Help spread the good news about WA's Renewable Energy Standard

Help spread the good news about WA's Renewable Energy Standard On election week, Washington scored a significant victory for renewable energy that will reduce global warming emissions while boosting farm income and creating jobs with the passage of Initiative 937. I-937 requires the state's largest utilities to furnish 15 percent of their electricity generation from renewable sources by 2015. However, this good news has been lost in the election's follow-up coverage. We're working with media in Washington to get the coverage this victory merits—you can help us spread the word by sending in a letter-to-the–editor (LTE) or Op-Ed. Writing an LTE to your local or regional newspaper is a very effective (and easy!) way to reach a large audience with your message. Even if your letter is not published, it is important for educating and persuading editors. The more letters they receive on a given topic, the more likely they are to dedicate more time in their newspaper to that issue—both on the editorial page and in news articles. It clearly expresses the issue's importance to the community. Here are a few tips on writing an effective LTE: Follow the paper's directions. Information on how and to whom to submit a LTE is usually found right on the letters page in your paper. This often includes guidelines on what the paper looks for in LTEs. Follow these guidelines to increase the likelihood that your letter will be printed. Keep your letter short, focused, and interesting. In general, letters should be under 200 words; stay focused on one or two main points; and get to the main point in the first two sentences. If possible include interesting facts, relevant personal experience, and any local connections to the issue. If you letter is longer than 200 words, it will likely be edited or not printed. Write the letter in your own words. Editors want letters in their papers to be original and from a reader. Be sure that you take the time to write the letter in your own words. Include your information. Be sure to include your name, address, and daytime phone number; the paper will contact you before printing your letter. Click here for a list of newspapers in Washington. I've included some points to consider as you write your LTE below. Please be sure to let me know (blarson@ucsusa.org) if your letter gets published and where. Thanks, Ben Larson National Field Organizer Clean Energy Program Talking points Overshadowed in last week's election was news that the state of Washington became the twenty-first state plus the District of Columbia to adopt a renewable electricity standard, and the second state to do so via a ballot initiative. Under the provisions of I-937 (known as the “Clean Energy Initiative”), the state's largest utilities will be required to furnish 15 percent of their electricity generation from renewable sources by 2015. In addition, the initiative requires Washington utilities to pursue low-cost energy conservation opportunities with their customers. Washington voters have created a long-term market for clean energy technologies in their state, a significant step forward in reducing power plant production of heat-trapping gases responsible for global warming. According to a study of the initiative by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), I-937 would result in cutting 4.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually by 2025 – equivalent to taking 750,000 cars off the road. Action on renewable energy in Washington and a similar victory in Arizona, echoes a new sense of support for a federal renewable electricity standard. The week before the election, the Arizona Corporate Commission voted 4-1 to increase the state's use of renewable energy, making it the tenth state to increase or strengthen its renewable electricity standard. Combined with Washington's victory, this demonstrates that this effective policy is clearly supported in states throughout the country. At least four new Democratic Senate members and over 15 of the new members in the U.S. House of Representatives have indicated their support for measures that would encourage the use of more renewable energy. The new chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), has championed a federal renewable electricity standard that has passed the Senate three times. He has vowed to bring the measure before that body early in the new legislative session. If the federal government adopted a 10 percent by 2020 national standard—just two-thirds of the level required by Washington and Arizona—America would increase its total homegrown renewable power capacity fivefold over present levels. This level of development would reduce annual power plant carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 215 million metric tons nationally by 2020 – the equivalent of taking 24 millions cars, or nearly one tenth of the total U.S. auto fleet, off the road. Additional UCS resources available online: Renewable Energy—Mitigating Global Warming Renewable Electricity Standards at Work in the States The Washington Clean Energy Initiative: Effects of I-937 on Consumers, Jobs and the Economy Renewing America's Economy: U.S. Senate 10 Percent National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Save Consumers Money, and Create Jobs If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for the Union of Concerned Scientists.