Adopted Jewish Community Priorities for Climate and Energy Policy

The organized Jewish community is united in its belief that climate change is occurring and in its deep concern that the quality of life and the earth we inhabit are in danger. We affirm our responsibility to address this planetary crisis in our personal and communal lives by supporting appropriate legislation. To this end, The Coalition for the Environment and Jewish Life ("COEJL") adopts the following climate and energy policy priorities. These priorities represent a working consensus of the organized Jewish community and have been endorsed by B'nai B'rith International; Central Conference of American Rabbis; Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.; Jewish Council for Public Affairs; the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation; Jewish War Veterans; National Council of Jewish Women; The Rabbinical Assembly; The Union for Reform Judaism; Women's League for Conservative Judaism; and Women of Reform Judaism. (Endorsing organizations have made climate and energy key legislative priorities and agree in principle with the overall spirit of the document, but have not necessarily adopted each of these policy proposals as their own.)

Promote Domestic Energy Security

According to the US Department of Energy, the United States imported nearly 170-million barrels of oil from OPEC nations in April 2008. With oil selling at record highs, this dependence facilitated an $18 billion transfer of wealth from American consumers to a cartel that includes some of the most dangerous regimes in the world. This importation undermines national security. The Jewish community strongly supports specific domestic policies that reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Such policies include measures to increase fuel economy and encourage use of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind energy (either through tax incentives or by mandating additional production from renewable electricity). In particular, the Jewish community supports a Renewable Electricity Standard requiring that at least 15% of our domestic electricity production come from renewable sources by 2020. Such a standard would help develop a distributed energy infrastructure to simultaneously reduce US dependence on foreign oil and protect the existing electricity transport infrastructure from attack. Israel has shown tremendous leadership in the area of renewable energy development. The Jewish community supports policies that facilitate collaboration between the United States and Israel in the government, nonprofit, and academic sectors for the mutual benefit of both nations. The Jewish community also supports the continued exploration and investment in biofuels, with appropriate global warming performance standards.
While the Jewish community supports domestic energy security, it should not be achieved at the expense of the environment. Consequently, the Jewish community supports policies that take the environmental impact into consideration. In particular, the Jewish community does
not support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or reliance on liquid coal or tar sands.

Obligation to Avoid Unnecessary Waste

Jewish law prohibits wasteful consumption. We are taught that, even in times of war, one is not to destroy the trees of our enemies. (Deuteronomy 20:19-20) Because the Earth belongs to God, consuming in a wasteful manner damages Creation and violates our mandate to use Creation only for our legitimate need. Because of this prohibition, the Jewish community supports policies that encourage energy conservation in our homes, communities, and government institutions. Such policies include incentives to develop efficient technologies, tax credits to encourage the purchase of such technologies, energy standards for new buildings and appliances, heightened fuel economy standards, and provisions for public transit. While tax incentives and credits help reduce the cost of converting to renewable electricity, the Jewish community also embraces a Renewable Electricity Standard ("RES") to expedite the transition to a green economy. Such a mandate would require that at least 15% of our domestic electricity production be from renewable sources by 2020.

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Statement on Energy Policy and National Security Adopted by the COEJL Board of Trustees on November 5, 2001

Eliminating American dependence upon Middle Eastern oil is a necessary and urgent strategy in the War on Terrorism. Furthermore, energy conservation is vital to the fulfillment of our moral obligations to protect the environment and public health and to provide for future generations.

There are two ways to reduce oil dependence: increase domestic supply, and decrease demand. Because of very limited domestic reserves — the U.S. has only 3% of proven world oil reserves — our only effective option is to reduce demand and therefore dependence on oil from all sources.

Therefore, energy conservation and the development of new fuels and technologies must now rise to the highest level of priority for the U.S. Congress and Administration and the American people. Both the government and every citizen can and should take action to help conserve energy and reduce our reliance on oil.

Energy policy has far-reaching impacts. Therefore, it must be developed through a deliberative process and not as a rushed reaction to the events of September 11. We call on Congress to adopt an energy security plan with the following core elements:

• A significant increase in vehicle fuel economy standards for all vehicles.
• An expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to two billion barrels;
• Increasing funding for inter-city rail and metropolitan mass transit;
• Aggressive support for the development and production of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles; and
• Aggressive support for the development and incentives for the use of non-nuclear, clean, and decentralized sources of electricity.

A plan should not include opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or other environmentally sensitive areas to oil or gas exploration or drilling. Such drilling will not provide oil for at least seven years, and even then would provide a tiny fraction of the oil that could be saved through conservation.

Industry has a vital role to play as well. We call on the automobile industry to work to bring super-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles to market as quickly as possible, and actively promote such vehicles for purchase by the American public. Given our national security needs, the automobile and petroleum industries should work with Congress to develop policies that will lead to a rapid and successful transition to more fuel efficient vehicles.

Finally, we call on each and every person and institution to help by: taking and promoting mass transit and carpooling; keeping the tires of all vehicles fully inflated; driving the speed limit; buying the most fuel efficient vehicles that meet their needs; and conserving electricity.

Together, we the American people can wean ourselves of dependence on Middle Eastern oil — and dramatically reduce our use of oil in general — through practical actions by industry, individuals, and institutions. We call on the leadership of our nation to move thoughtfully and swiftly to develop and implement an effective and environmentally sustainable energy security policy.