I know I’m not alone in feeling growing anxiety about the changes to the natural world I’ve seen in my lifetime, or in my rising concern as I flip through the newspaper and think that America could be left behind in the accelerating race to a clean energy global economy. But I’ve also seen vivid proof that America can turn action on climate change into American jobs.

For all these reasons, and like millions of Americans, I was relieved and moved to hear President Obama commit to “respond to the threat of climate change” in his second inaugural address and to do so to preserve both America’s unique natural heritage, and our economic promise for our children.

In a  statement on Inauguration Day, NWF saw renewed hope for a secure climate future and underscored the broad public support to confront the urgent climate challenges that face all Americans.

Gov. Granholm at the Department of Energy Saturday.  Photo:  DOE

But for starters, here’s a hot-off-the-presses proposal that gives citizens of every state something to chew on (and a stake in the clean energy economy):

At an Inauguration weekend event at the Department of Energy,  I was happy to get a chance to hear former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm outline a Clean Energy Jobs Race to the Top that would spur states and regions to take advantage of their unique strengths to build in-state jobs and forge state and national energy leadership.

Here’s how it would work

One example of what responding to climate change looks like today. Building more fuel efficient cars and trucks in Kentucky. Photo: Sam Varnhagen, Ford Motor Co.

• Targeting industry clusters and opportunities for competitive advantage;
• Strong business and education partnerships;
• Approaches that spur supply and demand for new energy and technology;
• Partnering regionally; and
• More jobs created

How big is the upside to state action? Big. Take a look at these recent reports that outline the state-by-state and region-by-region benefits of deploying offshore windproduction, or modernizing our electric grid, building advanced vehicles, developing solar power or restoring the Gulf.

Full video of the DOE inaugural event is here, and provides a plenty to spur discussion of the specifics of  the Clean Energy Jobs Race to the Top  and other promising ways to meet our climate and energy challenges.  But whether you care most about jobs and  manufacturing, healthy families and communities, education and innovation, or wildlife and our natural heritage, there’s no doubt that states — in partnership with communities and the federal government — have a powerful opportunity to lead the way into a prosperous clean energy and climate smart future.

Ask your elected leaders and local organizations what they’re doing to respond to climate change and bring clean energy jobs to your neighborhood. You can make an #energypledge about what you plan to do to respond to climate change or meet our energy challenges, or a #GreenWish about what you’d like to see for the environment, wildlife, climate or energy in the year to come.

My colleague Joe blogged last week on three big reasons why climate will move to the top of the agenda as we close out the year and move into the next Congress.  His reasons show how naysaying and looking backwards is proving costly and damaging both for communities and at the ballot box:

1. Climate change impacts are costing the Federal Government  too much money (and people too much hardship)
2. Big Oil and King Coal’s money play was a costly failure
3. Poll after poll  shows the public increasingly wants action on climate change (even before Sandy…)

I’d add a fourth reason which shows that when America moves forcefully to act on climate change  it works:

Workers build the more efficient next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly Plant. Photo: DrivingGrowth.org

4. Major U.S.  actions to address climate change delivered big on jobs in communities across the country and big on votes on election day

Over the past two years, while talking about climate was seen as controversial, the administration, U.S. companies and American workers nonetheless took major action to cut the carbon pollution that causes climate change—most notably a huge transformation of our auto sector to build far more efficient and less carbon-polluting cars and trucks, as well as major new investments in clean electric power.

These clean energy and advanced vehicle policies and investments were also attacked throughout the campaign—and the success of the auto recovery in particular became a central issue in the election. But when the votes were tallied Tuesday, the verdict was clear: support for the real jobs benefits of the auto industry revival had been pivotal in Ohio and Michigan, and likely influential in other states. Last minute misinformation on Jeep backfired in states that had seen billions in investment and tens of thousands jobs built in the last two years.  And auto wasn’t alone.  Articles last week argued that attacks on the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) may have affected the outcome in Iowa, where a boom in large scale wind energy generation and wind energy manufacturing is also driving economic growth.

