Talking Points: Energy in the West, A Call to Action

Climate Change: Potential Disaster for the West?

Health: Increased risk of some infectious diseases, especially those spread by mosquitoes and other insects

Water Quality: Climate Change may cause severe flooding in some areas and droughts in others. Less snowpack due to changing climate will mean less water in the summer months in some areas, which is a threat to civilization in areas of the American West. Sea level rise is a serious concern to many areas in the Western United States and across the globe. Water quality may be affected by changes in the timing, intensity and duration of precipitation.

Extreme weather events: It is predicted that a change in climate will effect the intensity of storms, including hurricanes and tornadoes.

Biodiversity and Habitat: Many species of fish may be affected by warming temperatures and snowpack melting earlier. Bird migration may be affected as well. Melting polar icecaps and glaciers, habitat to wildlife such as penguins and polar bears, is melting and may hinder survival.

The real effects of Climate Change are heavily disputed among scientists, what is generally accepted by scientists is that global warming is being accelerated by human consumption of energy produced by the burning of fossil fuels

Although there is not agreement on the effects of climate change, most scientists agree that even small shifts in climate due to warming could have dangerous consequences worldwide, for humans and wildlife.

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Climate Change and Global Warming in the United States

Climate Change: The Urgency, Impacts and Solutions (Public Citizen, September 2006)

Global Warming Myths and Facts (from Environmental Defense)

Global Warming in the West: In-depth information on the current and future impacts of global warming on the western United States

Energy Policy: Change on the Horizon in the West?

Five Western Governors take action, not wanting to wait for federal government (Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico):

• Western states tackle warming (by ROBERT TANNER The Olympian: The Associated Press 2/27/07)

• Oregon, New Mexico Help Pave The Way: Oregon Joins Four Other Western States To Head Off Global Warming (By Joseph Friedrichs, New West 2/28/07)

• Climate change hits the American West (by Todd Wilkinson from NewWest.net in the Sun Valley Online, 6.14.2006)

Advocates for the New West meet with Natural Resources Committee at federal level to push for change.

• Congress puts focus on West's evolution (By NOELLE STRAUB of the Missoulian D.C. Bureau: 2007)

• Energy Plan Could Affect the West (The Chief Engineer)

Extraction of resources, like coal and oil, are not going to be profitable in the long run

• Hot Profits and Global Warming: How Oil Companies Hurt Consumers and the Environment (by Tyson Slocum, Director, Public Citizen’s Energy Program, September 2006)

• Status of Gasoline Prices

• Bush Energy Plan Whacks Conservation: More than a dozen efficiency efforts are set for trims or elimination as the administration pushes long-term projects. (5/31/06)

Investing in alternative energy solutions could stimulate our economies and save our environment and is very possible.

• Factoid #10 -- Western U.S. Could Reduce Electricity Use by 20% From Projected Levels by 2020 (Nuclear Information and Resource Center)

• Director’s Update (Director Matt Baker): Colorado can lead on Global Warming (Environment Colorado, February 10, 2007)

• Union of Concerned Scientists: Clean Energy Program

• BlackEnergy, organizer of energy buying groups that help people use their utility bills to support Black communities.

• Energy Guru Sees Oil Free World: Lovins Mantra “It makes sense and makes money” (MSNBC: Associated Press 2004)

• Why Solartopia! Can Be Won By Earth Day 2030 (by Harvey Wasserman, CommonDreams.org)

• Step It Up: National Day of Climate Action

• Energy for Colorado’s Economy: Creating Jobs and Economic Growth with Renewable Energy (Environment Colorado: February 2007)