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Can This Planet Be Saved?
Paul Krugman, New York Times
… Hence my concern: if a completely bogus claim that environmental protection is raising energy prices can get this much political traction, what are the chances of getting serious action against global warming? After all, a cap-and-trade system would in effect be a tax on carbon (though Mr. McCain apparently doesn’t know that), and really would raise energy prices.
The only way we’re going to get action, I’d suggest, is if those who stand in the way of action come to be perceived as not just wrong but immoral. Incidentally, that’s why I was disappointed with Barack Obama’s response to Mr. McCain’s energy posturing – that it was “the same old politics.” Mr. Obama was dismissive when he should have been outraged.
(1 August 2008)
Breakaway Senate “gang” pushes drilling, conservation
Politico
Taking one last whack at the stalled energy debate, a bipartisan group of 10 senators have released a sweeping energy proposal that includes more drilling, conservation and tax incentives for alternative car fuels.
This so-called “Gang of 10” has been meeting for weeks, but it’s not clear if their legislation has a chance in the Senate, much less the House, where Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is almost single-handedly holding off any oil-drilling proposals.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) did not exactly embrace the proposals, which many Democrats will oppose, but he said it’s a good way to kick start a serious energy debate in September.
… Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), the leader of the Gang of 10, admitted that “our leadership on both sides are uncomfortable with what we’ve done” because the comprehensive package has ideas that Republican and Democratic leaders have blocked.
… The senators highlighted one key aspect of their drilling proposals – the oil would have to stay inside the U.S. and not be sold to foreign countries.
(1 August 2008)
Lisa Wright from Rep. Roscoe Bartlett’s office writes:
A bill number is now assigned to the House Bipartisan Energy Working Group’s comprehensive energy package – H.R. 6709 introduced by Rep. John Peterson. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is a member of the group and an original cosponsor. Reps. John Peterson (R-PA) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) are the leaders of the group.
… Working independently, but in parallel, a Gang of 10 in the Senate this morning announced that they reached an agreement on a similar though not identical bill [see above article].
Renewable Energy Tax Credit Legislation Voted Down in U.S. Senate
Renewable Energy World
A bill introduced by Senate Tax Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) containing a one-year renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) extension and a small wind turbine investment tax credit has failed to move past a Cloture Vote in the U.S. Senate once again.
The American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) senior director of governmental & public affairs Gregory Wetstone said that the failure by the senate to move forward to consideration of the bill will cost the U.S. economy 116,000 jobs an
(31 July 2008)
US environmental agency silences employees on climate change
Elana Schor, The Guardian
Amid intensifying scrutiny of its failure to act on climate change, the US environmental protection agency (EPA) has ordered employees not to talk to internal auditors, Congress or the media, according to a leaked email released yesterday by green campaigners.
The EPA has refused repeated requests from Congress to explain its December denial of California’s request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions – a move that overruled the agency’s own career scientists.
Three Democratic senators have scheduled a press conference today to discuss the controversy…
(29 July 2008)