When push came to shove (and there was alot of pushing and shoving) voters in swing states across the country stood up for the lasting jobs they could see coming back in their own neighborhoods and the clear evidence that America can innovate and lead in a 21st Century economy.

As I’ve blogged before, this is what action on climate change looks like in real life.  New jobs and great cars from a resurgent and globally competitive auto industry prove handily that American companies, workers, and communities have what it takes to meet this challenge and rebuild our economy at the same time.

Even better, looking forward, the auto and election results also suggest there is economic and political momentum behind a strategy that would rebuild the nation’s economy and rebuild communities from threats like Sandy through policies that drive investment in the energy and infrastructure of the future.

After decades of crisis in the auto industry, the current revival results from a combination of:

• Major public and private reinvestment in manufacturing the most advanced vehicle technology in America, and;
• Strong fuel-economy and greenhouse-gas regulations that ensured the industry would not waste that investment rebuilding for the past, but innovate and invest for the future and for global markets.  (To see how these policies worked together to build jobs go here, here or here or hear directly from workers here, here or here.)

The climate benefits of these new efficient cars are no small potatoes—the industry will cut the carbon pollution from its new cars in half by 2025, and cut total U.S. carbon emissions by nearly 10 percent. And those pollution savings come by way of using much, much less fuel which means big savings for consumers and big increases in energy security. And it is this win-win-win on jobs, family pocketbooks, and security that works so powerfully for the economy and translates into votes.

Every industry is different, but it is a mistake to see the auto industry story as unique.  Instead it should be seen as a powerful case study—relevant in many particulars to the building, transportation infrastructure, and utility sectors, just to name a few.  It urges the following:

• Effective climate/ energy/ efficiency standards are essential to make innovation the norm, not the exception.  They ensure a broad domestic market for innovation, and relevance in global ones.
• Reinvestment in American skills, manufacturing and infrastructure is critical to grow jobs at home, to provide positive transition opportunities, and is also essential to compete globally
• Go big and concrete, so that at the end of the day we can all point to new clean and efficient products and infrastructure that deliver real quality of life and economic benefits to us every day. And make those actions sufficient to head off  the looming resource and climate crisis facing our children and  already lapping at our doors.

Over the past three years, amidst widespread acrimony, climate naysaying, and government bashing, the public and private sectors nonetheless worked together to revitalize a key sector of the economy, bring back hundreds of thousands of jobs, adopt state-of-the-art clean energy, transportation and efficiency technology, and take the biggest steps we’ve ever taken to cut carbon pollution and reduce our oil dependence.

Lets keep up the good work, keep acting on climate change,  and maybe go a little lighter on all that talk radio.

But for those who are still unconvinced by the ‘he-said-she-said,’there is an even better way to get the real picture of what’s going on in the manufacturing heartland: just follow the money.

Building the Jeep Grand Cherokee at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit. In addition to adding 1100 jobs at its Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio, Chrysler has added over 1000 jobs at the Detroit facility. Photo: DrivingGrowth.com

So what’s in question isn’t just the (at best) politically expedient use of an oddly worded Bloomberg news story about how a resurgent Chrysler was seeking to add production in China for the Chinese market. It’s the implicit rejection of a huge, successful, clean-technology investment, innovation, and manufacturing commitment by American companies and workers, and yes, by states and federal government.  Not only did this policy, investment, and hard work by thousands of Americans prove to be economically successful (the auto industry has added nearly a quarter of a million jobs since the collapse in 2009), but it is demonstrating right now that America can lead again globally on advanced technology and the environment. Its not just a fact check…it’s a reality check.

Judge for yourself: here’s where Chrysler is putting its money, investment and jobs (emphasis added):

 “Toledo, Ohio , Nov 16, 2011 – Chrysler Group LLC announced today that it will invest $1.7 billion to support the development and production of the next generation Jeep® SUV in 2013, including $500 million at the Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio). As a result, the Company will add a second shift of production or about 1,100 jobs, bringing total employment at the complex to over 2,800.

