Care About Climate Change? Call Congress!

OVEC member Becky Park is the group leader of the Charleston Citizens’ Climate Lobby. The group will be meeting with Senator Capito’s state director next week and are making a date with Alex Mooney’s staff in April. They met with Evan Jenkins’ office last week.

They’ve heard from some congressional aides that our Congressional members are NOT hearing from West Virginians who are alarmed about climate change.

Becky says, “I have collected 155 letters from the general public about climate and by far the majority of people marked that they are “alarmed” or “very concerned” about the climate.”

Our Congress people need to hear from you that you are concerned about climate change!

“It would be a great support if we could generate a few dozen calls three times a year, to dislodge the notion that no one in West Virginia wants Congress to take action and move us into climate-stabilizing energy production,” Becky says.

Here’s more of her request to fellow OVEC members and supporters:

The Citizens’ Climate Lobby of Charleston WV is a dedicated group of activists, numbering about 12 people. We educate ourselves on climate policies; we outreach to the public through an open monthly meeting, through tabling and publishing letters and op-eds; and we lobby our members of Congress three times a year.

Could you help us by making a phone call?  We have been told Congress never hears from West Virginians about the climate! Here are some suggestions for Spring 2016:

Call Evan Jenkins office in Huntington (304-325-5800) and thank him for sponsoring the RECLAIM Act of 2016. This is a lot like the Power Plus Plan that would use Abandoned Mine Lands funds to train and employ miners to repair the land and streams.

Call Senator Capito’s office in Charleston (304-347-3652) and ask the Senator to support policies to move us to green energy. The CCL proposal is for a carbon fee and household dividend that would spur growth toward green energy. You can ask her to support fee and dividend, or just explain what most concerns you about the climate and ask her to provide the leadership West Virginians need for a sustainable energy system.

Call Alex Mooney’s Charleston office (304-925-5964) and express your concerns about the climate. The RECLAIM Act of 2016 is in his subcommittee (the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources), so you can ask him to support the act and consider signing on as a sponsor.

FYI: Here is a 2-minute video about carbon fee and dividend, widely called for by economists and conservatives. Scroll down to video.

Here is a summary of the RECLAIM Act: HB 4456

There are groups starting up in Huntington, Parkersburg, Morgantown and Beckley. If you are interested in working with CCL, visit the website and sign up, or email Jim Probst at charlestonwv@citizensclimatelobby.org.

Thank you for taking the time!

Becky Park