What you can do...
click here to download a climate action fact sheet
1.) Sign On to a Letter from Faith Communities to Senators Snowe and Collins (and help gather signatures)
- Sign on here to add your name to a letter from people of faith urging Senators Snowe and Collins to pass a strong climate and clean energy bill.
- View/download a copy of the sign on letter and gather signatures from others. Print off as many copies as needed and ask others to sign on! (see return mailing instructions on the materials)
2.) Call & Write Senators Snowe and Collins
Using the elements below and your own words, contact both Senators Snowe and Collins today and ask for a strong climate bill from the U.S. Senate.
Call Senators Snowe and Collins
Senator Snowe: 207-874-0883 ( Portland office)
202-224-5344 (D.C. office)
Senator Collins: 207-780-3575 ( Portland office)
202-224-2523 (D.C. office)
“Hi, my name is _____ and I live in _____, ME. I’m calling to urge Senator ______ to pass strong climate and energy legislation, which will reduce global warming pollution and create millions of green jobs for Americans. [Optional: insert any of the points below].”
Send a Letter to Senators Snowe and Collins
--a personal handwritten letter is incredibly powerful!
Senator Snowe:
154 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington , DC 20510
Senator Collins:
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington , DC 20510
3.) Write a Letter to the Editor of Your Local Newspaper
- Keep it short and to the point! 200 words or less
- Make it personal you can use an anecdote to demonstrate a point or speak from your faith
- Use facts and statistics when appropriate, but don’t overdo it
- Reference the messaging elements below, a recent article, letter, or editorial the paper has published
- Include your name and contact information
Resources:
Recent Media:
- 1/28 guest editorial in
the Portland Press Herald: Climate a concern for faith communities
by Sam Saltonstall
- 1/31 Portland Press Herald article: Faith groups lobby Congress for climate bill
Elements of a Strong Climate Bill…
• Strong mid-term and long-term CO2 Reductions: In order to meet the international community goal of avoiding 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit of warming, we can and must achieve at least a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020; and an 80% reduction by 2050.
• 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 directed towards building a clean energy economy.
• Protect the vulnerable: The bill must ensure that those most vulnerable and directly affected by climate change are protected and provided needed assistance.
P.O. Box 4834 - Portland, ME 04112-4834 / (207) 721-0444 / info@meipl.org
