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GUEST: Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global Exchange and co-author of a new book called “Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grass Roots”

Members of Congress are working on passing a sweeping energy bill this year. As part of that bill, they may adopt separate fuel economy standards for cars and sports-utility vehicles. If Congress doesn’t pass legislation before the end of the year, President Bush could accomplish some of his energy goals with regulatory changes. Meanwhile public pressure continues to mount on elected officials and corporations to deal with the issue of global warming and its effects on humans, wildlife and the environment. Consumers are demanding so called “green bling” homes, automobiles and electronics and the market is responding, sometimes in innovative ways. Nevertheless, energy demand remains a challenge to the environment and health. In 2006, the Bureau of Land Management received more than 10,000 applications to drill for natural gas – a 20 percent increase from 2005. Legal loopholes in federal law have allowed gas and oil companies to contaminate the air, land and water as a result of new drilling. People living near drilling areas have reported serious health problems such as nose bleeds and rashes. Meanwhile, local communities are responding by organizing around the issue of environmental devastation and are taking action to protect their food and water.

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