"It's amazing. We'll see flying fish, and they'll land in this stuff and just get stuck."
-- Blair Witherington, a research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
In this issue:
1) Take Action: Don't Drill Our Coasts
2) Take Action: End Our Dependence on Oil
3) Update: BP Disaster
4) New Reports: Cost of Coal
1) Take Action: Don't Drill Our Coasts
The Minerals Management Service is accepting comments on its 2012-2017 drilling program. The program will determine which areas of our Outer Continental Shelf are offered up as leases to dirty energy industries. In light of the ongoing BP crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, we must let Secretary Salazar know that offshore drilling should play no role in our energy future.
Submit your comments to the MMS and let them know that drilling is not the answer!
2) Take Action: End Our Dependence on Oil
The BP oil disaster in the Gulf is a tragic reminder that America must end our oil addiction. Transportation is the number one use of oil in the United States, in large part due to our sprawling communities. The Livable Communities Act would work to lower housing and transportation costs by promoting people-friendly development, including affordable living, public transit, and walkable and bikeable "complete streets."
Livable communities reduce the need to drive while encouraging economic development and helping to clean up the air we breathe.
Ask your Senator to end our dependence on oil by cosponsoring the Livable Communities Act!
3) Update: BP Disaster
Every day new reports from the Gulf make it clear that oil is risky, dirty and dangerous. Join us and hundreds of your closest friends this Saturday for a national day of action to clean up America's energy. In over 500 communities across the globe we'll join hands at 11am to create a line in the sand against offshore drilling. We'll stand in solidarity with the people of the Gulf Coast and call on our leaders to move our country beyond oil.
Find an event near you!
Image Credit: Jordan Macha
4) New Reports: Cost of Coal
Two new reports released today reveal that when it comes to the bottom line of state budgets, the coal industry costs states millions. The reports are among the first to examine actual revenues and expenditures related to coal industry employment, taxes and subsidies in Tennessee and West Virginia. A similar report on Kentucky was released last year and plans to examine Virginia's budget are in the pipeline.
Get the details here.