…. With today’s announcement, Chrysler Group is planning to invest more than $4.5 billion in the U.S. and has made significant progress toward building a successful enterprise since June 2009, including:

• reporting net income of $212 million in the third quarter of 2011;
• reporting the 19th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains in October;
• planning to invest $165 million to add a new one million square-foot body shop to its Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant;
• announcing a $72 million investment in the Toledo (Ohio) Machining Plant;
• confirming a $114 million investment to repurpose about one-fifth or nearly 400,000-square feet of the Trenton North Engine Plant for the production of core components for the Pentastar engine produced at Trenton South;
• investing nearly $1.3 billion into the Company’s existing transmission manufacturing facilities in Kokomo, Ind., to accommodate production of a new advanced front-wheel drive automatic transmission; increase capacity and support production of the World Engine and improve processes for the 62TE transmission program; and accommodate future production of a new highly fuel-efficient eight-speed automatic transmission;
• announcing a $600 million investment in its Belvidere Assembly Plant;
• confirming an investment of $850 million in its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant and surrounding stamping facilities;
• planning an investment of $150 million in its GEMA (Dundee, Mich.) facility;
• announcing in December 2009 that it will invest $179 million to launch production of the 1.4-liter, 16-valve Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE) at the company’s Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Dundee, Mich., creating more than 150 new Chrysler jobs;
• adding a second shift of production – or nearly 1,100 jobs – at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in May 2010;
• adding nearly 900 jobs on a second shift at its Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in February 2011;
• launching the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee in May 2010;
• beginning production of the all-new Fiat 500, Dodge Durango, Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger in December 2010;
• starting production of the 2011 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger in January.”

In a statement today, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne updated these numbers to a total of 11,200 Chrysler jobs added in the U.S. since 2009, and said: “I feel obliged to unambiguously restate our position: Jeep production will not be moved from the United States to China.”

As is true across the industry, the new cars, trucks, engines and transmissions Chrysler is building will also be much more fuel efficient. These new fuel-efficient cars and trucks are on track to deliver huge oil savings, deep carbon-pollution reductions, and tens of billions of dollars a year in net savings for consumers. New fuel economy standards working together with investments in manufacturing clean energy technology in America—like those made by Chrysler—are delivering greater innovation, improved global competitiveness, and even more jobs than via economic recovery alone.

VIDEO: See first hand what workers who build the Jeep Grand Cherokee at Chrysler’s Jefferson North Assembly plant that have to say, here.

Photo: DrivingGrowth.org

The list above are just Chrysler’s investments and accomplishments. They don’t include the other automakers—domestic and foreign—or the hundreds of suppliers who see new orders and new investment as Chrysler retools and increases production. Chrysler’s profits have also continued to rebound since the time of this release in Nov 2011.

The reality check? Investments in rebuilding a clean competitive auto industry are working for America. This is good news for families and communities all across America, and that’s a reality that needs to continue. 

It was all about the future of energy at an event at the Center for American Progress here in DC Friday morning when CAP released their  new report:  “Regional Energy, National Solutions:  A Real Energy Vision for America”.  NWF authored the Midwest  and Southeast chapters of the report.

Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline runs under the straits of Mackinac. Photo: MDOT Photo/Video Unit

Meanwhile, back at the event,  speakers including Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, described a diverse national clean energy strategy, built on the powerful energy, manufacturing and technology assets of regions across America.  Speakers and the report contrast this diverse clean energy plan to the American Petroleum Institute’s “Drill Baby Drill” vision: more oil and other fossil fuels.  Period.   That vision is conveniently simple.  The impacts, less so.

Fossil fuels play a large role in today’s economy, but we now know that the energy that powered the last two centuries comes with a side dish of volatile prices, environmental, health and safety risks, and it speeds climate change -which, by itself, threatens our economy, security, and sustaining the natural world for our children.

Fortunately, as Friday’s report describes, the energy world has changed.  Today we have a wealth of large scale opportunities that take energy, our economy, and the future of wildlife and our outdoor heritage forward together.  

