[USCC] lobbying for the Waxman-Markey ACES Act

Tue Aug 25 08:09:05 CDT 2009

I am able to call my senators and representatives about this issue, in  
fact I'd be interested in helping with USCC outreach to members of  
Congress generally if there's a need (I have a background as a  
lobbyist), but the talking points below are not giving me enough  
information to speak about the issue.

Could someone post to the list with an explanation in layman's terms  
of why "performance standard requirements for landfill methane  
emissions and support the inclusion of composting and municipal  
anaerobic digestion as eligible offset project types" should be removed?

I run a membership organization that is interested in affecting good  
composting and other green energy policy in Florida.

Sincerely,
Andrea Hildebran
Green Florida

On Aug 24, 2009, at 4:48 PM, jonathan rivin wrote:

In addition to having a strong US Composting Council PAC, its also
imperative that your Senators hear from individuals (their  
constituents).
Telephone calls, and especially letters and meetings with Congressional
staff make huge impacts.

Jonathan Rivin

On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 12:00 PM, <compost- 
request at mailman.cloudnet.com>wrote:

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> The National forum for those involved in the development and  
> expansion of
> the composting and organics recycling industry.
> Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and
> Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website:
> www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>  1. Waxman-Markey ACES Act (dmhill at aol.com)
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: dmhill at aol.com
> To: compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
> Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:19:38 -0400
> Subject: [USCC] Waxman-Markey ACES Act
>
>
>
> Fellow composters:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Our industry is facing a potential crisis. The proposed American
> Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), currently passed by  
> the House
> of
> Representatives and now in the hands of the US Senate for vote, is
> basically
> good, sound environmental legislation. There has been some  
> manipulating of
> the
> act, at the hands of special interest groups that makes it  
> potentially,
> disastrous for the composting industry. This, in turn impacts all  
> affiliate
> industries
> from equipment manufacturers to journals to brokers and distributors.
> Consequently,
> we all need to stand together and speak in one voice.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The USCC has crafted a position paper on ACES (available on the
> www.compostingcouncil.org website),
> stating our interests and concerns regarding the ACES legislation.  
> Briefly
> stated,
> there are four major points addressed:
>
>
>
>
> The USCC supports a consistently-applied,
>    market-based approach to climate change regulation that provides
> flexible
>    incentives for achieving large and sustainable reductions in  
> landfill
>    methane emissions
>
> We are concerned that the currently
>    proposed “performance standard” approach for reducing landfill  
> methane
>    emissions will inadvertently discourage the diversion of
> methane-producing
>    wastes from landfills, and ultimately lead to an overall increase  
> in
> landfill methane
>    emissions
>
> We believe that market-based, carbon
>    offset incentives for landfill methane avoidance projects will
> provide20a
>    more flexible, sustainable and cost-effective mechanism for  
> reducing
>    landfill methane emissions, while returning carbon to the soil
>
> We
>    urge the removal of performance standard requirements for landfill
> methane
>    emissions and support the inclusion of composting and municipal
> anaerobic
>    digestion as eligible offset project types
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The USCC legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee has been very
> active in working with groups to build consensus and support our  
> industry.
> Additionally, the Council has
> established a PAC matching fund of up to $50,000 in private funds  
> raised
> for legal,
> public relations and lobbying efforts on behalf of the composting  
> industry.
> This means a potential of $100,000 in combined, monetary support of  
> our
> industry by working
> together as individuals and our representative association. This may  
> sound
> like a
> lot of money however, to put it in perspective, Waste Management,  
> Inc.,
> alone spent over $200,000 in the last quarter, alone for lobbying  
> their
> interests. Their reward? According to the Associated Press,
>
>
>
> “The so-called ‘renewable portfolio
> standard’ requires a certain percentage of a utility's power plant  
> capacity
> or
> generation to come from renewable or alternative energy sources. In  
> the
> April-June period, the Houston-based company also supported  
> legislation
> establishing a tax credit for the production of pipeline quality gas  
> from
> landfill gas, according to the report filed July 14 with the House  
> clerk's
