In America, today, there are three kinds of drivers: those who look at the other gas pumps down at the ol' gas station and think: "Oh my God, I can't believe how much that guy's spending on gas", those who look at their own pump down at the ol' gas station and think: "Oh my God, I can't believe how much I'm spending on gas" - and those who are doing both at the same time.
Naturally, this has brought the Sarah Palins of the world back out in public, and once again the mantra of "Drill, Baby, Drill" can be heard all the way from the Florida coast to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But what if those folks have it exactly backwards?
What if, in a world of depleting oil resources, the last thing you want to do is use yours up?
To put it another way: why isn't all our oil part of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
It's been a while since we had to have a real heart-to-heart, the Obama Administration and I, and last time it was because Rahm Emanuel had been a bit snippy toward those of us who are carrying the water for this Administration.
We need to have another one of those conversations today; this time the circumstances are a lot more positive-in fact, if the Administration follows my suggestions here, we have a real chance to put the Democrats on the road to victory, not just this November, but also in 2012.
What I'm proposing will create hundreds of thousands, if not millions of jobs, and it will stimulate millions more as we create a national source of discount electrical power that can be used by business and consumers alike.
Here's the best part: it's no "pie in the sky" promotion I'm offering here; we've already done the same thing before, it's been working out well for almost three quarters of a century...and even better than all that...my idea first pays for itself, and then...it actually makes the Federal Government a profit, forever after.
We’re diving deep into “geek world” today with a story that combines economic hardball, the periodic table of the elements, and a barely noticed provision of the Defense Authorization Act that seeks to break a monopoly which today gives China near-absolute control over the materials that make cell phones, electric cars, wind turbines, and pretty much every other tool of modern life possible.
If we successfully break the monopoly, we’ll be able to create millions of new manufacturing jobs in this country—and if we don’t, somebody else owns the 21st Century.
Ironically, the global warming we’re trying to fight with new green technologies might be an ally in our efforts to make those very same green technologies happen.
There’s a revolution in industrial processing going on, rare earths are at the center of it all...and in today’s story, the revolution will be televised.
Hey look, Magic Frank is implying that environmental regulations are a way for government to take over the auto industry. Okay, he's less implying it as he is outright saying it.
Under the new guidelines for decorum in the U.S. House, Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., has advised members that their free speech should exclude terms like "liar" and "hypocrite" in referring to statements by President Barack Obama.
So I'll refrain from using those words about the Obama administration's latest auto fuel standards.
Obama repeated at the GM Lordstown, Ohio, plant this week that he doesn't want to "manage the auto companies." Yet, this is exactly what his administration is doing in its effort to force Americans to drive the cars that he and his supporters want built.
If by "manage" the auto companies, you mean establish federal regulations that would apply across an entire industry, you'd be onto something. On the other hand, if by "manage" the auto companies, you mean any reasonable interpretation used by normal people regarding to specific decision making by private industry, well...
Meanwhile, Magic Frank gets to the bottom of this dark conspiracy by government to seize private enterprise, waving a white gloved hand over an upended top hat, saying, "Abracadabra," and pulling a rabbit out.
Instead, Obama and his surrogates continue to emphasize a reduction in harmless carbon dioxide emissions and a presumed reduction of oil imports.
(Polite applause ... the "carbon dioxide to fluffy bunny" transformation is to a Frank Beckmann column what "Take my wife, please," was to Henny Youngman.)
The text below is part of an e-mail I received from Ashley Dowser, who is now working for the Alliance for Climate Protection (she formerly was with the Obama campaign in Birmingham). I am appalled that Gary Peters would even consider voting against this bill. It should be a no brainer. Please call his office and let him know how important this bill is to our future and the future of the world.
When even major energy companies are beginning to decry the merits (or lack thereof) of a continued reliance on coal, then you know something must be up. And you have to wonder why some are still gunning to lead us down the path of outdated, harmful coal-burning plants.
Indeed, something is up. With this story recently released by USA Today, we learn that new federal regulations from the Obama administration on restricting carbon dioxide emissions are rightly responsible for a massive move away from coal. And why not? Coal burning is one of the filthiest ways to power a nation that one can think of – all one needs to do is look to the Tennessee Valley Authority to see why. Being blanketed by billions of gallons of toxic coal sludge – that’s more pollution than spilled by the Exxon Valdez accident – doesn’t sound too appealing.
Carbon dioxide pollution from coal plants is a major threat, as it contributes more than 30% to global climate change and poses significant harm to our natural environment and way of life. Other coal plant pollutants have been known to cause increased rates in asthma, heart disease, and even premature deaths.
Energy giants like Dynegy and financial giants like Citigroup, Chase, and JP Morgan have all acknowledged coal’s inherent dangers and unstable future. The fossil fuel’s days are numbered, and all but a select handful of doubting individuals have finally begun to see the light and the need for leading our country out of the energy dark ages. Instead of maintaining a stubborn insistence on clinging to coal, we can and should be embracing the 21st century by making a real investment in clean, renewable energy and cutting-edge efficiency. Especially right here in the Great Lakes state, where we have everything to gain - thousands of good-paying jobs, new and innovative industries, and a clean atmosphere for our kids to inherit.
Sounds good, so what are we waiting for? Coal to become “clean”? Get real! Let’s look to energy sources that both lucrative and legitimately clean: clean energy. The name says it all.
