Stay in touch!  The POW July newsletter is here.  Get a copy by signing up on our home page.

In the market for some amazing new art?  Or just feel like supporting a good cause?  “Art for POW” launched this week through July 31 - please bid on some art by some amazing artists to raise money for Protect Our Winters…check it out HERE

The Victoria, Australia government is in the final stages of deciding what type of Climate Bill it will deliver as part of it’s election commitments - it’s important that we all send emails (especially those in Australia) to the Victorian Premier, urging him to pass a strong clean energy policy.  Our friends in Australia need our help.  While this is an Australian issue, it also has global implications - let’s ALL send a note!   Details HERE

O’Neill continued it partnership with Protect Our Winters by making another generous contribution for 201o.  We’re grateful for the support and excited to be working with them again.  Check them out at: O’Neill.com

This winter, Protect Our Winters will be closer to home for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere. As winter quickly approaches the southern hemi, POW opened satellite offices in Melbourne, Australia, Las Leñas and Bariloche, Argentina to extend our reach and understanding of the local issues in these winter climates.

“Since climate change is a global issue, it only makes sense that we have a keen understanding of issues facing the global winter sports community”, said Chris Steinkamp, POW’s Executive Director.  “We already have a lot of supporters from Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand and we want to make sure we sincerely engage them and support local initiatives to tangibly offset climate change”.

Staffed by POW supporters, these representatives will be focused on engaging the local community in the climate change discussion, developing local programs and uncovering new grant opportunities while building brand awareness for Protect Our Winters.

Protect Our Winters will continue to establish footholds in other key markets throughout the year.

POW/Australia contact: Cam Walker: cam.walker@foe.org.au

POW/Las Leñas: Jamie Schectman adiostahoe@gmail.com

POW/Bariloche:  Rachel Artz:  rachelartz@yahoo.com,  Shannon Quirk: shannonquirk@gmail.com

For general information or specific inquiries, please contact Chris Steinkamp: chris@protectourwinters.org

Today, the Senate defeated the Murkowski resolution by a vote of 53-47 - a proposal that would block the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing greenhouse gas regulations.

It was a victory for us, but it was close. While this resolution really meant nothing since it most likely never would have made it through the House of Pres. Obama, this vote uncovered who is truly in support of clean energy and who is not and success for clean energy in the future.

For example, every one of the Senate’s 41 Republicans — including “moderates” considered possible “Yes” votes for climate legislation — voted in favor of it, along with six Democrats: Mary Landrieu (La.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Ben Nelson (N.D.), Evan Bayh (Ind.), and Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.).

But we’ll take it for now. But it also means that we can’t take our foot off the gas regarding the larger more comprehensive “American Power” bill developed by Sens. Kerry/Lieberman.

Thank you for all the letters sent to Senators via www.60daysto.org, your efforts and our collective voice truly made a difference today.

The next couple of weeks are going to be a critical time for climate change in Washington.
Here is a quick update on some of the key events:

MURKOWSKI RESOLUTION
This Thursday is the first key test of US resolve on climate. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will introduce a “resolution of disapproval” that would undercut the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon pollution. If passed, the resolution basically says that carbon emissions aren’t dangerous and could sub-vent the EPA’s ability to hold accountable the largest carbon polluters down the road.

The general consensus is that the resolution won’t pass, and it most certainly won’t get through the House, but surprisingly, the vote has become a bellwether for the climate bill’s chances by showcasing which Senators are in favor of strong climate change policy and which aren’t.

A victory for Murkowski here could spell danger for a more comprehensive bill later on. The resolution needs 51 votes, to pass. If it breaks 45 votes, it’s trouble. If it breaks 50, it’s doom.

SENATOR REID TIMING
Also this week, Senator Harry Reid is polling other Democratic Senators about whether they want to move ahead with a climate bill this year. Obviously, with everything that’s happening the Gulf, its clearly evident that dependence on oil is a failed strategy and the longer that this discussion waits to take place, the more it risks never happening. It is up to us to tell our Senators to tell Sen. Reid “yes” on a climate bill this year.

The current bill, the American Power Act, was introduced by Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman on May 12th. In short, the bill aims to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and then cut them by 80% by 2050. It would set limits beyond which polluters would have the option of trading credits or paying penalties within a fixed price range. Here are the details of the bill: CLICK

There are rumors about other bills currently being developed, but nothing concrete just yet.
Our main goal right now, is to make sure the debate begins this year.

THE FENCE SITTERS
Here is a list of Senators who, as far as we can tell, are still yet undecided about supporting clean energy. We need a total of 60 votes. Since 37 Senators have already indicated that they are planning to support strong climate change policy, we need 23 of these fence-sitting Senators to vote “yes” to pass climate legislation in the Senate.

Lamar Alexander (Tenn.)
Max Baucus (Mont.)
Mark Begich (Alaska)
Scott Brown (Mass.)
Sherrod Brown (Ohio)
Robert Byrd (W.Va.)
Maria Cantwell (Wash.)
Susan Collins (Maine)
Kent Conrad (N.D.)
Bob Corker (Tenn.)
Byron Dorgan (N.D.)
Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
Judd Gregg (N.H.)
Mary Landrieu (La.)
Frank Lautenberg (N.J.)
George LeMieux (Fla.)
Carl Levin (Mich.)
Richard Lugar (Ind.)
Claire McCaskill (Mo.)
Robert Menendez (N.J.)
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Ben Nelson (Neb.)
Bill Nelson (Fla.)
Mark Pryor (Ark.)
Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.)
Olympia Snowe (Maine)
Arlen Specter (Pa.)
Debbie Stabenow (Mich.)
Jon Tester (Mont.)
George Voinovich (Ohio)
Jim Webb (Va)

So, it’s go-time. Please send a letter to your Senators today, especially if they are on the list above. The time to do this is absolutely right now.

This is our moment to be be heard, and an opportunity to influence policy to protect something close to us for today, and for generations behind us.

Please click here to see where your Senators stands on the issue and to easily send a letter to them urging their support: www.60DAYSTO.org

Not a member of Protect Our Winters yet?  Why not?  Please take a minute and join to support our collective fight against climate change.

And if that wasn’t enough, how about 10% off on any purchase at Tactics Boardshop and you’ll get a year’s subscription to your choice to either Backcountry Magazine or Transworld Snowboarding Magazine. Offers are good through June 30th so please join POW now!

POW and Grand Targhee Resort made a grant to The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to add solar panels to their Teton Valley campus. Read more about it here.

Jackson Hole based Teton Gravity Research provided funds to Protect Our Winters (POW) to offset 200 tons of CO2 accumulated during the production of this year’s award-winning film, “Re:Session.” Teton Gravity Research is setting the bar by being the first action sports production company to offset its total carbon emissions from a film production.

The film crew and athletes generated carbon emissions through time on airplanes, helicopters, snow machines and automobiles during the 09/10 filming season. The funds will be redirected towards permanently protecting forest in California’s Humboldt County and the credits are verified by the Climate Action Reserve Conservation-Based Forest Management Protocol 2.1.

“TGR uses offsets as just one part of our commitment to the environment and we continue to look at other areas to make our business more sustainable. We hope all the influential film companies in the industry will consider the environment when planning and making their films”, said Steve Jones, Founder, TGR

“POW is proud of our continuing partnership with TGR. They understand that offsets are just part of a responsible corporate environmental strategy and have recognized efficiencies throughout their company to address their overall carbon footprint”, said Chris Steinkamp, Executive Director of POW.