> office.”=0
> A
>
>
>
>
>
>
> You can see how well-crafted, environmentally friendly, sounding
> legislation can be so beneficial to the landfill industry while  
> being so
> categorically destructive to our industry. We must educate our  
> legislators
> to the devastating effects of their otherwise, well intended  
> legislation.
> The best way to do that is through massive, grass roots efforts AND a
> professional, recognized voice on Capitol Hill.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am a professional composter who has recently started my own  
> business.
> I cannot afford to contribute $1,000 to the USCC/private contribution
> lobbying
> effort at this time in my life and my career. However, having  
> invested the
> vast
> majority of my professional career into this industry, I can less  
> afford
> not to!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am asking each of you also to donate to the USCC PAC to support this
> effort at whatever level you feel appropriate but remember the math:  
> 25
> (donations)
> X $500 = $25,000 because of the USCC dollar for dollar match up to  
> $100,000
> total. And please, be entirely selfish about this: Don’t do it for  
> anyone
> else’s
> future but your own.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> To donate, Please
> follow these instructions:
>
>
>
> 1.     Send your checks to:
>
> Frank Franciosi
>
>
>
> C/O US Composting
> Council
>
> 1 Comac Loop 14 B1
>
> Rokonkoma, NY 11779
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 2.     Checks should be made out to:  US Composting Council. Be sure  
> to put
> PAC in the “For:” notation at the bottom right of the ch
> eck.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
> David Hill
>
>
>
> CycleLogic
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Phone/Fax (301) 493-5180
>
>
>
> Cell (240) 393-0492
>
>
>
> Website: www.mycyclelogic.com
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________
> Join us at the US Composting Council's 17th Annual Conference &  
> Trade Show
> January 26-29th, 2009 at the Westin Galleria in Houston, TX.
> The National forum for those involved in the development and  
> expansion of
> the composting and organics recycling industry.
> Conference Highlights, Registration forms, Exhibitor information and
> Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website:
> www.compostingcouncil.org or call the USCC at 631.737.4931
> _______________________________________
> Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
> http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
> _______________________________________
> This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
> (c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights  
> reserved
>
> Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the  
> Foundation,
> or the Board of Directors.
>
> Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its  
> website
> at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm
>
> Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have  
> their
> posting privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and  
> information
> regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other options, go to:
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>
> For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems,  
> send a
> message to the List Manager at  
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>
_______________________________________
Join us as the US Composting Council's 18th Annual Conference & Trade  
Show, January 24-27, 2010 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, FL. The  
Largest Conference & Exhibition in North America for the Composting,  
Wood Waste, & Organics Recycling Industry. The Most Comprehensive  
Program of Training Courses, Educational & Technical Presentations,  
and Facility Tours & "Live" Equipment Demonstrations at the Disney/ 
Reedy Creek Composting Facility. Conference Highlights & Program,  
Registration forms, Exhibitor Information and Sponsorship  
Opportunities available at the USCC website www.compostingcouncil.org  
or call the USCC at 631.737.4931
_____________________________________________________________________________
Compost maillist - compost at mailman.cloudnet.com
http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost
_______________________________________
This list is a service provided by the US Composting Council (USCC).
(c) Copyright 2004 United States Composting Council - All rights  
reserved

Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the USCC, the  
Foundation, or the Board of Directors.

Non-members of USCC are encouraged to join the Council through its  
website at: http://www.compostingcouncil.org/membership.cfm

Members posting CC copies to the list and other addresses may have  
their posting privileges suspended. For discussion list policies and  
information regarding subscribing, unsubscribing, digest or other  
options, go to: http://mailman.cloudnet.com/mailman/listinfo/compost

For additional help in unsubcribing or to report bugs and problems,  
send a message to the List Manager at compostlistmanager at compostingcouncil.org