“…A recent Northern Arizona University study shows us that if Congress gets serious about ending our dependence on imported oil and creating clean energy here at home, Arizona could see $10 billion in business investment over the next 10 years,” said Flagstaff Construction Company owner Tim Kinney in an opinion piece in today’s DAILY SUN.  To read the piece go to:

http://www.azdailysun.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_501a39e6-8737-5abb-a89d-e04c40924edf.html

The US House of Representatives recently passed the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act which provides rebates to homeowners who install energy-saving products and reduce energy use in their homes.  This is an important jobs bill that benefits consumers and local businesses and reduces US dependence on foreign oil.

Voting “yes” were Arizona Representatives Giffords, Grijalva, Mitchell and Pastor.

Voting “no” were Arizona Representatives Flake, Frank, Kirkpatrick and Shaddegg.

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act was endorsed by a wide range of groups including labor, consumer groups and the National Association of Manufacturers, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Home Builders.

“This bill is designed to boost the American construction and manufacturing industries in the short-term by creating jobs immediately…In the long-term, it will help rebuild the foundation of our economy by encouraging American innovation and entrepreneurship in the growing clean energy industry.”  For more information:              Home Star Energy Retrofit Act

Keep Sedona Beautiful is running television ads across Northern Arizona for two weeks to thank Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick for introducing a bill to create a National Scenic Area Designation that would protect 160,000 acres of Coconino National Forest land from trades.

“We are proud that Congresswoman Kirkpatrick is committed to preserving Sedona’s natural beauty,” said KSB president Steve DeVol.  “A National Scenic Area Designation will protect our tourism–‐based economy, protect our land values and preserve Sedona’s beauty.”

A copy of the ad can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c88ELmJheao.

Preservation of the beauty of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon is critical to maintain a strong Tourism economy in the area, DeVol said.  Approximately 4 million people visit Sedona every year.  In 2008, visitors spent more than $1 billion in Yavapai and Coconino counties and 14,000 of the region’s jobs were directly related to the tourism industry.

[Source: USA TODAY, Nov. 4, 2009; Arizona Office of Tourism Travel Impact Study, 2009]

Climate change mitigation has the potential to change Arizona’s job market for the better, says a new report by researchers at Northern Arizona University.

The NAU report, Economic Development Opportunities for Arizona in National Clean Energy and Climate Change Legislation, states that “Arizona could generate more than 50,000 construction-phase jobs, 4,000 permanent jobs and more than $10 billion in earnings and economic activity over the next decade under an aggressive, nationwide clean-energy development and climate change mitigation policy.”

Press Release
http://www4.nau.edu/insidenau/bumps/2010/4_1_10/climate.html

Report Webpage
http://www.landsward.nau.edu/energy_climate_change_legislation_page.html

Former State Senator Tom O’Halleran on NAU Report

Thank you to Representative Ann Kirkpatrick for introducing the Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area Act of 2010.

View the legislation and read her remarks on its introduction.

Sedona Mayor Rob Adams and city council candidates Mike Ward, Barbara Litrell, Dan McIlroy and Dennis Rayner were recently elected to the Sedona City Council.  Each of these candidates supported National Scenic Area designation for Sedona and other resource protection measures.

On February 17 over 300 citizens turned out to support a National Scenic Designation for the greater Sedona area and encouraged Representative Kirkpatrick to introduce long-sought-after legislation.  For more information:

http://www.sedona.biz/nsa-rally-sedona021910.php

“Many of us will be afield this fall spending time in our favorite hunting and fishing spots. We will be enjoying the tradition of these field sports so important to our lives. But as you head out to the fields, rivers and streams we want you to be aware of an important tool for conservation of those areas we find near and dear to our hearts.

The United States Congress this fall will have a unique opportunity to secure full and dedicated funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the principal source of federal dollars for protecting land in America’s national parks, forests, and other public landscapes and ensuring recreational opportunities for Americans in every state in the nation…”  Guest Opinion Article by Gary Berlin, President, American Fly Fishing Trade Association.

