The Sunrise Movement has suddenly made climate change a positive, mainstream conversation!

The following link is go a video describing all the ways California is already implementing a Green New Deal.

When a group of more than 20 protesters showed up in the halls of the U.S. Senate on a recent February day, they would have been forgiven for expecting a chilly reception. For the past seven months, sit-ins at a range of offices–from California Governor Jerry Brown’s to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s–had followed a similar pattern: show up, sing songs, get led away in handcuffs for disrupting the peace. But on that particular Wednesday, things were different.

Instead of being dismissed or arrested, this band of environmental activists from a group known as the Sunrise Movement was warmly welcomed. Democratic Senators’ aides applauded their songs, led them to back offices for meetings and cheered their efforts. “It starts with what you’re doing, from the bottom on up,” Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders told them. “I just want to thank you.” In the weeks that followed, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, after years of near radio silence on climate change, gave a series of speeches on the chamber floor. “For the first time in a long time, the Senate is finally debating the issue of climate change, and if you ask me, it’s about time,” he said. “Climate change is an urgent crisis and an existential threat.”

Into this new political reality came the Green New Deal–equal parts policy proposal and battle cry. The resolution, introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, calls for the U.S. to launch a broad “mobilization” to decarbonize the economy while tackling a slew of other social ills. The response was mixed. People loved it. People loathed it. Others were confused by it. But in D.C., where climate has long been relegated to third-tier status, lawmakers could no longer avoid the issue.

How the Green New Deal Is Forcing Politicians to Finally Address Climate Change, Justin Worland, Time, 3/21/2019

Iowa’s (Republican) Senators send responses to letters talking about “all” energy, and how the Green New Deal is impractical. Senator Grassley referred to the “so-called Green New Deal.” And Senator Ernst wrote:

…the Green New Deal sets unworkable and unrealistic goals, such as transitioning the United States to 100 percent renewable energy in 10 years, while currently only 8 percent of our electricity is generated from wind and solar. This proposal would dramatically drive up costs for every American, and would eliminate thousands of jobs in the energy sector. One estimate puts the total cost of the Green New Deal at $93 trillion. In order to cover the costs of this plan, families would have to pay as much as $65,000 annually, which is more than most Iowa households make in a year.

Senator Joni Ernst

Our Sunrise Movement in Des Moines went to speak with Senator Ernst’s state director, Clarke Scanlon, who basically took notes. As we were waiting for our meeting to begin, he wondered why it was Senator Ernst who we were trying to get a message to. I told him it was because she is up for re-election in 2020.