Representative Ed Whitfield (Kentucky-R) was recently quoted in the New York Times as saying, "I think everyone recognizes ... that there is global warming caused by human activity." With this point granted as settled, economic columnist David Leonhardt now believes that the new political debate will focus on what exactly should be done about global warming. When it seems like everyone and his or her dog are coming out with their own climate change bill, Leonhardt emphasizes that an effective bill will need to "acknowledge the costs," "let the market work" and "keep the solution simple."

Though Leonhardt's commentary refers to national legislation, Massachusetts faces a similar situation on the state level. The state government must make careful choices, because even with a myriad of renewable energy proposals buzzing around Boston, a worthless bill is worse than no bill. Massachusetts has experienced this directly, having failed to meet previously set standards––the state currently produces less than one percent of its energy using renewable sources.

In order to get new and effective legislation off the ground, environmental lobbyists will seek to unite behind a single bill to make sure it gets passed and enforced. In order to generate support for such a bill, members of Amherst College's chapter of MASSPIRG, along with chapters throughout the state, voted last fall to make global warming the organization's lead campaign issue for the spring semester.

Specifically, the campaign has chosen to endorse State Senator Pamela Resor's bill, "An Act to Further Promote the Generation of Renewable Energy." The bill will make state renewable energy standards more progressive and effective by instituting the following requirements: that Massachusetts generate at least 14 percent of its energy from new renewable sources by 2020; that certain required levels of specifically solar energy be met; and that these standards be applied to all retail electricity providers.

To rally support and to identify legislators who can champion this bill (that is, to not only vote for the bill, but to make sure it moves through the ratification process), the various chapters of MASSPIRG are planning to use the organization's size and reach to their advantage by dividing up members of the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives between colleges across the state. This way, an individual campus chapter is responsible for just a couple local legislators.

The College's chapter is focusing its efforts on Senator Gale Candaras in Wilbraham and Representative Ellen Story in Amherst. Members of the College chapter are currently planning to reach their Senator and Representative using tactics ranging from postcards and letters sent by Amherst students to invitations to environmental events at the College. They are also attempting to arrange for personal meetings with Candaras and Story.

MASSPIRG will be stepping up its efforts for Earth Week 2007 (April 15-22). On Monday, April 16, at 7:30 in the Cole Assembly Room in Converse, it will host a panel discussion with Professor Jan Dizard and Physical Plant Director Jim Brassord. The focus will be on sustainability and renewable energy alternatives, particularly as they relate to Amherst College. MASSPIRG is also planning a river cleanup for Earth Day itself (April 22), taking a trip to a local waterway to haul out garbage and other potential contaminants. Throughout the week, MASSPIRG will be working with Campus Climate Challenge, an affiliated group focusing on reducing the College's carbon footprint, to provide informational tables regarding the renewable energy bill, campus energy policy and personal energy-saving tips. To get involved, contact the writer at crjones09@amherst.edu.