Billboards challenge Bean on global warming

Less than two weeks before the election, a well-known environmental group is trying to publicly pin down U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean on global warming.

Greenpeace has put up four billboards in Bean's 8th House District that ask her for a plan to combat climate change. The large ads can be seen in the Barrington, Palatine, Woodstock and Lakemoor areas.

"We want to know where Bean stands," said Nicole Granacki, a field organizer for Greenpeace in the 8th District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

The effort is part of the organization's Project Hotseat campaign, which aims to increase community awareness of global warming and spur Congress to action.

Bean, a two-term Democrat from Barrington, faces Republican Steve Greenberg of Long Grove in the Nov. 4 election.

Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman was incredulous about the Greenpeace campaign.

"I don't really understand what Greenpeace is talking about here," Lipman said. "Renewable energy and environmental protections have been a centerpiece of Congresswoman Bean's work in Congress."

Lipman cited several measures Bean's supported, including an initiative that encourages investment in recycling technology and another that would require electric utilities to generate 15 percent of their power from renewable sources, as proof of her commitment to the environment.

"(She) is committed to advancing such legislation into law with the next president to curb emissions and protect our planet," Lipman said.

Bean's also been endorsed by the Sierra Club, and scored high marks with the League of Conservation Voters for her votes in Congress.

Greenpeace did not mention Greenberg in the billboard campaign because he filled out the group's global warming survey, Granacki said in an e-mail. Bean didn't.

"Greenpeace and the voters would like to hear strong commitments from both of them on this issue," Granacki said.

Greenberg hardly gave the group a strong commitment, however.

He said Congress should address climate change but negatively answered other key questions Greenpeace posed, according to information at projecthotseat.org.

For example, Greenberg denied global warming primarily is driven by the burning of fossil fuels, and he opposed a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions, the Web site indicates.

Greenberg campaign manager Collin Corbett said the candidate met with Greenpeace representatives and listened to their concerns. Although they didn't agree on every issue or possible solution, he said, Greenberg acknowledged something must be done about climate change.

A search of the Project Hotseat Web site indicates Bean wasn't the only suburban representative who didn't return Greenpeace's survey.

Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of the neighboring 10th District didn't, either, the site indicates. His Democratic challenger, Dan Seals, answered all the questions favorably, the Web site says.

Among the other suburban representatives who didn't respond were Republican Peter Roskam of the 6th District, Democrat Jan Schakowsky of the 9th District and Republican Judy Biggert of the 13th District.

Bean was the only one targeted with billboards, however, Granacki said.