Environmental Roundup: February 13, 2009

Economic Stimulus Finalized
Congressional leaders agreed Wednesday to an $800 billion economic stimulus bill that will create "green jobs" by investing in clean energy and energy efficiency. Friends of the Earth had two top goals for the stimulus: block a nuclear bailout boondoggle, and keep transportation funding clean.

Transportation: some wins, but still too many roads
Friends of the Earth's transportation team launched a "New Roads = New Pollution" campaign in December to encourage Congress to keep the stimulus clean. We sought investments in public transit, passenger rail and smart growth (as well as highway maintenance and repair) rather than spending on new roads. Many of you participated in the campaigns and we scored several wins, including passing an amendment in the House that upped public transit funding and blocking a Senate amendment that would have expanded road funding. That said, the final bill still allows too much money (about $30 billion) to go to new roads, with far less (about $15 billion) for clean transportation infrastructure.

Massive nuclear bailout defeated!
We didn't expect to tangle with the nuclear industry over the stimulus, but when Utah Senator Bob Bennett added a nuclear bailout worth up to $50 billion to the bill, the fight was on. We ran TV ads in Utah holding Bennett accountable and released web ads demanding that Senate leaders respond. We criticized the bailout in the media, and when House and Senate leaders met to hash out the final bill, they killed this provision -- a major defeat for nuclear industry lobbyists, which Senator Bennett attributed to our ads.

Pioneering Climate Lawsuit Concludes
Friends of the Earth and allies settled a pioneering seven-year lawsuit last week, forcing two U.S financing agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our lawsuit was the first ever to establish in federal court that global warming is real and caused by humans. It was also the first to establish that U.S. cities will suffer economic harm as a result of global warming. The settlement was covered by the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, Business Week and others. To read more about the case, visit http://www.foe.org/climatelawsuit.

Changing the Course of Biofuels Policy
This past week, Friends of the Earth and other groups released a joint statement on biofuels. The groups called for the U.S. to rethink the federal biofuels policy and no longer seek to expand the production and use of corn ethanol. Instead of promoting biofuels, the U.S. should focus on alternatives that enhance the environment, spur economic development, and increase energy security. You can read the full platform here.

News
Stimulus Deal Reached. Here's What's Green In It
Climate Progress

F.D.A. Approves Drug From Gene-Altered Goats
The New York Times

Salazar Puts Expanded Offshore Drilling on Hold
Los Angeles Times

Democrats: U.S. Carmakers Must Make "Tough Decisions"
Reuters

Current Actions
Stop Chevron's Poison Fire

Tell EPA to Regulate Nano-Silver

Coal Ash Disaster

Actions from Our Allies
Tell Treasury What's on Your Heart
Jubilee works for the definitive cancellation of debts to fight poverty and injustice in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

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