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 National Energy Policies
and the Midterm Elections
Jennifer Rennicks & Stephanie Powell
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy webinar series
September 23, 2010
 About Us
•  The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) has
been a leading voice for energy reform to protect the
quality of life and treasured places in the Southeast for
the past 25 years. Founded in 1985, SACE is the only
regional organization primarily focused on developing
clean energy solutions throughout the Southeast.

•  Since its formal inception in 1985, SACE has grown

from a small group of individuals into a dynamic
organization, with five offices across the Southeast and
initiatives at federal, state and local levels. SACE
continues to expand organizationally, to address the
needs of a rapidly changing planet.

•  As we look towards the future, SACE’s commitment to

preserve, restore and protect our environment through
the use of innovative technology, grassroots and
grasstops education, and pioneer policy work remains
steadfast.
For more information on Southern Alliance for Clean Energy please visit
www.cleanenergy.org
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Setting the Stage
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Setting the Stage

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act: $80 billion for

energy efficiency, renewable energy, transit, green jobs
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Setting the Stage

American Clean Energy & Security Act: The House of

Representatives set a limit on carbon pollution combined with
renewable energy & efficiency goals
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Setting the Stage
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Senate Stumbling Block
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Rolling Back Public Health Protections
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Other Routes for Energy Reform?

  GHG reductions for cars and light

trucks through the Clean Air Act’s
(CAA)Tailpipe Rule
  Energy consumption targets set for
federal buildings
☐ GHG reductions for stationary sources
(utilities and factories) through CAA’s
Tailoring Rule
☐ Revised CAA ozone rules
☐ Coal Ash Regulation
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
What’s at Stake?
  435 U.S. House races
  37 U.S. Senate races
  37 Gubernatorial races
  6,000 state legislative races
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
How Many will Vote?
  ~40% projected to
vote in 2010
  63% in 2008
(highest since 1960)
  37% in 2006
  55% in 2004
  36% in 2002
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Crystal Ball Predictions?
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
House Races
  All 435 House seats up
  Toss Up SE House races:
o  FL 2nd
o  FL 8th
o  FL 24th
o  MS 1st
  If the election was today:
+35 to 40 GOP seats
Map source: NY Times Elections section:
http://www.nytimes.com/politics/
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Senate Races
  8 SE Senate races
  Only 1 open seat - FL
o  Gov. Charlie Crist (Ind)
o  State Rep. Marco Rubio (R)
o  Cong. Kendrick Meek (D)
  If the election was held
today: +8 GOP seats

Map source: NY Times Elections section:

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Governor Races
  6 SE Governor races
  5 open seats
o  AL
o  FL
o  GA
o  SC
o  TN
  If the election was held
Map source: NY Times Elections section:
http://www.nytimes.com/politics/
today: +8 GOP seats
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Wild Cards?

  Stronger signs of economic recovery

  Changes in BP/Gulf Oil situation
  Voting records – esp. healthcare
and ACES
  Political Scandal
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Civic Engagement for Clean Energy
  Educate
o  Learn where the candidates
stand on issues
  Motivate
o  Update your voter registration
  Participate
o  Bring a friend to vote
About the Southern Energy Network

  Created in 2004 by Southern youth

  The Southern Energy Network builds and
facilitates an inclusive student- and youth-led
movement in the South that empowers
communities, develops leaders, and promotes a
clean, just, safe, and sustainable energy future.
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
The Millenial Generation
  At 44 Million, largest
generation in history
  Represent 20% of the
electorate
  Since 2008, 9.5 million
citizens have turned 18
  Service oriented
  Most diverse generation
to date
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Voter Engagement & Registration

In Florida this fall,

SEN is working to
register more than
5,000 young voters
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Power Vote Campaign

  Thousands of young people

pledging to make clean
energy and green jobs a top
priority when they go to the
polls on Nov 2nd
  Asking candidates to return
“dirty campaign
contributions”
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Candidate Engagement
  Research campaign events: listservs, campaign
pages, community calendars, etc
  Craft your question
  Recruit friends
  Be persistent
  Document the response
  Share what you learn
  Follow up after election day
Energy Policies & the Midterm Elections:
Motivate Voters - GOTV
  Peer to peer conversation around a
shared issues
  Tactics: door to door, phone calls, text
messaging friends, facebook messages
  Trick or Vote
  Voter turnout information is political
power and leverage for lobby meetings
after the election
This presentation was brought to you by

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