///Rapid Response 05/31/07
Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007

This week the Senate will vote on S.1419, known as the Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, a bill that will affect our nation's ability to confront global warming. As people of faith, we are called to "till and to tend the garden" (Gen 2:15) and consequently have an obligation to choose the safest, cleanest, and most sustainable sources of energy to protect and preserve God's creation.

If you are concerned about energy consumption, then ask your Senators to support a strong renewable energy standard and increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards of America's vehicles.

By increasing the percentage of renewable energy used in the United States, and increasing fuel efficiency, we can begin to curb the carbon emissions that are threatening the integrity of God's creation. In America, the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions causing global warming is the electric power industry, accounting for about 40 percent of all U.S. emissions. More than 80 percent of these emissions come from older, dirtier coal-fired facilities.

Comparably, 33 percent of the total U.S. carbon emissions come from transportation, with passenger vehicles responsible for more than a third of those.

If you support alternative, cleaner forms of energy, then consider contacting your Senator today. You may read the bill in its entirety at http://thomas.loc.gov/ . For your convenience, a sample letter is included below. You can find a list of senators at: http://www.senate.gov/ . [Select link to Senators.]

Sample letter

As a person of faith, I believe that God calls humans to be good caretakers of the Earth's gifts - protecting air and water quality, as well as ecosystems and human communities. We can claim our role as God's stewards by using energy and fuels that will reduce the devastation of human-caused climate change. Therefore, I am urging you to vote for an improved renewable energy standard and higher CAFE standards in S. 1419 (Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007).

Using renewable energy sources will allow us to reduce electricity generated from fossil fuels and reduce our carbon dioxide emissions that are causing havoc with God's creation. The electric power industry accounts for nearly 40 percent of all U.S. carbon emissions, and more than 80 percent of these emissions come from older, dirtier coal-fired facilities.

Increasing CAFE standards is another critical step that can be taken to reduce pollution and curb greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Improving CAFE standards will also decrease America's oil dependence and decrease the need to open sensitive wilderness areas to oil and gas exploration. Higher fuel economy standards will benefit our families and our communities by reducing the burden of high gas prices, which now average more than $3 per gallon in the United States.

Again, please support strong renewable energy and CAFE standards in S. 1419 that will be a step in the right direction in our efforts to curb global warming and reclaim our role as good stewards of God's creation.

Thank you. I hope you'll make time to take action on this issue.

Sincerely,

Angela Herrmann,
Director of Web site development
Disciples Home Missions