Large scale clean energy implementation is happening across the country. Graphic: Center for American Progress

 Or, as NWF climate policy director, Joe Mendelson, said about last weeks pipeline “anomalies”:  “The best approach to our energy challenges isn’t building more pipelines, its embracing clean energy solutions that don’t spill or explode”

So whats really happening out there?

As we show in the report, states and regions all across the country are proving that they can prosper by implementing new energy technologies at scale. They show that a diverse national clean energy strategy anchored on strengths of the whole nation can build hundreds of thousands of jobs, and revitalize our economy. These solutions are real  and they may include some surprises:

• Offshore wind is the only utility-scale energy resource abundant enough to contribute substantially to the sustained, long-term energy demands of the Atlantic Coast region. Developing just 54 gigawatts of offshore wind in Atlantic waters would generate $200 billion in economic activity and create 43,000 permanent, well-paid technical jobs, in addition to displacing the annual output of 52 coal-fired power plants. (these regional bullets excerpted from CAP’s press release, and fact sheet)

NWF’s own recent report The Turning Point Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy underscores these results and emphasizes the diverse economic opportunities for states from Maine to Florida from robust adoption of offshore wind.  NWF was happy to join Clean Energy States Alliance who authored the Atlantic coast chapter of today’s report on their release.

Building the next generation of fuel efficient vehicles.  Photo: Sam VarnHagen/ Ford Motor Co.

• In addition to revitalizing American manufacturing, the deep oil savings from vehicles now being built in the Midwest under strong new fuel economy standards mean net savings to consumers of more than $54 billion a year in 2030 and will add 570,000 jobs to the economy.

• The Southeast boasts more firms across the high-tech smart-grid value chain than any other region and continuing to lead this transition offers the opportunity to create diverse job opportunities. At the same time, if [through enhanced efficiency], the region were to cut energy use across the region by 16 percent in 2030  consumers would see an annual savings of $71 billion and 520,000 jobs by 2030.

• In the Gulf Coast region, each $1 million in investment in ecosystem restoration can create as many as 36 jobs across a huge range of occupations and skill levels—more than equivalent investments in traditional infrastructure projects.
• The Mountain West boasts nearly unlimited renewable energy resources and these nonhydro projects, either under construction or in advanced development, represent 71,872 jobs. A study by Headwaters Economics found that from 1970–2010, nonmetropolitan counties in the West that had more than 30 percent protected federal lands increased jobs by 345 percent. Nonmetropolitan counties with no protected federal lands saw just 83 percent growth.
• The solar industry in California has experienced significant growth over the past 15 years. Since 1995 the number of solar businesses grew by 171 percent, and total employment jumped by 166 percent. As a point of comparison, the total number of California businesses has grown by 70 percent and employment increased by 12 percent.

These examples are not the only promising clean energy opportunities for the given regions, nor have we covered all the regions or promising technologies for the nation. But they clearly show a wealth of win-win energy opportunities in front of us that deliver to communities,  industries, and the environment across the country.  America’s energy strategy should start there.

Here’s the real story

Today’s headlines that start-up battery maker A123 would file for bankruptcy was quickly followed by news that major automotive and efficiency equipment supplier Johnson Controls would buy A123′s automotive business, complementing JCI’s existing investments in advanced battery facilities in Michigan and Ohio.  More on the details here.

As Alex Molinaroli, president, Johnson Controls Power Solutions said this morning:

“Our interest in A123 Systems is consistent with our long-term growth strategies and overall commitment to the development of the advanced battery industry.”

Update since this blog was published:  Johnson Control’s bid for A123 in October touched off a bidding contest with Wanxiang, the large Chinese auto parts manufacturer, Japan’s NEC, and others.  In January, 2013 Wanxiang was ultimately successful, winning approval to buy A123 for about $260M.  Wanxiang voiced a similar optimism around the future of the battery industry, and reiterated a commitment to the company’s US operations.

In other words, while pundits jumped in to score political points, clean energy investments just kept on trucking.

