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Tell Obama & McCain: We Need Clean Energy, Not 'Clean Coal'

Obama & McCain During the Vice Presidential debate, both Senator Biden and Governor Palin touted their support for "clean coal". But both presidential campaigns and Congress are missing the point: Conventional coal-burning power plants are the leading cause of global warming pollution in the United States. "Clean Coal" is a myth--a contradiction in terms. Coal companies claim they can develop coal plants at some point in the distant future that will capture and sequester carbon pollution. But carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is unproven and exorbitantly expensive.

We need real solutions, not coal industry myths. Use the form below to send a message to both Presidential campaigns: We need clean, green energy now!

February 10, 2010

Subject:

Dear Senators McCain and Obama,

We need to address the climate crisis right now. It is going to take US Presidential leadership in 2009 to solve this crisis. I have been concerned by recent statements in the media about the role coal plays in the climate crisis.

There is no such thing as “clean coal”. Conventional coal-burning power plants are the leading cause of global warming pollution in the United States – pollution that will cost us billions of dollars and millions of lives in the future if we do nothing. "Clean coal" is a coal industry dream about what maybe could happen in two decades if we give coal companies billions of dollars to research “carbon capture” technologies that don’t exist today.  We can’t afford to wait – we need zero-carbon solutions NOW.

I urge you to commit to:

* Enacting an immediate moratorium on new coal-fired power plants that emit global warming pollution. 
    * Dedicating resources to renewable energy such as solar and wind.
   * Setting strong, science-based targets for the reduction of global warming emissions of least 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050
    * Creating 5 million new green jobs and pathways out of poverty with a sweeping national mobilization for climate solutions and investment in a new energy economy.

We need real solutions to the climate crisis and it is going to take leadership to enact these solutions.  Please incorporate these policies into your climate and energy plans.

Sincerely,

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