[USCC] lobbying for the Waxman-Markey ACES Act

[John Bentley]

Cary
I am interested in caliing my senator as soon as you get the talking points
ready.
John Bentley
Earth & Turf Products LLC 

-----Original Message-----
From: Cary Oshins [mailto:cary.oshins at compostingcouncil.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:45 AM
To: 'Compost Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [USCC] lobbying for the Waxman-Markey ACES Act

We will be developing a "one-pager" of talking points for people to use when
calling legislators as well as a sample letter to use for writing or
emailing. 
Let me answer your question with a clarification.
In order to reduce methane coming from landfills, Waxman Markey uses
performance standards that require methane capture, instead of economic
incentives (cap-and-trade) that are being applied to other large GHG
emitters. The indirect effect of this is to create an incentive for
landfills to INCREASE the amount of organics they take in, so they can make
more methane, sell that as "renewable" energy, and capitalize on their
investment. There are two consequence of this:
*Since methane capture is imperfect, more organics going in means more
methane escaping and an INCREASE in GHG emissions from those organics.
*Less organics are available for alternative processes (composting and
anaerobic digestion).

Landfills should be required to collect methane generated by the organics
that go in them, but from a climate change perspective the main thrust of
the policy should be to create incentives to the organics OUT of the
landfill in the first place.  Making sure that alternatives like composting
and AD are eligible for carbon credits is an important piece of that policy.

For more information you can read the position paper and find other tools on
our website, http://www.compostingcouncil.org/education/resources.php 

Watch this listserve and the USCC website, www.compostingcouncil.org, for
more tools and information so you can help our industry claim its rightful
place in the battle with global climate change.

____________________________________
Cary Oshins | Assistant Director of Programs US Composting Council | 1 Comac
Loop, Suite 14B1 | Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
phone: 631-737-4931 | cell: 484-547-1521 | fax: 631-737-4939 |
cary.oshins at compostingcouncil.org 
 
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-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at mailman.cloudnet.com] On Behalf Of hildebran
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 6:09 AM
To: Compost Discussion List
Subject: Re: [USCC] lobbying for the Waxman-Markey ACES Act

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



_______________________________________
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.
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and Sponsorship Opportunities available at the USCC website
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