In August, REP sent thank-you letters to the following six GOP senators who had written to Senate Energy Committee leaders, urging them to keep a renewable portfolio standard in national energy legislation:

Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe (ME)
Judd Gregg (NH)
Gordon Smith (OR)
Arlen Specter (PA)
Lincoln Chafee (RI)

As we noted in our letter, renewable energy has enormous advantages for our nation. Renewable sources of fuel and electricity are clean, secure, and a tremendous economic growth opportunity. At a time of rising concern about foreign oil dependence, global warming, and our shaky economy, Congress needs to act to boost the production of electricity and fuels from wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen and farm-based biomass.

In October, REP sent another round of thank-you’s to the following GOP House members who are co-sponsoring HR 2573, the Salmon Planning Act.

Christopher Shays (CT)
Tim Johnson (IL)
Jim Leach (IA)
Nick Smith (MI)
Jim Ramstad (MN)
Sherwood Boehlert and James Walsh (NY)
Thomas Petri and James Sensenbrenner (WI)

The Salmon Planning Act is a necessary step toward ensuring the recovery of Snake River salmon, which are headed to extinction as a result of hydroelectric dams, loss of habitat and unsound fisheries management. It’s fiscally sound, too, since serious taxpayer liabilities could result if a court were to rule that the U.S. had violated treaties with Columbia River Indian tribes by allowing salmon to go extinct.

The outlook for recovery under the current federal plan is problematical. Only 25% of its recovery measures were implemented last year. Its nearly $1 billion cost includes boondoggles such as trucking and barging young salmon from several hundred miles inland to the ocean, a scheme that has not worked. HR 2573 does not require dam removal but would protect and prepare local communities if dam removal turns out to be needed to save the salmon. It’s a thoughtful, cost-effective and well-planned approach.