Climate Politics
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Renewables and the ‘Cheap Energy Contract’
Earlier in this series, we established that electric-driven transport can fairly rapidly substitute for petroleum in most ground transport applications and that renewable electric generators will be the most quickly deployable and functional of the available energy alternatives. However, there are challenges and barriers to overcome in order to move quickly toward the clean energy […]
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Reid to hold votes on three drilling plans next week
E&E Daily reports ($ub. req’d) Tuesday that “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) hopes to bring three competing energy packages to the floor next week that include wider offshore oil and gas drilling.” I think the key is that any proposal brought up must marry “opt in” offshore drilling with a serious extension of renewable […]
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McCain’s VP pick has a mixed record on supporting renewables in home state
McCain VP pick Sarah Palin has a record of being both a friend and foe of Big Oil in her home state of Alaska. But she’s also made a point of voicing support for renewable and “clean” energy sources. Flashback one week to Palin’s big convention speech in St. Paul: “Starting in January, in a […]
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U.S. intelligence report says climate change likely to lead to security threats
A new draft report from the United States’ top intelligence analyst forecasts future security threats to the U.S. and other nations from climate change, as well as declining influence of the U.S. on world affairs. The report is intended to brief the new U.S. president early next year on the security outlook for the next […]
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It’s time to break the American addiction to oil
This post is by ClimateProgress guest blogger Bill Becker, executive director of the Presidential Climate Action Project. —– When George Bush declared that the United States is addicted to oil, it may have been the most insightful moment of his presidency. It is a cruel but apt analogy, and that’s why the big push for […]
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Pick of B.O.S.S. Palin and McCain’s speech make it a must for Dems
The Senate bipartisan compromise on offshore drilling is, as I’ve argued, something for nothing. But the “Drill, baby, drill” Republican National Convention and the VP selection of Big Oil Super Shill (B.O.S.S.) Palin means McCain has doubled down on drilling. (I say it’s 50-50 that he makes the final flip-flop to embrace drilling in the […]
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Reformed maverick
John McCain, 1996: “Too often the public views Republicans as favoring big business at the expense of the environment, and as too eager to swing the meat ax of repeal when the scalpel of reform is what’s needed.” John McCain, 2008: “Tomorrow I’ll call for lifting the federal moratorium [on offshore drilling] for states that […]
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Drilling a hot topic as Congress gets back in action
Drilling will be a hot topic as Congress swings back into action for the next three weeks. Having heard the GOP convention delegates’ none-too-subtle chants of “drill, baby, drill,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says that next week will be “Energy Week” in the chamber: “We are offering Republicans multiple opportunities to vote for increased […]
