Tag: Tackling Climate Change

Senate Democrats Call for Ban on Arctic Offshore Drilling

A group of 10 Senate Democrats and one independent called for the Department of the Interior to block offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean in its 2017-2022 drilling plan, in a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on Friday. The senators acknowledged they had already won a significant victory when the department

Merkley and Wyden Announce $70 Million For Renewable Energy Research

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that passed the Senate this week includes $70 million for wave and geothermal energy research grants. Oregon State University (OSU), as a leader in wave and geothermal energy research, will be well-positioned

Merkley Statement on EPA Methane Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first-ever national standards for methane pollution in the oil and gas industry: “Today’s announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency finalizing the first-ever national standards for dangerous methane pollution for new drilling

Senate Votes to Restore Funding for Wind Energy Research and Development

The U.S. Senate passed an amendment on April 26 that would restore funding for wind energy research and development (R&D) in fiscal year 2017 to $96.4 million—the same amount funded this fiscal year. The amendment passed by a vote of 54–42 as part of Senate consideration of the Energy and

Senate votes to increase wind energy funding

The Senate passed an amendment Tuesday that would keep funding for wind energy research and development at its current level and restore a cut that appropriators had put into their bill. The amendment, from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), would provide $95.4 million for the Department of Energy’s wind program, up

Merkley-Grassley Wind Energy Amendment Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate passed a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that restores funding for wind energy research and development (R&D). The amendment was attached to the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) Energy and Water Appropriations bill. “Wind energy

Merkley Statement on the Signing of Historic Paris Climate Agreement on Earth Day

PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after nations from around the world convened on Earth Day at the United Nations to sign the historic Paris Climate Agreement: “The Paris Agreement signed today represents a breakthrough moment in the international fight to take on climate change.

Oregon gets the spotlight for historic coal legislation

Oregon’s pioneering legislation to phase out coal and double renewable power has been lauded from coast to coast. Across the country, Oregon is being celebrated for passing its landmark Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Plan. The strategy mandates the state’s major utility companies eliminate coal power and meet at least half

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