Lately I’ve been writing quite a bit about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. It’s not so much that I have a one track mind as that Congress has been busy debating legislation that will have a real impact on the environment — especially on energy use. If you’re an environmentalist, now is a good time to pay attention to what’s happening on Capitol Hill.
What happens with the energy bill and the Lieberman-Warner climate bill will make a big difference in how far this country goes to make cars more efficient, expand the use of renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a good time to call or write your elected representatives and let them know what you think about these issues.
You can follow all the latest developments in the newspapers, but here are a couple of other handy places to turn for the latest on these two bills:
- Good sources of information on the energy bill include the Union of Concerned Scientists and Renewable Energy Access.
- Grist is doing a play by play of the Lieberman-Warner climate bill. (And while you’re there, be sure to check out their extensive series on How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic.)
- Use these links to contact your representatives in the U.S. House and Senate.
- Check out this helpful cheat sheet from Project Vote Smart explaining how a bill becomes a law.
- Looking for all the official details? Try THOMAS, a database of legislation from the Library of Congress.
Do you know of other helpful resources for following environmental legislation? You can paste them in the comments field below.