Students protest Super America over ‘cap and trade’ bill

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St. Thomas students and community members stood on the corner of Grand and Cleveland avenues in the rain Tuesday afternoon, waving signs and banners in an attempt to encourage the rush-hour traffic to boycott Super America.

The protesters were upset about Super America’s attempts to discourage the public from supporting the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009. The act is currently being reviewed in national governmental committees and if it passes, businesses, including oil companies, would have to meet lower carbon-emission standards or pay a fine.

“All oil companies are trying to oppose progressive climate legislation, but Super America took the extra step of getting the public involved,” said Julia Nerbonne, a professor at the University of Minnesota and Hamline University who also works with environmental sustainability groups. “They put signs on their pumps to scare people into working against climate legislation. We’re out here to tell people what we believe is the real story.”

The concerned students and community members organized a boycott of Super America for the month of October and began spreading awareness about the benefits of the Clean Energy Act.

“We want to educate people truthfully and get the community involved,” said sophomore Abby Yeomans, who protested Tuesday afternoon. “We want people to send letters to their senators telling them to support the bill.”

Sophomore Stephanie Mankowski, who was also protesting in front of Super America, said that although the oil companies are worried about the possible costs of the Clean Energy Act and losing business, the new regulations will be good for both the environment and the economy in the long run.

“The act will create more clean-energy jobs and it is a good step towards cleaning up our environment and slowing down climate change,” Mankowski said.

But not everyone agrees that the Clean Energy Act would be a good thing. Some worry that placing caps on carbon emissions and imposing fines on businesses could be harmful.

“You have to control some things, certainly, in how they impact the environment, but putting a fine or a tax on a corporation means the corporation is either going to pass it on to the consumer or they’re going to lay off people,” said St. Thomas men’s track and field coach Steve Mathre, who was buying gas at Super America during the protest.

The Clean Energy Act, which is also known as the Kerry-Boxer Bill because of the two sponsoring senators, is geared toward turning America into an “energy independent” society, according to the bill. It would place a fine on excess carbon emissions, promote electric vehicles and implement a clean energy requirement for American utilities. It would also set the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from the previous 2005 levels.

Nerbonne said Super America had signs up this past week urging customers to call their senator and tell him or her not to vote for the bill, since it would increase costs for the average American family. According to Nerbonne, they took these signs down after a press release about the signs and the boycott came out Sept. 30. Employees at the Super America on Grand and Cleveland Avenues declined to comment.

“[Super America] claims this bill would cost the average family $2,900,” Nerbonne said. “However, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the true cost would be somewhere between $140 and $175 per family.”

During the protest, students held up signs encouraging motorists to “honk if they loved their planet” and passed out postcards that supporters of the Clean Energy Act could send to Amy Klobuchar. Nerbonne said they want people to contact Klobuchar because she is on three different committees that are all working with the act.

“We’ve had a very good response from the public and it has been energizing,” Nerbonne said. “We hope that people saw us out here and started having their own conversations about the importance of clean energy.”

Katie Broadwell can be reached at klbroadwell@stthomas.edu

3 Replies to “Students protest Super America over ‘cap and trade’ bill”

  1. Check out our FB page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=145764264259&ref=mf

    We want to send the positive message to those in congress that we support legislation that puts a price on global warming pollution. We stand with the earth, with future generations, and with the poor around the world who are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. We want Amy Klobuchar to stand firm and make sure to work for an effective climate bill. Please join us in calling Amy with this message:

    Amy Klobuchar
    302 Hart Senate Office Building
    Washington, DC 20510
    phone: 202-224-3244

    Here is suggested message:

    I am contacting you to express my support for the “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009.” We hope you stand strong and demand the bill include:

    • 20 % cut in emissions by 2020.
    • EPA regulatory authority over coal.
    • Provisions that ensure that the $ generated by a cap and trade are invested in clean technologies and green jobs.

    Here are a few good web sites to help inform people: http://www.1sky.org/; 350.org; http://boycottsuperamerica2009.blogspot.com/ (info also in Spanish here); consequence09.org.

    Thanks!

  2. We want people to know this isn’t just about boycotting. More importantly it’s about reminding people how critical it is to address the threats of climate change, and getting Amy Klobuchar the positive support she needs to pass a STRONG clean energy bill through the senate. (Amy is on 3 committees that will discuss the legislation). Here are a few good web sites to help inform people: http://www.1sky.org/; 350.org; http://boycottsuperamerica2009.blogspot.com/ (info also in Spanish here); consequence09.org.

    Get out your phone and help your friends call or write Amy:

    302 Hart Senate Office Building
    Washington, DC 20510
    phone: 202-224-3244

    Here is suggested message:

    I am contacting you to express my support for the “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009.” We hope you stand strong and demand the bill include:

    • 20 % cut in emissions by 2020.
    • EPA regulatory authority over coal.
    • Provisions that ensure that the $ generated by a cap and trade are invested in clean technologies and green jobs.

  3. I like SAs 2 gallons for $4.99 deal. Speedy points are fun. I don’t buy gas there (I don’t have a car on campus), but I understand that proper legislation will help the U.S. lower emissions…It is a convenience to buy food and stuff there because it is close.

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