Friends Committee on National Legislation Support Group

FCNL Shares Directions on Energy and Environmental Policy at FCNL Annual Meeting

At the recent FCNL annual meeting in Washington, DC 175+ Friends from across the country and various branches of the Religious Society of Friends met to bid farewell to its beloved general secretary of 20 years, Joe Volk; appoint and welcome Diane Randall from Hartford Meeting as its new general secretary; establish legislative priorities to guide the work of its lobbying staff in the 112th Congress; and approve a budget of $3.4m, which both fairly represents the program priorities established and brings projected expenses in line with a reasonable level of giving.  

In small worship sharing groups, plenary meetings for worship for the conduct of business, and workshops on various FCNL programmatic areas, annual meeting attenders learned where staff see legislative opportunities ahead in the 112th Congress. Examples include the real possibility of a reduction in military spending based on recommendations of the President's deficit commission, approval of a bipartisan resolution to prevent genocide and mass atrocities; and  ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

In the area of energy and environmental policy, some of us from QEW were disappointed that promotion of "sustainable agriculture" was deleted from the approved version of the main body of the statement of legislative priorities and bumped to the document's closing paragraph, which identifies actions to be taken "as way opens." Some of us had also hoped for reference to a transition to local sustainable economies as part of a definition of national security that was included in the preamble to the legislative priorities. In the context of discerning these priorities, Friends were reminded that priorities are intended to focus on where FCNL staff have particular expertise and can assume leadership, as well as where there are likely to be legislative opportunities. The stated priorities do not in themselves exhaust all areas in which staff work.

Staff identified three areas related to energy and the environment that are likely to be the focus of their work  in the next Congress. While "cap and trade" appears to be dead, and the Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal Act (CLEAR Act, S. 2877), sponsored by Senators Cantwell and Collins of Washington and Maine, respectively, is inactive at the moment, Marcia Cleveland, FCNL's new environmental lobbyist, expects this bill to be reintroduced in the 112th Congress.  She urges Friends to support FCNL's efforts to increase the number of co-sponsors for the bill. FCNL believes that this "cap and dividend" bill, which would return 75% of revenues raised through the auction of carbon allowances to consumers to offset their increased energy costs, represents the best way forward to a low-carbon economy based on renewable energy.

A second FCNL environmental agenda item is opposing certain efforts in the next Congress to roll back or delay the EPA's regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under its Clean Air Act authority. These new regulations, pursuant to a recent Supreme Court decision, begin phased in enforcement on Jan 2, 2011. EPA's new regulations of other pollutants, including mercury, acid rain pollutants, ozone, and particulates, will also help address climate change. Friends are urged to watch the FCNL website for current legislative efforts to oppose EPAs regulatory agenda. Better yet, contact Marcia Cleveland (Marcia@fcnl.org) to join her "Green Team," whose members receive regular legislative updates and action alerts on congressional activity on the environment via email.

A third FCNL environmental agenda item, a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), is another critical and necessary step towards slowing global climate change. An RES would not only decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but also jumpstart the green technology industry, create jobs, and build a framework for future sustainable energy production. Under an RES the percent of electricity that a utility would have to distribute from renewable sources would increase over time. FCNL staff believe the chances are good that RES legislation will be re-introduced in the 112th Congress. They recommend   that a national standard require that at least 25 percent of electricity be generated through renewable sources by 2025 and exclude the use of nuclear power and so-called "clean" coal in meeting the RES goal. Only solar, wind, hydro-electric, geothermal, and biomass meet FCNL's specifications for a RES.

As an organizational member of FCNL, I urge all members of the QEW Steering Committee to join FCNL's "Green Team" and publicize this resource within their monthly and yearly meetings.

John Payton
QEW Representative to FCNL

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Sustainability: Faith & Action Working Group
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UN Support Group
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