Climate Politics
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Alaska claims protecting wildlife would hurt tourism
Somehow this one went under my radar last week, but I couldn’t let it slip by: WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The state of Alaska has sued the U.S. government, arguing that listing polar bears as a threatened species will hurt Alaskan oil and gas exploration, fisheries and tourism. The lawsuit, filed on Monday in federal court […]
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Democratic and Republican conventions pledge to be greener than ever before
Can you find the green in this picture? Photo: Vidiot Both the Democratic and Republican national conventions have pledged to go greener this year. And they’ve drawn mockery for their efforts — particularly the Democrats, who say they’ll be putting on “the most sustainable political convention in modern American history.” A Wall Street Journal article […]
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The New York Times’ absurd energy editorial
The lead editorial in today’s NYT, “Energy Fictions,” is a misguided and misinformed smear of Obama’s outstanding energy proposals. It harshly criticizes a few tiny pieces of Obama’s energy plan that deal with short-term oil strategies, in particular, his willingness to compromise on offshore drilling, and then ends: Here is the underlying reality: A nation […]
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AEP demands 45 percent rate increase for Ohio
What happens when your utility is 68 percent dependent on coal? American Electric Power said Thursday it must raise electricity rates 45 percent for its nearly 1.5 million customers in Ohio over the next three years, to cover soaring coal prices and the cost of modernizing its systems to keep them reliable … AEP executives […]
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New House bill combines drilling with tax extensions for renewables
A bipartisan group of House members has unveiled a new compromise energy bill, roughly along the lines of the Gang of 10 bill released in the Senate last week. “The National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act” would repeal federal prohibitions on offshore oil and gas production and lift the ban on finalizing regulations for […]
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Obama clean-energy ad will air during Olympics coverage
Thought the Olympics might bring some reprieve from election season? Think again. Today Barack Obama rolled out his $5 million ad campaign that will run during Olympic coverage on NBC, focusing on a clean energy economy. “The hands that built this nation can build a new economy,” says the ad, as it shows images of […]
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Boehner returns from golfing, says Republicans can win on offshore drilling
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) today vowed that the Republican sit-in over offshore drilling will continue at least until the Democratic National Convention begins on August 25. At a press conference on the Hill, Boehner said he expected the protest would help House Republicans gain traction as they push for offshore areas to be opened […]
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GOP rep in Tenn. loses primary after being linked to Big Oil
In Tennessee, freshman Republican Rep. David Davis lost his primary last night, apparently in large part because his opponent linked him to Big Oil. Davis is the first sitting Tennessee congressman in 40 years to lose in a primary. He was beaten by Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe, who accused Davis of accepting money from […]
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Obama favored by Exxon employees, but McCain has gotten more oil money overall
Barack Obama put out an ad earlier this week accusing rival John McCain of being “in the pocket of Big Oil,” and the Democratic National Committee launched Exxon-McCain 2008, a website to promote the idea that the Republican candidate is in bed with the oil industry. But as Grist noted previously, Obama himself has received […]
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Olympic Games begin; pollution worries, haze hang over opening ceremonies
The Beijing Olympic Games have officially begun. The opening ceremony kicked off at 8:08 p.m. local time on 08/08/08. So far, pollution readings are said to be moderate, with various Olympic officials and health authorities declaring the Games largely safe for athletes and visitors — as long as they’re just passing through and their sporting […]
