Ceres BICEP Network Policy Positions from 2009-2021
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FEDERAL POLICY POSITIONS XXXX • XXXX • XXX XXXX • XXXX XXX XXXX • Supporting ratification of the Kigali Amendment and the orderly phase down of HFC use • Supporting conservation and energy policy improvements in the farm bill • Support for improvements to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program • Supporting a national price on carbon Ceres’ BICEP Network was generally supportive of Congressman Curbelo’s work to introduce a national price on carbon • Supporting re-establishment of the Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) Ceres’ BICEP Network sent a letter to members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science requesting that the program be reinstated • Opposing changes to cost-benefit analysis for EPA regulations Ceres’ BICEP Network submitted official comments calling for the continued measuring of co-benefits in analysis of EPA regulations • Opposing the subsidization of uneconomicBICEP coal and nuclear Network’s power plants XXXX POLICY POSITIONS • Supporting the U.S. staying in the Paris Agreement through We Are Still In and Low Carbon USA • Defending climate and clean energy2009-PRESENT appropriations Ceres’ BICEP Network sent letters to all of the House and Senate appropriations subcommittee Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy encouraging them to continue funding climate-related programs at FY17 levels (including NOAA, SmartWay, Energy Star, AgStar, WaterSense, Green Power Partnership and Natural Gas STAR) • Defending Obama-era climate regulations such as CAFE standards, federal truck standards and methane standards • Building conservative support for climate and clean energy policies through the House Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and the Republican Climate Resolution • Supporting an updated federal standard Ceres’ BICEP Network sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that the executive order revoking the Federal Flood Risk Management System be rescinded • Opposing restrictions on solar trade • Supporting the maintenance of federal tax credits for electric vehicles and renewable energy 1 | ceres.org Ceres Policy Positions 2009-2021 FEDERAL POLICY POSITIONS 2021 • Supporting a stronger bipartisan infrastructure package to include new funding for clean energy and transportation • Supporting mandatory corporate climate disclosure • Ceres sent a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) signed by 180 investors ($2.7 trillion AUM), 155 companies, and 58 non-profit organizations. • Ceres was supportive of the Biden administration’s new executive order on climate-related financial risk. • Supporting ambitious methane regulations Ceres issued a statement with over 140 investors to call on the Biden administration to advance methane regulations for the U.S. oil and gas sector. • Supporting the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to achieve a 50-52% reduction from 2005 levels in GHG pollution by 2030 • Supporting strong emissions and fuel economy standards Ceres sent a letter to the EPA and NHTSA with over 80 signatories from the BICEP Network and Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance. • Strengthening and modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) by incorporating climate resilience and racial justice. Ceres issued formal comments to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. • Supporting a federal clean electricity standard to achieve 80% clean electricity by 2030 and 80% emissions reduction by 2030 on the way to 100% clean electricity by 2035. • Renewable energy and storage tax incentives Renewable energy, grid modernization, and storage tax incentives/credits were a key components advocated by businesses for a successful green recovery/infrastructure package in LEAD on Climate 2021 • Regenerative Agriculture • BICEP’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Healthy Working Group was launched in March 2021,with fourteen large active members advocating for federal policy solutions. • Since its founding, the Working Group has submitted a sign-on letter to the USDA to expand climate- smart agriculture programs and another sign-on letter to Congressional leadership to increase conservation funding for the USDA as a part of the final infrastructure bill. 2020 • Supporting mandatory corporate climate disclosure • Encouraging the United States to rejoin the Paris Agreement • Supporting resilient, long-term climate solutions for future economy recovery from COVID-19 Ceres convened more than 330 businesses at LEAD on Climate 2020 for virtual meetings with members of Congress. • Opposing the new rule released by the Department of Labor that prevents fund managers from adequately considering ESG risks within their investment decisions. Ceres sent a comment letter to Secretary Wilson. • Opposing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s revisions to Rule 14a-8, which impairs investors’ ability to manage systemic risks • Opposing the rollback of methane standards • Opposing the new fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions rules • Opposing the administration’s proposed changes to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) 2 | ceres.org Ceres Policy Positions 2009-2021 FEDERAL POLICY POSITIONS 2019 • Supporting a national price on carbon • Supporting Master Limited Partnerships (MLP) and tax incentives for the renewable energy sector Ceres’ BICEP Network sent a letter to members on the Senate Committee on Finance to consider bills that offer MLP to the renewable energy sector as well as bills that provide appealing tax incentives • Supporting the orderly phase down of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use Ceres’ BICEP Network was generally supportive of Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-LA) and Sen. Tom Carper’s (D-DE) work to reduce the use and production of HFCs 2018 • Supporting ratification of the Kigali Amendment and the orderly phase down of HFC use • Supporting conservation and energy policy improvements in the farm bill • Support for improvements to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program • Supporting a national price on carbon Ceres’ BICEP Network was generally supportive of Congressman Curbelo’s work to introduce a national price on carbon • Supporting re-establishment of the Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) Ceres’ BICEP Network sent a letter to members of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science requesting that the program be reinstated • Opposing changes to cost-benefit analysis for EPA regulations Ceres’ BICEP Network submitted official comments calling for the continued measuring of co-benefits in analysis of EPA regulations • Opposing the subsidization of uneconomic coal and nuclear power plants 2017 • Supporting the U.S. staying in the Paris Agreement through We Are Still In and Low Carbon USA • Defending climate and clean energy appropriations Ceres’ BICEP Network sent letters to all of the House and Senate appropriations subcommittee encouraging them to continue funding climate-related programs at FY17 levels (including NOAA, SmartWay, Energy Star, AgStar, WaterSense, Green Power Partnership and Natural Gas STAR) • Defending Obama-era climate regulations such as CAFE standards, federal truck standards and methane standards • Building conservative support for climate and clean energy policies through the House Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and the Republican Climate Resolution • Supporting an updated federal standard Ceres’ BICEP Network sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that the executive order revoking the Federal Flood Risk Management System be rescinded • Opposing restrictions on solar trade • Supporting the maintenance of federal tax credits for electric vehicles and renewable energy 3 | ceres.org Ceres Policy Positions 2009-2021 FEDERAL POLICY POSITIONS 2013 • Supporting EPA’s New Source Carbon Pollution Standard 22 companies (including BICEP Network companies and others) signed a letter of support for carbon pollution standards for new power plants • Supporting President Obama’s Climate Action Plan Ceres’ BICEP Network companies (and others) signed a letter on the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy to voice their strong support for the climate change preparedness efforts outlined in President Obama’s Climate Action Plan 2012 • Supporting Production Tax Credit for Wind Energy • Ceres’ BICEP Network companies and others signed a letter urging Congress to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) • Ceres’ BICEP Network companies lobbied Congress in support of the PTC in 2012 2011 • Supporting Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill • In June 2011: Ceres’ BICEP Network members, along with other companies, NGOs, and associations, wrote a letter to the bill cosponsors expressing support for their energy efficiency legislation • In November 2011, Anne Kelly wrote a letter on behalf of the Ceres’ BICEP Network to U.S. Senate Leaders in support of energy efficiency measures, including the Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings Act of 2011 and the Sensible Accounting to Value Energy Act • In April 2013, Ceres’ BICEP Network announced its support for the reintroduced Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill 2010 • Supporting the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act Ceres’ BICEP Network supported a bill by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) that proposed a cap and trade regime and required an emissions curb of 20% by 2020. • Supporting Fuel Efficiency Standards for Cars and Light Trucks—through 2012 • Ceres’ BICEP Network sent a letter