction, which will create a stream of revenue to address important goals, such as clean jobs development, and assistance to vulnerable communities.
We believe that a different future—where the worst consequences of climate change are avoided, the air and water are not polluted with carbon dioxide emissions, and a new clean energy economy provides a sustainable and secure existence that nurtures all life— is possible and within reach.
P.O. Box 4834 - Portland, ME 04112-4834 / (207) 721-0444 / info@meipl.org
