Climate Politics

Obama plans green listening tour

Originally posted at the Wonk Room. —– Dan Kammen, the director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory at UC Berkeley and a top adviser to President-elect Barack Obama, has told E&E News ($ub. req’d) that Obama may conduct a nationwide “listening tour” to allow his team to hit the ground running for a green […]

Obama’s 100-days energy agenda

I’ve been on the phone with top Obama aides all day, and the first 100 days of energy policy are coming into focus. Here’s what I’m told is on the way: Nationalize the oil, gas, and coal industries. And the grid. Ban meat. Impose mandatory federal four-day work week. Impose strict per-capita limits on driving […]

No shame in being a progressive

For a generation, Walter Mondale’s 1984 presidential campaign was cited as an example of how not to run for the White House as a Democrat: Not only did Mondale run on a liberal platform, but he also went so far as to promise to raise Americans’ taxes — a promise that was widely blamed for […]

How Obama can revive the economy and heal the planet

A few days before the election, Barack Obama told Time‘s Joe Klein: Finding the new driver of our economy is going to be critical. There’s no better driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy … That’s going to be my No. 1 priority when I get into office. That’s […]

Enviro-backed congressional candidates win a number of seats, but not as many as hoped

Oil industry leaders are predicting “dark days” for fossil fuels under President-elect Barack Obama, while environmentalists are celebrating the election as a win for clean energy. But much will depend on the makeup of Congress. Though a number of enviro-backed congressional candidates got the nod last night, there weren’t quite as many pick-ups as greens […]

Obama considers RFK Jr. for EPA

Holy sh*t: President-elect Barack Obama is strongly considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet post, Democratic officials told Politico. I must say, I don’t see this: The selection of Kennedy would be a shrewd early move for the new presidential team. Obama advisers said the nomination would please both […]

Obama on dealing with dumb debate questions

“I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, ‘You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.’ Instead of being appropriately [the tape is garbled]. So when Brian Williams is asking me about what’s a personal thing that you’ve done [that’s green], and I say, you know, […]

It’s almost over

House Dems already talking about major leadership changes

Mere hours after the election, some Democrats in the House are plotting a major leadership shakeup. Via Politico: House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry A. Waxman is calling senior Democrats to seek the top spot on Energy and Commerce, according to Democrats on and off Capitol Hill. This puts the Californian in a direct […]

A video story of post-election hopes for the planet

Now that the most epic presidential election of our lives is over, Americans should have plenty of free time on our hands. So, what next? This is where Jo comes in. She’s an average American looking for real — heck, any — leadership on climate change from a shiny new President Obama. And she’s got […]