'Beyond Extreme Energy' Issues National Call to Action on Bernard McNamee Vote

The following statement was submitted by Ted Glick, a longtime activist and member of Beyond Extreme Energy. 

It’s not over ‘til it’s over. Fossil fuel extremist Bernard McNamee—check out this video!—has not yet been approved by the full Senate. This morning, before a scheduled 12 noon full Senate vote, it’s time to let three Senators—Susan Collins, Jeff Flake and Joe Manchin—know that the people and the planet need them to do the right thing.

Yesterday every single Democratic Senator, even Joe Manchin, voted against a motion to close debate on McNamee’s nomination to FERC. This came after Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer gave a strong speech against him, reflecting the rising tide of outrage that someone with McNamee’s regressive, fossil-fuels-forever views could become a leader, maybe a new chairperson, of the agency in charge of the nation’s electrical grid and permitting natural gas infrastructure. 49 Senators said no to McNamee.

Today, at 12 noon, the actual vote, up or down on McNamee, will take place. Please flood the offices of three senators with calls and emails before then:

-Senator Susan Collins: 202-224-2523, https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact

-Senator Jeff Flake: 202-224-4521, https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff

-Senator Joe Manchin: 202-224-3954, https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe

For Susan Collins, the message is this: “You can’t say, ‘The federal government cannot afford the billions of dollars in additional funding that is going to be needed if we do not take into account and start acting on the serious consequences of climate change,’ and then support an outspoken climate denier and fossil fuel extremist. Vote no on McNamee!.”

For Jeff Flake, the message is this: “You can’t support allowing all energy sources to compete on an even playing field, and you can’t believe that picking winner and losers is not the federal government’s job, and then support anti-renewables McNamee. Vote no on McNamee!”

And for Joe Manchin, the message is this: “Thank you for voting yesterday against cloture on debate over Bernard McNamee. Today, you need to be consistent and, since Republicans shut down debate, vote no on McNamee. Do the right thing again today!”