Steven Holt: “The work of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition here in Congress is to see that we can move into the…”

“The work of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition here in Congress is to see that we can move into the future in a sustainable way. It is completely appropriate that we talk about both energy and environment in this same--really with the same breath. Because as I said, the way we produce and use energy is the greatest insult to our planet. But it is possible to produce and use energy that will power our economy and provide a good quality of life for 10 billion people in the world if we are smart and if we get to work now. We can do it in a way that doesn't ruin the world and condemn all of these billions of people to the kinds of superstorms, the kinds of effects of climate change and spreading diseases and so forth that will result if climate change runs amuck. New Jerseyans need no further reminder that climate change is real. Evidently, some of our colleagues here do need that reminder. This year, one year after Hurricane Sandy, we are here to tell our friends, to tell our colleagues this is for real, this is serious, and we should get to work. The work of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition is dedicated to that work. I thank my colleague, Mr. Tonko of New York, for his work to propel the SEEC coalition.”