What You Can Do

Global Warming is a very serious issue, but it shouldn't be debilitating.  Solutions Exist to the climate crisis, and it is very important that you become involved and active to preserve a decent world for your children. 

While personal changes, such as moving to energy efficient appliances and changing your lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint are good and important; the kinds of change that we need to make to avert the worst effects of global warming are on a larger scale than personal changes will accomplish.  To provide for a better future will take mass, political action, and this is the work the Climate and Clean Energy Division focuses on.

1.    Learn about the Issues

The first and most important step towards being a soldier in the fight against Global Warming is to arm yourself with knowledge- not only about Global Warming and the impact of man-made greenhouse gas emissions- but particularly about how we in Louisiana contribute to global warming- both through industrial and automotive emissions and electricity generation.

Utility issues can be complicated, but you will find out that the more you learn, the easier and less mystifying they can become.  We particularly recommend Jerrold Oppenheim and Theo McGregor’s Democracy and Regulation as an excellent book to begin to understand the regulatory environment

2.    Stay Informed

It is not enough to understand theory- every month regulatory decisions are made both at the State and local level that effect not only your utility bills, but also the amounts of greenhouse gasses emitted in Louisiana and whether or not renewable energy sources will be utilized.  Watch the money section and business writers of your local paper.  We will do our best to keep you informed about Louisiana issues through our publications, such as this website and Bright Ideas Online, but your best education will always come through a variety of sources.

3.    Study Candidate Positions and Vote

Too often candidates are elected to office without thorough scrutiny.  If we want good policies from our government we have to demand them- by electing candidates with good track records and strong policy platforms.  Louisiana Public Service Commissioners serve six-year terms, but their elections are staggered, so one is up for election every few years.  New Orleans City Council members come up for election every four years.  If your elected officials are doing a good job on curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, they need your support.  If not, they need to be removed from office and replaced with officials who will work in our best interests.

4.    Let your Elected Officials Know What You Think

Your elected officials don’t only need to hear from you on election day.  They need to hear from you whenever they make an important decision that affects you.  National data suggests that when a member ofthe U.S. Congress receives a letter, it represents the opinions of about 500 constituents.  You can find contact information for the Louisiana Public Service Commission members here, and contact information for New Orleans City Council Members here.

A good example of this is the inquiry into a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that was re-opened by the Louisiana Public Service Commission on January 14, 2009. This is a very important proposal that, if passed, would require regulated utilities to purchase a portion of their power from renewable sources.  If you have not yet done so, call or write your Public Service Commissioner to let them know that you support the RPS!  Every letter and every call makes a difference.

5.    Stay Involved!  Become a member of the Alliance

A good way to make sure that you stay both informed and involved is to join the Alliance for Affordable Energy.  Click here to join the Alliance for Affordable Energy and start receiving Bright Ideas Online, our semi-monthly email update.

Keep Learning, and Keep Fighting!