Lucas,
This is an election year, which means more attention will be given to political races than policymaking.
It also means -- because of the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission -- that a record amount of Big Energy's corporate money will be used to try to influence voters on energy issues and disparage candidates that put people before polluter profits.
Even with this harsh reality, there are myriad opportunities to neutralize the influence of Big Energy and support clean and safe energy champions.
But we'll need your help.
Take our online survey to let us know which of our top priorities for energy advocacy you care about most.
Your feedback will help us prepare for a year of historic action against unprecedented corporate political power.
2012 Energy and Climate Program Top 5 Priorities:
1) Protect Consumers from Dirty Energy Projects
Last month, shills for the oil industry attached a provision to the payroll tax law signed by President Barack Obama that sets a Feb. 21 deadline for Obama to decide whether to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. While the administration is warning it would rather say "no" than rush a decision, the oil industry's lobby arm, the American Petroleum Institute, has already issued a threat that Obama must approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline or face "huge political consequences" in an election year.
In 2012, Public Citizen will launch a new campaign, "We Can't Afford the Keystone Pipeline," which will focus on the economic burden that the pipeline oil (tar sands crude oil) will have on American consumers.
2) Support Clean Vehicles and Clean Fuel Standards
In 2011, the U.S. experienced the highest average annual oil price in the history of the modern oil industry. Government and industry analysts predict that those prices will only continue to rise in the coming year. The predicable response from the oil industry and its congressional lackeys will be "drill, baby drill." Of course, this false solution will not ease consumer pain at the pump, but will only keep us tethered to the whims of Big Oil and the accelerating realities of climate change.
In 2012, Public Citizen will support a national program to boost fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for passenger cars and light trucks. We'll also work to promote advanced technology (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell) vehicles.
3) Challenge Climate Change Deniers
A GOP litmus test for presidential candidates is whether they believe that manmade climate change is happening. Even Republican candidates that have a record of supporting climate legislation have backpedaled on the issues to conform with party dogma. Unfortunately, it's not just candidates that are in denial. Once a bipartisan issue, recognition of climate change is enemy number one for policymakers whose industry benefactors depend on climate inaction to continue their practices.
In 2012, Public Citizen will expose those who finance climate change denial campaigns that are designed to infuse doubt into the science community's consensus on the reality and manifest impacts of climate change.
4) Implementation of New Safety Regulations for Dirty, Dangerous Fuels: Nuclear, Fracking and Offshore Drilling
In 2010 and 2011, new regulations were initiated to address the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. nuclear safety (in the sake of the Japanese nuclear crisis) and the runaway practice of hydraulic fracking, which is currently unregulated at the federal level.
In 2012, Public Citizen will work to bring to fruition new safety regulations to nuclear power generation, offshore drilling and fracking activities. Specifically, these include: 1) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fukushima task force recommendations, 2) proposed legislation to strengthen regulations relating to offshore drilling and corporate accountability, and 3) legislation to disclose and monitor the chemicals used in the fracking process and task force recommendations on fracking safety.
Public Citizen will continue to support local fights that challenge the proliferation of fracking in new areas like the Marcellus Shale region.
5) Defend Existing Environmental Laws that Protect Public from Polluters
Last year, the House GOP majority brought 191 votes to the floor aimed at weakening safeguards that protect the environment and public health. They attacked the Clean Air Act and new rules to cut pollution from factories, cars, power plants and other sources. These attacks will continue unabated this year.
In 2012, Public Citizen will continue to work with our partners to counter attacks on new rules and the rollback of existing policy intended to protect the public and the environment from harmful pollution.
Take our online survey to let us know which of our top priorities for energy advocacy you care about most. 
Thanks for all you do,
Tyson Slocum and Allison Fisher
Public Citizen's Climate and Energy Program