The new Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid EV gets a 100mpge rating from EPA and is built in Michigan. Photo: Ford Motor Co.

• DOE clean energy investments across some 15,000 projects in all 50 states are overwhelmingly successful
• In 2010 3.1 million Americans were employed in “green goods and services” as calculated by the Bureau of Labor statistics…. and that doesn’t even include most of the rapidly innovating auto industry
• Since mid 2009, the auto industry has added over 230,000 jobs as it retools to build and sell the next generation of far more fuel efficient vehicles
• Ohio has added nearly 10,000 auto and parts  manufacturing  jobs since July 2009. Indiana has added 20,000 and Michigan 33,000 in the same time period.
• Toledo Ohio alone has at least $1Billion in recent investment in clean energy and advanced vehicle technologies  including a$140M investment made by Johnson Controls in their start-stop advanced battery plant in Toledo that retains 400 jobs and adds 50 more.

The electric vehicle industry is real and growing.  Yes, like any new industry the EV industry has its growing pains and its winners and losers. But real cars require real batteries and a host of other technology shared with hybrid and advanced conventional vehicles that is creating a boom in automotive innovation and jobs .

• EV sales are growing rapidly – consumers are adopting EVs faster than they did the hybrid Prius when it was initally released.
• Volt sales are up 300% from last year, and the Volt is currently outselling half of all car models on the market.
• EVs are not just the Volt, the Leaf, and the Tesla, but include vehicles from Ford, BMW and others.  In fact, more than a dozen different electric vehicles will be offered next year.

Many of these vehicles, their components and batteries are being built across the US in states from California to Michigan to Tennessee, and are a part of hundreds of companies’ businesses plans.

They are also part of a clean energy transformation of the auto sector that shows that America has what it takes to combat climate change and spur an economic recovery at the same time.

98% success means that for every one Solyndra, there are forty nine stories like Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant just an hour or two up the road from last night’s debate.                                                                                                                                                          

In fact, this DOE loan to Ford is actually 11 successes in five states that together support 33,000 jobs.  In addition, these successes unequivocally show that American companies and workers have what it takes to lead the world in building the innovative clean energy technologies that combat climate change.   

The retooled Louisville Assembly Plant celebrated in June. Photo: Sam VarnHagen/ Ford Motor Co.

Today in Louisville, the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant  is running at full capacity around the clock 7 days a week and employs 4600 workers. Ford made a $600 million investment in the plant, which added 1800 jobs in 2010 and another 1300 in 2011.   The “transformed” plant builds the redesigned and more efficient Ford Escape which is also on track to beat sales records.

 “Workers who once worried if they would even have a job here, are now working extra hours. “It really makes us feel good about our future,” says [plant] manager John Savona. “We are building vehicles that customers want.”

At the opening of the retooled plant in June, state and city leaders, the company and the union talked about how working with government and each other had resulted in a turnaround that delivered on innovation, to the community and to the economy.

Louisville’s story isn’t unique.  Not only have DOE investments saved or brought back tens of thousands of jobs and cut pollution, but they’re a direct investment in the success and competitiveness of American businesses large and small.    These successes are also supported by smart clean energy, fuel economy, and tax policies that create the certainty the private sector needs to invest in clean technologies of the future.  They build on world leading science and R&D in our National Labs, DOE programs that help companies commercialize cutting edge innovation in America, and Department of Commerce, programs that help small manufacturers develop the processes and skills to develop new businesses in rapidly growing clean energy fields.

 Strong demand for fuel efficient cars and trucks like the Escape is also driving job growth in the thousands of companies that make the innovative parts and components for these vehicles, cutting carbon pollution and pain at the pump.  

So let’s replace naysaying about American failures with the truth about Americans working together to succeed. With approximately 14700 successes to choose from, feel free to pick one near you.

Climate change and extreme weather “a threat to our children’s future.” the President said in his address. | Photo–NWF

What with the Administration’s recent announcement of strong new fuel economy standards, regular news on automotive job growth across the country, and great August sales numbers, the auto industry revival is a success story for consumers, the economy and energy security.

