Anna Aurilio, Director, Washington, D.C. office

With gasoline prices at a record high and a forecast for a steamy summer, energy issues are hot!

Both the House and Senate leadership recognize that energy is a top-tier issue for the American public and have pledged floor action this summer.

With gas prices setting new records, and the question of global warming moving from “is it real?” to “how do we stop it?” you’d think there would never be a better time for Congress to enact policy solutions that are good for consumers and good for the environment.

At press time, gas prices have set an all time record and are predicted to pass $4 per gallon over the summer.

And a growing body of scientific evidence tells us three things: global warming is real. It’s caused by human activity. And if we act fast, we can do something about it.

New reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—the world’s most respected scientists and an institution known for its conservative, consensus-based proclamations—tell us that the answer to preventing global warming’s worst effects lies in moving away from fossil fuels to produce energy.

The good news is that there’s a strong pathway to follow when it comes to the solutions that will help us avoid the worst effects of global warming.

Twenty-two states have already heard the call to enact renewable energy standards, investing in clean, renewable energy like wind and solar power.

In fact, as the EPA prepared to hold regional hearings on allowing states to adopt strong California tailpipe standards for greenhouse gas emissions, the governors of two states published an op-ed in the Washington Post, saying “It’s high time the federal government becomes our partner or gets out of the way.”

Sadly, even though the states have done much of the hard work, doing the research, passing the laws, and implementing programs to boost clean forms of energy, Congress has yet to act on solutions to the problems of high energy prices and global warming.

This summer, we are running an all-out campaign to convince Congress to do what many states have done already on energy policy.

Our policy advocates in Washington, D.C., and in the states will meet with editorial boards and columnists to make the case for adopting clean renewable energy standards and for improving the fuel economy of our cars and light trucks.

Our canvassers will be in neighborhoods in all 50 states, talking to members and the general public about the great opportunity that we have this summer.

Our researchers will be churning out reports and analysis to help Congress do the right thing.

It’s all hands on deck when it comes to energy this summer. Here’s one thing you can do to help us win: Keep it up! Your support has already taken us this far, so please keep doing what you’re doing. You can find more ways to help out on our Web site, where there will be online actions you can take this summer, as well as updates on our campaigns as decisions happen.

Thanks again, and have a wonderful summer.

Anna Aurilio
Director, Washington, DC office