Sierra Club

Interior Department Makes Biggest Assault Yet on Landmark Environmental Law

August 11, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. - A new set of draft rules proposed by the Bush administration and reported by the Associated Press today would effectively eradicate the key laws that protect endangered species in the United States.

Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope

This plan repeats and includes all of the disdain for science and political trumping of expertise that has characterized previous Bush Administration efforts to dismantle fundamental environmental laws.

These rules send a clear signal that the Administration will spend the rest of its days razing what remains of the rules and regulations that have kept wildlife like the bald eagle from going extinct.    » read more »

August, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.—The Sierra Club last week denounced a new John McCain ad, "Family," as completely false and misleading. The ad attacks Barack Obama and then goes on to tout McCain’s supposed support for renewable energy and energy independence. McCain has a long record of consistently voting against renewable energy.

The ad can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3DxDBH9nn4

Partial script:

Text on screen: McCain Energy Plan [images of wind turbines]

Announcer: Renewable energy to transform our economy, create jobs and energy independence. That’s John McCain.

John McCain Offers Nothing More Than Empty Rhetoric on Renewable Energy    » read more »

McCain Touts Plan at Nuke Plant That Partially Melted Down, Gave Rise to Term "China Syndrome" & Caught Fire Just This Past May

August, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.--As John McCain is paying a visit today to the Enrico Fermi nuclear generating station in Monroe, Michigan he can be expected to tout his costly plan to build 45 new nuclear plants by 2030 and 55 more after that. This plan would effectively double the number of nuclear reactors and the amount of dangerous high-level nuclear waste that would need to be transported across the country.    » read more »

August, 2008 -- Washington, DC: In a recent speech, Senator Barack Obama outlined a comprehensive energy plan that focuses on moving America forward with sensible clean energy proposals that will create jobs and meet our energy needs. Below is a statement from Sierra Club Political Director Cathy Duvall:

Senator Obama's plan will put America on the path to a clean energy future because it prioritizes efforts that will benefit working families instead of the outdated fossil fuel industries. Senator Obama supports creating millions of jobs by investing in the cleanest, cheapest, and fastest technologies to meet our energy needs and stimulate our economy. The mix of short and long term measures includes key goals like:    » read more »

Speech to Follow, Expand on Failed Bush Energy Policies

June 17, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.— Senator John McCain is slated to give a major policy address on energy issues later today in front of an audience of oil industry executives in Houston.

Yesterday Senator McCain called for lifting a nearly three decade old federal moratorium on drilling off of our coasts. "There are areas off our coasts that should be open to exploration and exploitation , and I hope we can take the first step by lifting the moratoria," said Senator McCain.

Yesterday’s Sierra Club response to Senator McCain’s announcement can be found here .

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director    » read more »

New Radio Ad Calls for Support of Clean Energy Legislation

June 16, 2008 -- Washington, DC: In remarks today Senator McCain indicated that in his speech tomorrow in the heart of the fossil fuel industry he will focus not on clean energy and fighting global warming but instead on opening America’s coasts to drilling.

“Tomorrow, I'll call for lifting the federal moratorium for states that choose to permit exploration. I think that this -- and perhaps providing additional incentives for states to permit exploration off their coasts --- would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis,” said McCain.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director:    » read more »

Bush, Conservatives Call for More of the Same in Response to Growing Energy Crisis

May 13, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.-Today, the U.S. Senate voted down an amendment by a margin of 42 to 56 (60 votes were needed for approval) that would have opened pristine lands and coastal waters, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to new oil drilling. It would have also promoted the use of expensive, dirty, and dangerous "unconventional" fuels produced from liquid coal and oil shale.

ANWR: Photo by Madhav Pai (CC)    » read more »