EPPN: Urge your Senator to vote for energy efficiency

[Episcopal Public Policy Network alert] Powering a home or an office is expensive, and environmentally taxing. The amount of energy we consume every day contributes to rising levels of carbon dioxide or CO2, a chemical that affects climate change. It is increasingly imperative that we identify and adopt new ways to conserve energy so that we can save money, and protect God’s creation.

This week, the Senate is expected to begin consideration of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 761). The bill would incentivize homes, businesses, and industries to adopt technologies that conserve energy, and would change building codes to comply with more energy efficient standards. The bill would also require the Department of Energy to collaborate with the private sector to spur research and development for energy efficient technologies.

Essentially, this bill would improve energy efficiency standards, significantly reduce CO2 emissions, create tens of thousands of jobs, and save consumers and businesses billions of dollars. Lawmakers from both parties recognize that energy efficiency is a commonsense solution to costly consumption, unemployment, and environmental degradation, and S. 761 receives bipartisan support.

As Episcopalians, we are called to be stewards of God’s creation, acting responsibly for its care and preservation. Our stewardship is exemplified through advocacy for legislation that reduces CO2 emissions, and implements energy efficient and conservation-based policies. S. 761 embodies the principle of creation care, and today your voice is crucial to ensuring this bill’s passage.

It is time to reduce our costly consumption and emissions, so that American homes and businesses can be both economically, and environmentally sound.

Send a message your Senators today and urge them to cast their vote in support of S. 761!