Scotts Contracting - StLouis Renewable Energy: Re: Enviros: 1

9.15.2010

Re: Enviros: 1 - Big Polluters: $514 Million

On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Environmental Defense Action Fund <takeaction@edf.org> wrote:

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Dear Scotts,

Big polluters and K St lobbyists are taking aim on EPA's power to curb climate emissions under the Clean Air Act—and we urgently need your help to defend it.

Tell your Senators to let EPA do its job.

Good news broke late yesterday that the Senate Appropriations Committee would cancel this week's mark up of the EPA and Interior Department spending bill, temporarily scuttling plans to vote on a big polluter-supported amendment that would restrict EPA's plans to limit America's climate pollution.

This is a short-term victory and we want to thank the tens of thousands of EDF supporters who emailed their Senators and donated to our campaign.

But, this is no time to hang a "Mission Accomplished" banner.

Polluting interests have already spent $514 million to lobby against climate legislation. And we know from recent experience that there is no dirty trick or sleazy tactic they won't use to block EPA's plan to cut America's climate pollution.

Please take this opportunity to email your Senators and make sure they know you will continue to oppose any and all efforts to limit EPA's efforts to reduce America's climate pollution or to weaken America's air pollution laws.

More Background

The EPA is scheduled to begin implementing new climate pollution limits on January 1. This stems from a 2007 Supreme Court ruling declaring that the EPA not only has the authority to regulate carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act, it has the obligation to do so.

Last year, the EPA issued an endangerment finding detailing the threat of global warming to human health. EPA later issued its plans to initiate pollution limits starting with America's biggest emitters.

When the Senate decided it was not going to vote on a comprehensive climate and energy bill this year, the full attention of the big polluters and their high-priced lobbyists shifted to EPA climate action.

Senators from both sides of the aisle offered legislative proposals to limit EPA authority, including an insidious plan to attach an amendment to must-pass appropriations bills, like the EPA-Interior bill.

This is part of a broader strategy by the big polluters to strike down a wide range of pollution limits. Corporate lobbyists are also pushing to weaken the "boiler rule," which limits emissions of toxic mercury, dioxins, and other hazardous pollutants.

And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has pledged to spend $100 million over the next few years to promote big polluter and other corporate interests. EPA climate action and other pollution limits are among their top targets. We must remain vigilant in the fight.

Please email your Senators today to make sure they know you support EPA climate action and you support America's clean air laws.

We dodged a bullet this week. With your continued support, we'll stay on top of this threat.

Thank you for your activism and support,
Environmental Defense Action Fund

Environmental Defense Action Fund
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20009
1-800-591-1919