Senator Klobuchar stumps for trees (and more)

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009 - 16:16

Senator Klobuchar (D-MN), now the senior senator from Minnesota after only three years on Capitol Hill, has a seat on several key committees that place her at the forefront of the ongoing and often heated debates regarding domestic energy production, conservation and pollution control. As the voice for the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" it should be expected that her legislative agenda be plump with initiatives to further protect and preserve the natural capital cherished by so many of the voters who sent her to Washington.

It seems Sen. Klobuchar has served her constituents well on matters of the environment and energy by forging partnerships with key senators and introducing legislation to "establish a national renewable energy standard [and] to extend and create renewable energy tax incentives." Previously, she worked on the 2007 Energy Bill and with a bi-partisan group of senators to successfully increase CAFE standards for the first time since 1975. Her support for the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6049) further underlines her commitment to supporting legislation aimed at easing the transition to "homegrown energy."

The debate circling around Global Climate Change between believers and non-believers (in the science of GCC) has reached a peak as the U.S. Senate prepares to hold hearings in response to a bill passed by the House of Representatives which seeks to implement a cap-and-trade program "to establish a combined efficiency and renewable electricity standard that requires utilities to supply an increasing percentage of their demand from a combination of energy efficiency savings and renewable energy."

In light of Senator Klobuchar's past voting record and continued support for environmentally friendly pursuits, it is believed she will be in favor of a senate bill mirroring or strengthening the House document evidenced by her statement "this is a good opportunity for our nation and for our state." This quote was made in reference to a "comprehensive approach that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the development of homegrown renewable energy resources and clean-energy technologies."

The Senator has also introduced legislation to establish a national greenhouse gas registry, urged for stronger federal regulations to match the stringent regulations in place in Minnesota, secured funds to keep invasive Asian carp out of Minnesota's rivers and lakes, and promised to protect the Great Lakes. She has taken a few small actions towards fulfilling that promise to include co-sponsoring the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.

Residents of Minnesota can be assured that Senator Klobuchar is speaking (and acting) loudly as a proponent of environmental stewardship and energy independence. There is little evidence or reason to believe that her stance on such issues will be swayed by the intense efforts of special interest groups representing the status quo and Big Oil.

In her own words she states, "I believe a major part of my job includes ensuring that we have the right policies to protect the wonderful outdoors and natural resources we enjoy in Minnesota – our lakes, rivers and wetlands, our forests and prairies, our wildlife habitats and abundant farmland. These are all part of what makes Minnesota such a special place for everyone."

Photo: Flickr

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