WHAT YOU AND YOUR LEAGUE CAN DO to help build support for, and promote compliance with, the Clean Power Plan
I. First, some homework --
> What is the general view of the Clean Power Plan in your state?
- Policy makers in many states are strongly supportive of the CPP.
- Eighteen states (CA, CT, DE, HI, IL, IA, MA, ME, MD, MN, NH, NM, NY, OR, RI, VA, VT, WA), the District of Columbia, and several major cities have filed a motion to intervene in support of the CPP in the case pending in the D.C. Circuit Court.
- Decision-makers in many other states are challenging the CPP.
- Twenty-eight states have filed suit to block the CPP (AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, SC, SD, TX, UT, WV, WI, and WY -- plus NV, which has filed an amicus brief in the case).
> What are the CPP goals for your state and what efforts are underway to develop your state's Implementation Plan? Even some states that are challenging the CPP in the courts are simultaneously working on implementation plans rather than wait for a final court ruling. (Check E&E's Power Plan Hub for the latest news about your state.)
> What other state and/or local organizations supportive of the CPP are active in your area? What initiatives are being planned or are underway to promote implementation of the CPP? How might your League join in these efforts? Local chapters of national climate-activist groups are good potential partners, for example --
- Sierra Club vigorously supports the CPP, and many of its members and local chapters are actively promoting development of State Implementation Plans.
- Interfaith Power & Light, through its affiliiates in 40 states, engages faith communities and individuals in collective action on climate change. IPL leadership has expressed strong support for the CPP.
- Audubon, with over 450 local chapters, encourages action in support of the CPP.
- The Nature Conservancy is working at the state level through its 50 State Climate Change Strategy to promote reductions in GHG emissions and a prosperous clean energy future.
- Moms Clean Air Force, a national movement of moms and dads working to protect their children's right to clean air, encourages citizen action in support of the CPP.
- Environmental Defense Fund partners with many different stakeholders on a variety of climate initiatives, including support for the CPP. Moms Clean Air Force is an EDF partner.
- NAACP, recognizing that global climate change has a disproportionate impact on communities of color in the U.S. and around the world, has created a Climate Justice Initiative to educate and mobilize communities to address this human and civil rights issue.
- Physicions for Social Responsibility recognizes the many health benefits to be realized through the CPP and has formed Climate Health Action Teams to work to ensure that states' CPP implementation plan are as health-protective as possible.
- The Union of Concerned Scientists is working to ensure that states act promptly to prioritize renewables and energy efficiency as they comply with the CPP.
- World Wildlife Fund endorses the CPP and ecourages business leaders to do their part by following the emissions-reduction strategy outlined in its 3% Solution: Driving Profits Through Carbon Reduction.
- Ceres mobilizes businesses and investors to call for strong climate and energy policies and has created an interactive state map showing business support for the CPP.
> What is the status of Our Children's Trust litigation in your state? Young people have filed lawsuits or petitions against all 50 states for their failure to reduce GHG emissions. They have asked the courts to require the governments to take all necessary actions to reduce carbon emissions in line with the best climate science. Information about the status of these state actions is available here.
II. Decide how your League can help advance implementation (or acceptance) of the Clean Power Plan
> Build awareness and understanding of the Clean Power Plan. Make use of what you have learned about the general view of the CPP in your state to develop programs and information that will resonate with your particular audiences.
- Sponsor (or even better, co-sponsor) a forum to build community understanding of the CPP. Suggested topics --
- Current and projected impacts of the changing climate in your community/region
- Rationale for cutting emissions from the electric power sector
- Projected health benefits of the CPP
- CPP goal for your state and strategies for reducing emissions
- Status of implementation efforts in your state
- What people can do
- Share information about the CPP on your League's Facebook page and through other social media.
- Follow local media coverage of climate and energy issues. Send email notes of appreciation to reporters for good coverage and bring topics to their attention for future stories.
- Submit letters to the editor and/or op-ed articles about the CPP and the benefits that implementation will bring to your community/region.
> Support development of your state's implementation plan.
- Find out what steps CPP supporters are proposing and sign on in support, if appropriate.
- Visit with your state representative(s) to discuss state action on the CPP and to encourage his/her support.
- If your League has an opportunity to participate in substantive discussions about the strategies to emphasize in your State Implementation Plan, prepare for these discussions by reading through Implementing EPA's Clean Power Plan: A Menu of Options, a detailed exploration of 25 approaches to reducing GHG emissions from the electric power sector. Note in particular the chapters on energy efficiency (11-15), clean energy policies (16-18, 20), and market-based approaches (24-25).
Resources
- E&E's Power Plan Hub includes an interactive map with information about each state's CPP goal, an overview of each state's reaction to the CPP, and other documents and newstories pertinent to each state.
- Clean Power: The Case for Carbon Pollution Limits from the Natural Resources Defense Council is a detailed resource publication discussing the significant benefits to be realized by cutting dangerous carbon pollution from the nation's power plants. It includes sections on health, extreme weather, national security, the cost of inaction, grid reliability, U.S. leadership internationally, and the moral imperative.
- Climate Reality Project's Clean Power Plan Activist Kit includes facts about the projected benefits of the CPP and sample social media posts, graphics, and tips on best practices.
- Environmental Defense Fund has collected state-by-state resources related to the CPP, climate impacts, and emissions reduction targets.
- The Third National Climate Assessment from the U.S. Global Change Research Program provides detailed information about how climate change is affecting each region of the country.
- Implementing EPA's Clean Power Plan: A Menu of Options, produced by the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, examines 25 technologies, programs, and policies that could be used to reduce GHG emissions as part of a State Implementation Plan. Each chapter profiles one of these strategies, including the pros and cons of the approach, implementation experience, GHG reduction potential, co-benefits of the approach, including benefits to society and the utility system, costs and cost-effectiveness.
- A new Online Organizing Toolkit from the LWVUS offers suggestions for developing an effective e-communications plan, including ideas for websites, email, and social media. How to Create a Facebook Page for Your League is another e-communications resource from the LWVUS.
Last updated: 8/5/2016.