It’s also powerful proof that America can man up on climate change.

Last night the President stated clearly that climate change is real and that it is causing real hardship for Americans.

He can speak with confidence because he can point to proof that American government, American business, and the American people have what it takes to turn climate change around.

Every great new car and truck you see on the road is that proof.

Loading new vehicles at Lordstown Assembly. NWF – Zoe Lipman

• It looks like hundreds of American businesses—from 100-year old Chevrolet, to brand new start-ups—showing that American innovation can deliver products with half the climate pollution in just over a decade.
• It looks like thousands of lasting jobs in communities all across the country that show that American workers can compete and win in the global economy.
• It looks like good government bringing opponents together to craft breakthrough, broadly supported laws that provide a solid foundation for investment, prosperity, and the protection of the natural world for our children.

If a combination of good government and the hard work of just one industry will cut carbon pollution equivalent to 10% of all U.S. climate pollution today, what if we all stepped up?

The time for running from climate change is over.  The auto recovery is proof of our capacity to fight it.

For more information or to take action click here

On Tuesday, August 28th, the Obama administration finalized the Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Standards that will double the fuel economy of our cars and trucks to 54.5 MGPG by 2025—an enormous step to curb carbon pollution. National Wildlife Federation supporters, staff (including our “clean-car guy” Zoe Lipman), and partners have worked for years towards this success.

Over the past two years NWF supporters have sent over 47,000 messages to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the President in support making cars more efficient and advocating for cleaner cars to protect wildlife from global warming. Earlier this year in Detroit, NWF’s CEO Larry Schweiger and over 90 other partners spoke in support of the new standard.

Speaking Directly with Leaders at Michigan Event

The day after the strong fuel efficiency rule was finalized, I was able to hear first hand about the positive impacts of the new rule on the environment and how it will drive economic growth. White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, Michigan U.S. Representative John Dingell, United Auto Workers Union Vice President Cindy Estrada, and the BlueGreen Alliance took part in a roundtable event at the University of Michigan where the next generation of engineers are coming up with newer, cleaner technology, minutes from the heart of the car industry.

Thank President Obama for the new limits on carbon pollution from cars that are a critical step to protecting pika impacted by climate change.

Attending the event to speak with and hear directly from our leaders on this most recent step toward reducing carbon pollution was a great opportunity to show the strong support for addressing climate change.

Midwest Cities to Produce Cleaner Cars

I started hearing even more good news before I even arrived at the event. As I was driving, I heard coverage on the radio as I passed by the towns of several advanced fuel economy manufacturing centers: Marion, Dayton, and Toledo.

I smiled as I drove past the Toledo Assembly Plant that will produce the new Jeep, and was relieved that these new SUV’s are going to be immensely cleaner for our air and environment than the 1991 Jeep I used to own.

What’s Next

As the event drew to a close, someone asked, “What’s next?” Congressman Dingell summarized his answer this way: “Well, something my grandpa used to say, sometimes you’ve got to just shoot the first snake you see.”

In other words, while there are still many broader problems for our transportation industry to address—from a lack of rail infrastructure to building dangerous pipelines to transport dirty tar sands for oil—the time was right for the stronger set of fuel economy standards that reduce carbon pollution from cars to pave the way for the future.

NWF Report Says Climate Change Ruined Summer in the U.S.

August 30 – A new National Wildlife Federation report says climate change made its presence felt in disappointing, dangerous, and destructive ways this summer. From severe heat waves, devastating wildfires, catastrophic floods, serious crop damage, and destructive pests expanding their range; people in most parts of the U.S. suffered the impacts scientists have predicted for years. Those impacts will spill over into next year with higher food prices and damaged ecosystems struggling to rebound.

“This summer has been the season climate change became real to many Americans,” said Joe Mendelson, NWF’s director of climate and energy policy. “From burned houses to parched fields to West Nile virus, it’s time for all political parties to start protecting our homes, families, and communities. We need to get serious about reducing the uncontrolled carbon pollution that is ravaging our country.”

