In The News
Jun 23, 2020
| The Washington Post
House Democrats push aid for wind and solar in new infrastructure bill
House Democratic leaders included extensions of tax breaks long sought by the renewable energy sector as part of a $1.5 trillion infrastructure package. The decision to include them is a victory for environmentalists and environmentally minded Democrats in Congress, who had pressed for more aid to the clean energy sector, which has lost 620,000 jobs since the start of the pandemic. In a letter last week, eight leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition told Pelosi and other Democratic leaders the emergency payroll loans for small businesses were not enough to save the...
Jun 22, 2020
| Bangor Daily News
Clean energy, environmental justice must be part of the plan as we rebuild our economy
As Rep. Chellie Pingree and other leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition said in a letter Monday, this is a rare opportunity to remake America’s economy in a more energy-efficient way. The group listed numerous bills and administrative actions that should be taken as the country responds to, and ultimately emerges from, the coronavirus pandemic. These include dedicated support for the clean energy sector — and its more than 3 million employees — in any future relief packages that are passed by Congress. They also suggest changes to tax incentives, loan programs and...
Jun 18, 2020
| Morning Consult
House Sustainability Coalition Submits Energy and Environment Requests to Leadership
The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition have delivered a letter asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and nine committee chairs to use coronavirus recovery legislation to promote a sustainable economy. The 17-page document, provided to Morning Consult, outlines specific policy across such topics as electric grid infrastructure, transportation and equity and environmental justice. Some of these policy objectives, SEEC Executive Director Maria Laverdiere said, are expected to appear in the House Democrats’ $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan.
Jun 8, 2020
| Politico
Democrats prepare to push clean energy in recovery packages
House Democrats are ratcheting up pressure to insert financial help for clean energy into upcoming bills, setting up a clash with GOP lawmakers who’ve so far derided attempts to aid renewables as a bid to implement the Green New Deal. Evergreen Action, a collection of former staffers on Gov. Inslee's presidential campaign, has released its own plan outlining ways for Democrats to boost clean energy as part of recovery. They’ve briefed House and Senate Democratic leadership on their proposals and did the same with the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition on Friday.
May 20, 2020
| Morning Consult
Group of House Democrats Prepping Letter on Climate Priorities as Leadership Considers Future Pandemic Relief
Setting their sights on a fifth coronavirus economic relief package, the leaders of the House sustainability coalition are drafting an outline of clean energy, infrastructure and other climate priorities to share with the chamber’s leadership. Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) said in a statement that the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition “will continue to strongly advocate for clean energy policies that support workers and family-sustaining jobs, along with other sustainability policies that advance the cause of environmental justice and promote the development of...
May 4, 2020
| The Washington Post
Coronavirus crisis hits solar and wind energy industry
The coronavirus crisis is not only battering the oil and gas industry. It’s drying up capital and disrupting supply chains for businesses trying to move the country toward cleaner sources of energy. Already, Democrats are signaling they will make a push again in the next round of stimulus spending. “Relief and recovery legislation will shape our society for years to come,” said Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), vice chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, a caucus that supports renewable energy resources. “We must use these bills to build in a climate-smart way.”
May 4, 2020
| The Washington Post
The Energy 202: It's not just oil. The coronavirus crisis is hitting solar and wind work, too.
The impact of the crisis on wind, solar and other clean-energy firms is already showing up in jobs numbers. About 106,000 clean-energy workers have already filed for unemployment in March alone, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Environmental Entrepreneurs, an advocacy group. Already, Democrats are signaling they will make a push again in the next round of stimulus spending. “Relief and recovery legislation will shape our society for years to come,” said Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), vice chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, a caucus...
Apr 13, 2020
| The Hill
Weakening air quality standards threatens to exacerbate COVID-19 health disparities
Issues: Environment, Water
Though certain industries may benefit from the rollbacks, the costs will accrue to public health. As explained by U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the rollback of emissions standards “will lead to dirtier air at a time when our country is working around the clock to respond to a respiratory pandemic whose effects may be exacerbated by air pollution.” Likewise, members of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition strongly opposed the decision to suspend environmental enforcement because it will “only add to the...
Apr 6, 2020
| The Hill
Warren, Markey knock EPA over 'highly dangerous and irresponsible' rollback amid pandemic
Issues: Environment, Water
Massachusetts Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey are slamming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance that eased environmental compliance standards amid the coronavirus pandemic, joining a chorus of other Democrats and environmentalists who oppose the action. Last week, lawmakers in the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition called the guidance “irresponsible” and said in a letter that it “neglects the Agency’s core mission to protect public health.”
Mar 31, 2020
| The Hill
House Democrats blast EPA as agency suspends monitoring amid coronavirus
Issues: Environment, Water
Guidance released by the agency last week informed companies they would not face fines or other enforcement actions from the agency for failing to monitor and report their pollution. “This suspension of enforcement during the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis is irresponsible and neglects the Agency’s core mission to protect public health,” lawmakers in the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) wrote in a letter spearheaded by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.).