Climate Politics

NYT gets goofy on cap-and-trade

An NYT piece on Obama’s priorities manages to get two things wrong on energy policy, both in a short section written by John Broder. First, the overall point is wrong. Broder tries to draw a contrast between "an earlier proposal," Obama’s cap-and-trade program, and what Obama is "now emphasizing," big investments in renewables, energy efficiency, […]

… in my head

News that Obama and McCain are meeting today, along with Obama chief of staff-pick Rahm Emanuel and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), got me to thinking … what might that conversation be like? Obama: John, thanks for meeting with me today. McCain: My friend, it’s a real pleasure. Obama: I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve […]

Dingell implores colleagues to side with him on climate bill

A vote on who will lead a committee key to writing any climate legislation could come as early as this week. With the vote on his chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce panel looming, Michigan’s John Dingell — a longtime thorn in the side of efforts to require Detroit to focus on fuel efficiency […]

Why should we assume that a carbon tax will be simple and transparent?

I keep hearing that a carbon tax is obviously superior to a cap-and-trade system because it is “simpler and more transparent.” This has always struck me as a classic case of petitio principii — Latin for starting your argument on third base and boasting about your batting skills. Would a carbon tax proposed and implemented […]

NYT slams Cheney on pollution policies

The New York Times weighs in on the the Bush administration’s possible last-minute move to change the new-source review rules under the Clean Air Act, putting the blame on Dick Cheney: Years ago, riding high and wide as the administration’s energy czar, Mr. Cheney promised — privately in meetings with corporate contributors, and publicly in […]

Obama’s enviro and energy teams heavy on vets of 42nd prez’s administration

Obama is tapping many Clintonites for his transition team. The Obama-Biden transition announced the names of the Agency Review Team leads, who will be charged with completing “a thorough review of key departments, agencies and commissions of the United States government, as well as the White House, to provide the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and key […]

Obama to Poland

Heritage blog blasts green jobs on the basis of misattributed quotes and misled analysis

Executive summary: Don’t waste your time on the Heritage Foundation’s energy blog, a source of misleading headlines and general conservative disinformation, but little original analysis and even less (unintentional) humor. Bloggers and print editors look for headlines that fulfill two competing goals: It needs to grab readers’ attention and make them want to read more. […]

Rep. Dingell’s supporters upset House Speaker

Earlier this week, members of Michigan Rep. John Dingell‘s “whip team” — the group formed to rally support behind his chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee — sent a letter to their Democratic colleagues urging them to join the team. “Please join us in our strong, unwavering support for the re-election of John Dingell […]

Enviros outline what they’d like Obama to do

Shortly after the election, a coalition of more than 30 green groups issued a list of requests to the Obama transition team, outlining the priorities on climate and energy they’d like the next president to address. Their plans are largely consistent with what Obama campaigned on, and the groups are encouraging both the president-elect and […]