Important Wetland Gains Achieved in Mirasol Settlement near Corkscrew Sanctuary

August 23 – National Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation and partner conservation groups achieved hundreds of acres of additional wetland protection and restoration in a landmark settlement over the Mirasol project, a proposed golf course development to be sited in wetlands and wood stork habitat of Florida’s Western Everglades. The groups had opposed and litigated to reduce the damage from this development for almost a decade.

This latest settlement follows on the groups’ 2010 settlement of challenges to the adjacent Saturnia Falls and Parklands developments. All three developments were proposed originally in 1999 in the ecologically sensitive Cocohatchee Slough, a natural wetland flowway emanating from Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The Slough plays a vital role in providing foraging habitat for the endangered wood stork, whose largest nesting rookery in the nation is at Corkscrew Swamp. The Cocohatchee Slough also provides vital regional watershed benefits, like water supply and flood protection.

August 28 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is set to finalize new fuel efficiency and carbon standards, landmark rules that will double the fuel economy of America’s cars, SUVs and pickups to an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said today:

“As a onetime General Motors mechanic, I’m proud to see Americans already proving we have what it takes to lead in a prosperous clean energy future. Taken together, new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks are the biggest step America has ever taken to cut carbon pollution and reduce our oil dependence, critical for wildlife which faces both the global threat of climate change and the direct impacts of oil spills and pollution.”

Make a Play Date with Nature

August 27 – Back to school shouldn’t mean back inside for kids. While busy school schedules, sports and other extra-curricular activities make free time for playing outdoors or a trek to the park more challenging, National Wildlife Federation and the Natural Learning Initiative at North Carolina State University, have developed a guide to creating enticing outdoor play spaces as close as your backyard, patio or balcony.

Nature Play at Home : A Guide for Boosting Children’s Healthy Development and Creativity shows parents and caregivers how they can turn an uninspired outdoor environment into an entertaining and exciting play area that will have kids from 1-12 years welcoming that frequent parental command, “Go outside and play!”

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

• Climate Wire: Conservative Republicans launch a new group to promote clean energy(subscription required)
• Indian Country Today Media Network: Northwest Tribes Fight for Treaty Rights in Face of Coal-Transport Plan
• Greenwire: Company cancels Pacific Northwest shipping plans(subscription required)
• Metro Times: Hitting the pipe hard: Enbridge’s tar sands oil pipelines dodge oversight

For more, visit www.nwf.org/News

I think we’re facing a very strong, almost revolutionary movement to try to get off oil worldwide, and it creates a lot of passion and drive in those revolutionaries that are trying to change the environment in which we work. They know that going after the end user, going after you and I when we drive our cars, … won’t work. So they’re coming after what they consider to be the weak link in the whole process, and that’s the infrastructure part of it.

I’m momentarily speechless. Daniel hit the nail square on the head — we are targeting the weak link (I don’t think he quite realized what he was saying, but it’s true) by going after pipelines. Enbridge makes its billions by operating a vast network of leaky pipelines across North America and, along with competitors like TransCanada, is exploring ways to expand into new territory and even overseas. But the industry has been rattled by unprecedented citizen uprisings against the Keystone XL pipeline (in the US) and the Northern Gateway pipeline (in Canada) and now sees its growth model in jeopardy. So of course the logical step is to attack the environmentalists, tribes, farmers, scientists, mothers and fathers who are opposed to their dirty projects.

Parked to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, plus zero tailpipe emissions? Yes please. (photo: Tesla Motors)

So you know what? I like how it sounds — “Revolutionaries!” I’m proud to be one of the millions who want a revolution, so Enbridge, TransCanada, the climate deniers at the American Petroleum Institute, all of these corporations that have corrupted our political system and wrecked our environment, they can pin that label on us all they want.

Tell your member of Congress to stand up for people and wildlife against dangerous tar sands projects!

To see what the future of fast looks like, check out DrivingGrowth.org

Read NWF’s report Importing Disaster: The Anatomy of Enbridge’s Once and Future Oil Spills