[MCN] Take Action to Stop 'Energy Policy Modernization Act'

[Matthew Koehler]

Heads up!

Another bad package of bills and riders dealing with energy, public lands,
fracking, wildlife and undermining the National Environmental Policy Act
and the Endangered Species Act is working it's way through the
GOP-controlled Congress.

Below are two action alerts about the so-called "Energy Policy
Modernization Act." Please take action, sign, then share.

In addition to the information below, of particular Montana interest, is
the fact that Senator Tester and Senator Daines have snuck a provision in
the Act that would grant an extension to the possibility for a fairly
large-scale hydro-energy project on the Gibson Dam along the Rocky Mountain
Front. This project would require the construction of over 26 miles of
transmissions lines through Sun Canyon, along the Sun River and through the
Rocky Mountain Front all the way to Choteau. Through portions of the wild
and rugged Sun Canyon, trees and vegetation would need to be cleared in a
wide swatch on both sides of the transmission lines.

Thank you to those who take action and help spread the word!

Matthew Koehler
WildWest Institute

*Tell Senate Democrats: Stop the Energy Policy Modernization Act*

ACT NOW: http://bit.ly/23Lb3hf

Late last year, the Republican House of Representatives passed a dangerous
energy bill which the Obama administration promptly opposed, recommending a
veto.

Now the Senate is debating a version of the bill, which could be voted on
before the end of this week. Despite the fact that the bill still contains
harmful provisions which would undermine environmental protections, promote
fossil fuel extraction, and hamper energy efficiency efforts, many
Democrats, including Democratic leadership [and Senator Jon Tester], are
joining Republicans in support of the bill.

If the bill passes with support from Democratic and Republican party
leadership, President Obama will be under tremendous pressure to sign it.
We need to speak out to urge Senate Democrats to stop this bill before it
goes any further.

*Overall, this energy bill continues failed policies which simply do not
match the urgent need to moving to clean energy and reduce climate
pollution.*

*It contains billions of dollars in giveaways to the toxic, failing coal
industry. It undermines the bedrock National Environmental Policy Act by
expediting fracked gas export applications, which would also increase
fracking. And it blocks federal energy efficiency efforts including in
federal buildings, and implementation of a Department of Energy rule
improving efficiency of home furnaces — which would be the biggest natural
gas saving efficiency standards ever established.*

A slew of extreme amendments from Republicans could make the bill even
worse, including attempts to promote extraction of extreme fuels like tar
sands and oil shale, roll back new regulations on offshore drilling and
coal ash, speed pipeline applications and block President Obama’s just
announced moratorium on new coal sales on federal lands.

*While the bill also contains some positive provisions on land and water
conservation and energy efficiency, the good is far outweighed by the bad.*

The last energy legislation passed by Congress was during the Bush
administration in 2007. In that time the world has changed. The urgency of
climate change has only increased, renewable energy has surged, and the
U.N. countries made a landmark agreement to try to limit global warming to
1.5 degrees celsius. It is long past time for an energy bill that rapidly
promotes our transition to clean energy — not double down on more fossil
fuel extraction.


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*URGENT: Protect Wolves*
*Help Stop Lethal Senate Amendments *

ACT NOW: http://bit.ly/1K0EbuI

*Anti-wildlife amendments to the Energy Policy Modernization Act threaten
to turn the clock back on wildlife conservation.*

These amendments would undermine protections for individual species, like
wolves, and tear away at the very fabric of the Endangered Species Act, by
limiting citizens' access to the courts.

In this Congress, more than 90 bills, riders and amendments have been
proposed to undermine this bedrock environmental law.

Please – tell your senator to oppose these lethal amendments to the Energy
Bill.
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