Read Entire Article

“Regarding the article last Thursday, ‘Obama Moves Quickly to Preserve the West,’ not only so-called environmentalists see the value in a balanced approach to energy development and conservation…”
Ryna Rock, President of the Arizona Wildlife Federation

Read More…

A bipartisan poll released Monday suggests that a strong majority of voters believe global warming is a real and needs to be remedied…

read more…

98,355 comments were received by the U.S. Department of the Interior on its proposal to withdraw approximately one million acres of U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park from new uranium mining claims.

On the heels of this finding, a Pew Environment Group ad was released today urging Congress to support H.R. 644, legislation sponsored by U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (and co-sponsored by Representative Ann Kirkpatrick) to permanently ban new uranium mining claims near the Grand Canyon.   It’s important to thank Representatives Grijalva and Kirkpatrick for their efforts here.

To view the Pew ad:  http://www.pewminingreform.org/pdf/WishAd.pdf

for more information PewPRGrancC.pdf

Some 70,000 people attended the Navajo Nation’s Tuba City Fair & Parade, October 13-16, 2009. Attendees were greeted by signs appearing on roads leading to and from the parade – and on trucks traveling in the parade – showing support for the climate and energy jobs bill in Washington (the American Clean Energy and Security Act). The Navajo Nation Tribal council recently passed two resolutions to promote clean energy jobs on the Reservation.

“Congresswoman Kirkpatrick, please bring renewable energy jobs home,” read Navajo signs as citizens encouraged Congresswoman Kirkpatrick to support climate change and clean energy jobs legislation.

VIEW IMAGES FROM THE EVENT

Tribal leaders in Arizona’s First Congressional District sent letters to Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick underscoring their support for the Clean Energy Act which was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and is pending in the U.S. Senate.  Read More…

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state assistance and federal lands project grants have been a crucial support for state and local park expansions and for developing recreational facilities.  Across AZ state assistance grants have benefitted 726 community parks projects providing over $58 million to match with state and local funds.  The LWCF is authorized to receive $900 million annually in federal revenues from oil and gas leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).  It makes good economic sense to reinvest a small fraction of these federal leasing revenues in permanent natural resource protection.

Click here for more information

The Arizona Conservation Partnership has helped to pull together a webinar where experts will discuss how agriculture can benefit from climate change legislation while providing the most cost-effective solutions.

REGISTER NOW!

On June 26 the U.S. House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation to flight global warming. Arizona Representatives Giffords, Grijalva and Pastor supported this historic legislation. Supporters of the American Clean Energy and Security Act estimate that it will save 240 million barrels of oil by 2020 and create 1.7 million new jobs. “The nation that leads in the creation of a clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy,” said President Barack Obama after the vote. “This legislation will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy leading to the creation of new businesses and new industries,” he continued.

Read More

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, on Friday, June 25, or in a special Saturday session, June 26. This legislation has the potential to create millions of new clean energy jobs. “This bill would cut greenhouse gas emissions, boost renewable energy and help consumers and businesses transition to a new economy that is based on sound environmental practices. In addition, it will safeguard fish and wildlife by dedicating funding to critical areas.” Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

For more information:
Clean Energy Act Summary
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5389/t/4179/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=879

“The loss of public lands won’t automatically stop because a new guy is in the White House.  Sportsmen need to act now.  Here’s a game plan for the next four years…”  Bob Marshall, Bullet Points, FIELD AND STREAM, May, 2009.
http://online.nwf.org/site/DocServer/fieldandstream.pdf?docID=9121

An article appeared in the May 30 ARIZONA REPUBLIC underscoring the lack of resources available to deal with the serious public health and safety threats of over 10,000 known abandoned mines (the number of unknown mines is estimated at around 50,000) in Arizona today.

“It’s Mine Safety Awareness Week in Arizona, and good luck figuring out where the mines are. The Arizona State Mine Inspector’s Office does not publish a list of the state’s approximately 10,000 abandoned mines. An internal database keeps track of those known mines, but officials do not break them out by city or region.  The number of unknown mines in the state is estimated at more than 50,000…”

For more information:  http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/29/20090429minesafety29-ON.html