Climate Politics
All Stories
-
How the Senate can fix cost containment in the climate bill with ‘price collar plus’
The climate and clean energy bill that narrowly passed the House has three problems related to cost containment (CC) that the Senate should — and I expect will — address: Fence-sitting Senators (and industries) worry that its CC provisions aren’t hard-nosed and specific enough to protect the public and businesses from carbon prices that get […]
-
Forged climate bill letters a ‘blatant fraud,’ says women’s group
Among the forged anti-climate letters that found their way to Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) earlier this summer was a message purporting to be from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). One can only assume that the coal-funded astroturfer who faked the letter worried that the etters he forged from minority groups wouldn’t get Perriello’s […]
-
Cash-for-Clunkers returns from the dead … until Labor Day
The Senate celebrated the imminent arrival of the annual August recess by confirming Sonia Sotomayor‘s Supreme Court nomination and ponying up an additional $2 billion for the highly successful (though dubiously green) cash-for-clunkers program. The vote was 60 to 37, with Democrats almost unanimously supporting the extension and Republicans nearly united in opposition. President Obama […]
-
10 Dems call on Obama admin to support trade protections in a climate bill
A group of 10 Democrats from industrial and coal-dependent states sent a letter to President Obama on Thursday informing him that they will not support a climate and energy bill that puts American businesses on an uneven playing field. “Climate change is a reality and the world cannot afford inaction. However, we must not engage […]
-
Mainstream greens applaud Sotomayor confirmation
Justice Sonia SotomayorPhoto: White HouseEnviros are cheering for brand-new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday on a 68-31 vote. Well, make that many enviros, not all. “We congratulate Justice Sotomayor on her historic confirmation to the high court, where her extensive experience will serve her well,” said Sierra […]
-
Lessons from the coal industry: Using vs. engaging communities of color
Crossposted from JackandJillPolitics.com – August 5th, 2009 This week revealed some of the best and worst moments in the role of people of color in the struggle over our nation’s energy and economic future. First, fraudulent attempts by coal lobbyists to defeat clean energy legislation, by faking support from communities of color, were uncovered. Then, […]
-
Forged letters not the first of ACCCE’s misrepresentations
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity claims to be shocked, shocked that forged anti-climate-bill letters were sent to members of Congress by one of its subcontractors, saying it was “an isolated incident.” But it seems ACCCE also engaged in some fishy behavior last year during debate over a Senate climate bill. Grist contributor Sue […]
-
OSMRE nominee Pizarchik must be stopped
With so many qualified candidates for the directorship of the important Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, why is the Obama administration nominating a controversial advocate for coal ash dumping, who also admits he still needs to learn more about the even more controversial and huge issue of mountaintop removal? After eight years of […]
-
Forgery Farce
One of the more macabre aspects of the still-evolving scandal involving the forged letters to Congress on the climate legislation was the disavowal of all responsibility by the Hawthorn Group — the astro-turf lobbying group that has worked for nearly a decade to snooker public officials about allegedly “clean coal.” Since 2000, Hawthorn has worked for […]
-
Who is the National Commission on Energy Policy and why are they the bad guys?
[If readers know any of the NCEP commissioners listed at the end, I’d suggest sharing your thoughts with them on what useful role they might play in the clean energy and climate debate.] Jason Grumet, a former campaign adviser to President Obama, said there is little reason for Boxer to try and set stronger emission […]