Take action: No Senate deal with Big Oil

PAUL K ANDERSON

December 8, 2015

Right now, a number of U.S. Senators are trying to make a deal with Big Oil to sacrifice our health, economy, and environment by lifting the current ban on exporting crude oil. Lifting the export ban would mean more oil trains, more oil tankers, more risk of accidents and oil spills. Most importantly, it would take us in the completely wrong direction in our fight to stop climate change. It’s a bad deal.

Senators from Washington and Oregon are pushing back against this kind of dealmaking. Tell your Senators you appreciate their work, and encourage them to tell their colleagues in other states to stop working on a deal that would lift the crude oil export ban. Please do so using the hotline set up by your brothers and sisters of the United Steelworkers today: 1-877-607-0785 (The line will automatically connect you with your Senator based on your zip code. Calling a second time will result in reaching your other Senator).

The United States banned overseas exports of American-produced crude oil in the 1970s to protect us from shortages and spikes in gas prices. Yet, despite all their claims of caring about ‘energy independence’, Big Oil has made it a high priority to repeal this ban. Their motivation? To make huge profits and put us – our communities, our waterways – at risk.

Tell your Senator today – the American people, our health, our economy and our environment must come before Big Oil’s wish list. Hotline: 1-877-607-0785

The lifting of the crude oil export ban would mean more oil drilling. More carbon emissions. More risk. And it would represent a step backward, at a time when we should be moving beyond dirty fuels and doubling down on investments in clean energy. Passing this bailout for the oil industry is a terrible idea.

The American people can outplay Big Oil. Call your Senator today at 1-877-607-0785 – there is no deal to be made with Big Oil.

Key talking points:

Thank you Senators Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, and Merkley for not negotiating with Big Oil
Hold your colleagues to the same line: no lifting of the crude export ban.
I oppose ANY deal that lifts the crude oil export ban.
The lifting of the ban puts my community and our waterways at risk.
The lifting of the ban is bad for our climate.

Author Bio

Joëlle Robinson

Field Director, Climate Solutions

Joëlle engages community members and diverse constituencies—faith, health, youth, parents, business—to make their voices heard for climate solutions. She led the team of organizers to ensure we stopped any coal export from the U.S. West Coast over the past decade. On offense, she co-led the Field team to help pass the 100% Clean Electricity (Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019) and in 2022 collaborated with the Field team to ensure that all new buildings (commercial and residential) will be built with heat pumps per the State Building Code Council. She continues to conspire for good with them on many other local and state initiatives.

Joëlle was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Previous work with Climate Solutions includes the NW Climate Connections partnership, serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign, and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which passed in April 2006.

She previously served on the boards of Earth Ministry, Solar Washington, and Sierra Club Executive Committee. She’s currently President of the board of her 3 year-old!

Joëlle is Northwest born and raised who loves to hike, dance, travel and explore the natural world.

Her favorite quote is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver