Angering coal supporters, the Obama administration announced a temporary ban on new coal leases on federal lands Friday as part of a broad environmental and economic review of the nation’s federal coal program. The decision, which was lauded by environmental advocates, came three days after President Obama said in his State of
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to pass an end-of-year spending omnibus bill. The package also included extensions of tax provisions and legislation to lift the ban on U.S. exports of crude oil. “This omnibus and tax bill contains many
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after reports that must-pass, end-of-year tax and spending legislation included a deal to lift the ban on exports of U.S. oil: “Lifting the oil export ban is a windfall for big oil at the expense of working Americans and
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after 196 nations announced an international agreement to take on climate change at the conclusion of talks that have been ongoing in Paris. Last weekend, Merkley traveled to Paris as part of a delegation of ten U.S. Senators to
Two prominent Oregonians were in France Friday for the United Nations conference on climate change. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales spoke at a panel entitled “Financing City Action.” Hales said action on climate change happens slowly on the national level, but can be much faster locally. He gave the example of Portland’s recent fossil
PARIS — It is going to be O.K. That was the message from 10 Democratic members of the United States Senate who attended the Paris climate talks to reassure other countries that Washington would do its part. Of the 195 countries taking part in the talks, the United States seems
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Early this morning, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley arrived along with a delegation of United States Senators to participate in global climate talks that are ongoing in Paris. “Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution,” said Merkley. “An international climate accord in Paris would
Washington– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after President Obama rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline: “Rejecting the Keystone XL Pipeline is the right decision for our citizens, this country, and our planet. The Keystone XL Pipeline would have turned on the tap for some of the dirtiest fossil fuels
As I wrote last week in a post on supply-side climate policy … there isn’t much of it so far. Plenty of governments have been willing to pass legislation that would reduce demand for fossil fuels (by boosting renewables or imposing energy efficiency standards, for example). But few have been willing to
WASHINGTON — Two Senators are floating ambitious legislation to stop the government from issuing new leases on public land for fossil fuel extraction. The venture, pushed by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is a gamble that would be met with fierce opposition from Republicans. Merkley said the
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