Adopt-a-Senator for ACES - She Knows Better, But We Could Lose Her

Adopt-a-Senator for ACES - She Knows Better, But We Could Lose Her
by SolarMom
Sun Aug 30, 2009 at 07:08:01 AM PDT

Cross-posted from Daily Kos:

I decided to profile my senator, Kay Hagan (D-NC), after sifting through existing analyses of likely senate votes on the American Clean Energy and Security bill (ACES), the bill that would place a national cap on carbon emissions (i.e. carbon cap and trade). None of the analyses I could find put effort into researching Southern Democrats. Is it a reflexive "why bother?" Are they thinking, "they're not the likeliest yea votes, so no rush digging to find out about them...just put them in the "not much is known" pile and move on..."?

Well, here's a spoiler on Kay Hagan – she's ours to lose. She understands climate change. She already gets it. She's well aware of how important this bill is. But she won't be with us if we don't have her back. Follow me below the fold for some surprising facts about Kay Hagan and the Old North State.

SolarMom's diary :: ::

Here are a few things about North Carolina state politics that you may not know – and it's important, because state politics is where Senator Kay Hagan comes from. She spent ten years in the NC legislature representing Greensboro, right smack dab in the middle of the state. She's no yahoo – she's the niece of Lawton Chiles, who was a Florida state legislator throughout her childhood, then a US senator for three terms, and then governor of Florida for almost two terms (until his death). Kay Hagan is born and bred politician –a highly intelligent and politically shrewd one.

State government in North Carolina, which is run by Democrats, has been on the renewable energy bandwagon for a while now. We have a statewide renewable portfolio standard which requires that by 2021, 12.5% of electricity generated statewide must come from renewable sources. We've been pushing on our coal-fired electric plants to clean up for a while now too -- in 2002 we made all our large coal plants put on scrubbers (then-governor Mike Easley (D) cut a deal with major players Duke Energy and Progress Energy for their support. Duke and Progress got some perks, but hey, whatever works). We have a state energy office that sees green business and green jobs as a critical economic engine, and a new governor, Bev Purdue, who has made support for the green economy a centerpiece of her administration. (Purdue jumped on the green business bandwagon years ago as lieutenant governor – I've seen her at conferences here and there in the past, and she clearly gets it).

But aren't the state leaders conservative Democrats, you ask? Well, yes, mostly (though not entirely – there's a small progressive/populist contingent too). They understand business. Crucially, they also understand economic development. (Those who don't – and who aren't so smart - become Republicans). And they're also from a state that's really green – literally green, as in verdant. North Carolina is swathed in forest and farms, blessed by abundant rain (usually), containing folks who have been rooted to the land for generations. It also has mountains and beaches that bring in vast sums of tourist money tied to outdoor rest and recreation. The more forward thinking among state leaders are starting to understand the threat of climate change and its likely effects on North Carolina - imagine, for example, what sea level rise will do to the Outer Banks.

That's the environment from which Kay Hagan springs. As a state legislator from 1999 til 2008, she compiled a strong environmental record. She supported the renewable portfolio standard, the Clean Smokestacks law, legislation to support solar energy, and clean drinking water legislation. Prior to the 2008 race in which she upended Elizabeth Dole, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) gave Hagan an 85% rating based on her state record from 2003 to 2007. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Action Fund called her a "proven leader on energy and environmental issues." Environment NC said she had voted with them 81% of the time. Unsurprisingly, all the major environmental organizations endorsed her over the pathetic tool that is Liddy Dole. Here's one of Hagan's responses on LCV's questionnaire:

"I believe we need a new energy policy that will invest in renewable energies to create good jobs here at home while also reducing our dependence on foreign oil," Hagan said in her response to an LCV questionnaire. "I will prioritize investments in conservation, clean air and clean water now because that will pay dividends later by keeping North Carolina an attractive place for residents and small businesses."

Senator Hagan's 2008 campaign website was clear on cap and trade. Her Senate website now – much vaguer. No specific mention of the American Clean Energy and Security bill (ACES) or cap and trade. I couldn't find any statements she has made on cap and trade in general, or ACES in specific, since entering the Senate. Is she hedging her bets? Sniffing the political winds? You be the judge:

From her campaign website:

Move Towards a Green Economy
Increase Production And Use Of Alternative Energy Sources. Kay knows that if we want to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, we cannot rely on just one source, and we will have to rely on a combination of other energy sources. Kay supported the state law that required 12.5 percent of North Carolina's energy to come from renewable energy sources by 2021, and she would have supported one of the provisions that was stripped out of the 2007 energy bill which would have required 15 percent of our nation's energy supply to come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to ensure that our country will be able to increase clean energy generation, we need to provide long-term, dependable tax credits to companies that develop or generate electricity through renewable resources such as wind, water, solar and biofuels.

• • Create Jobs. Energy efficiency creates jobs. Experts have suggested that every $10 million invested in clean energy production will create anywhere from 160 to 215 new, good-paying jobs. Once we have identified jobs that will be created, we will support job-training initiatives, especially for low-income workers or the unemployed, so those individuals can be lifted out of poverty.

• • Save Ratepayer Dollars. The Union of Concerned Scientists said increasing the use of renewable energy by 15% over the next 12 years would save North Carolina ratepayers anywhere from $130 million to $530