A fresh start, but just the beginning

Will Congress rise to the occasion on clean energy?

President Obama has begun to chart a new course on energy and the environment. Yet, as he would readily acknowledge, the toughest obstacles lie ahead.

We’re pushing Congress to consider a plan that would expand wind, solar, geothermal and clean biomass power.

Despite the pro-environment majority in Congress, action on energy and global warming is far from assured—especially in the Senate, where special interests and the president’s adversaries need only 41 votes to snarl progress in endless debate and delay.

Early progress for the environment

In January, staff from Environment Massachusetts’ federal office, Margie Alt, Anna Aurilio and Ivan Frishberg, applauded the president in the East Room of the White House as he directed his administration to take steps that will allow Massachusetts to go forward with plans to put more hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars on our roads, reducing our carbon footprint and our dependence on oil.

And in February, Environment America staff were in attendance as the president signed the economic recovery bill, including an $80 billion down payment on clean energy that will create 1.5 million green jobs nationwide, including thousands in Massachusetts.

“We’re thrilled the president has acted so boldly and swiftly,” said Winston Vaughan, Environment Massachusetts’ field organizer.

“Yet there’s a mountain of work left to do, and he’s reaching out for all the help he can get. That’s why we are organizing across Massachusetts to build support for clean energy policies,” said Vaughan.

Meanwhile, we’re also working for energy-efficient building codes, increased investment in solar power, funding for our state parks and greater protections for our coasts.

“We can’t repair overnight the damage done over eight years,” said Vaughan. “But we’re determined to push hard, move quickly, and restore real protections to our air, water and land.”