John Cornyn – Voices of Austin @CCLATX

Re: Dear Senator Cornyn and Cruz – Please support the bi-partisan RISEE Act

The Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act was introduced in the 118th Congress by Senators Whitehouse (D-RI) and Cassidy (R-LA). Sea level rise, storm surge, increase in ocean temperatures and acidification from climate change are harming coastal communities and will continue to do so unless emissions are dramatically reduced. 25 million Americans including Texans are vulnerable to coastal flooding.

The RISEE act would create an offshore revenue sharing model and would direct portion of revenue generated by off-shore wind projects toward vulnerable coastal communities who must use it for coastal restoration, conservation or infrastructure. The RISEE act ensures that National Offshore Coastal Security Fund and Gulf of Mexico energy Security Act funding are protected from sequestration.

Future is bright for offshore wind energy which grew 24% from early 2020 through early 2021. Ask our senators to support this bi-partisan RISEE Act and help coastal communities of our state.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin Chapter

Submitted to the Austin American-Statesman

March 2023

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and that’s been true of climate-related weather disasters as well. According to NOAA, since 1980 Texas has experienced 140 climate-related disasters that caused at least $1 billion dollars in damage, more than any other state.

As climate change continues to make weather events more frequent and severe, that price tag is only expected to rise.

That’s why it’s time for Sens. Cruz and Cornyn to support strong policies to reduce carbon pollution. The climate provisions of the Build Back Better Act would provide incentives for utilities to switch to renewable energy sources. It’s an approach previously proposed by Republicans and one that would bolster Texas’ wind and solar sectors.

This is our best last chance to protect Texans from more floods, hurricanes and crop-withering droughts. If we act now, maybe we can say to the next generation, when it came to fixing climate change, we did it bigger in Texas.

Elaine Robbins

Austin American-Statesman

February 6, 2022