Ok, so the media has been obsessing about Obama and his cabinet appointments for weeks now. Outside of the Secretary of State position (ha ha!) I've been following the rest of the speculation with mild interest.
Former Vice President Al Gore is set to meet with President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden Tuesday, leading to speculation Obama is eyeing Gore for a slot in his administration. According to the Obama transition office, the meeting will focus on issues relating to energy and climate change, and how the new administration's environmental policies can spur job creation.
A spokesman for Gore flatly said last week the former vice president has no interest in serving the Obama administration. Nonetheless, Gore's high profile visit to Chicago, Illinois, to meet Obama and Biden is raising eyebrows, even among some of Gore's close advisers. "The Gore trip is for more than just a chat," a close friend of Gore told CNN's John King. "He wouldn't burn that much carbon flying to Chicago just to talk."
Okay, so one story you can dismiss as idle gossip. However, being the incessant news hound that I am, I continued digging around on the intertubes until I saw this little piece of corroborating evidence from Congressional Quarterly:
Also possible is the announcement of a new White House office of energy or climate change, perhaps in the form of a new National Energy Council on par with the National Security Council. The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank which is advising the Obama transition, has recommended the creation of such a council, headed by a White House-level energy or climate czar.
Sources close to the transition said the team is also considering "someone really amazing" for Energy -- possibly a very high-profile public figure, who would help elevate the profile of the agency and energy policy with a shot of star power. Such speculation has focused on California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, or former Vice President Al Gore, who is expected to meet Tuesday with Obama to discuss energy and climate change issues. Gore and Obama also are expected to talk about the makeup of the energy and environment team and the creation of a White House energy office.
If you are talking about the environment and energy policy, you literally cannot get someone "more amazing" than Al Gore. Yeah, a lowly level cabinet position may not be Al Gore's cup of tea, but an Energy Czar in charge of coorindating multiple agencies together -- well that just might be big enough to make Al make the leap back into public office.
(Because the economy isn't our only problem right now - promoted by LiberalLucy)
Governor Granholm, with your years in office dwindling down to just a scant few, you have one final opportunity to cement your legacy as one of our state’s greatest leaders on clean energy. We are entrusting you with this decisive and all-important task which, if carried through to completion, could ensure the security of Michigan’s future, in the energy, environmental, and economic fields.
Madam Governor, before you leave office, please put the brakes on the Michigan coal rush.
Let me enumerate the McCain policy offerings: Here's the problem when you advocate less government except for defense, oil and gas exploration and to "shake things up in Washington."
Stall, stall, stall. The way legislators in Michigan are acting these days, you’d think they were a 15 year old learning to drive a stick shift.
This week, esteemed members of Michigan’s Senate chose to hold off yet again on moving forward with a feasible energy plan that could put the mitten on the path to a renewable energy future. You know, the kind of future that can create thousands of jobs for unemployed Michiganders, entice cutting-edge industries to put down their stakes here, and cut down and deadly CO2 emissions that are threatening kids with increased asthma rates and older folks with cardiovascular diseases. Yeah, that silly little thing called clean energy.
Really, continuing to stonewall on what could be one of the most vital issues of our generation is not even grossly negligent or unacceptable – at this point, it’s just kinda sad. For 18 long months, legislation about Michigan’s energy future has been stalled and lingered on like a bad engine on a dirt road. There are few states who have suffered more under failed policies of the Bush administration than Michigan has, and yet, when presented with the kind of life-altering opportunity that could potentially turn things around for everyone state legislators do what they do best: nothing.
Already, across the nation, other states, including Pennsylvania and even oil-swilling Texas have been making gigantic-football field length leaps forward when it comes to renewable energy. States like Kansas and Georgia have even passed legislation to protect against harmful CO2 emissions from coal plants, and effectively pushed themselves towards a clean energy future. Sometimes, giving in to peer pressure is not only a good thing, but highly recommended.
Instead of continuing to steer clear of what could pull us out of this rut, how about setting a renewable portfolio standard of 25% by 2025? C’mon, Michigan Senate – would that really be so hard?
We've created a tool that allows you to take minute or less to tell your state law makers how you feel. Please speak out and tell Lansing to move Michigan towards a bright energy future!
National speaker/activist and founder of Green for All Van Jones speaks with me at the Big Tent at the Denver DNC (with Emptywheel chiming/directing in the background).
For those of us that were lucky enough to be at Netroots Nation last month, we were treated to hearing Van Jones speak. Jones who is a champion of fighting social inequality and environmental destruction is arguably one of the best speakers I've heard in the recent past, and joining me on the Van Jones bandwagon is our own PerfectStormer who can also testify to his greatness.
Van was kind enough to speak with me about Michigan Senate Republicans fool-hardy plan for 8 new coal plants in Michigan, how we turn Detroit around AND protect our environmental future, and why Al Gore is so very right. And now that I'm no longer fighting YouTube for hours on end to upload videos, you can watch it here. :-)
Suppose you're an undecided voter. You don't know a lot about Tim Walberg, but you've gotten his glossy flyers in the mail. You've seen Mark Schauer's name somewhere, but really, you don't know much about either of them. What do you do?
For many, you type "Tim Walberg" and "Mark Schauer" into Google. Focusing on Walberg, what do you get? The first five results are all either pro-Walberg or neutral-- Walberg's House website, Walberg's blog, Wikipedia, Walberg for Congress, and a National Journal profile. (The old Walberg Watch address comes in at number nine, while the new Walberg Watch is rapidly rising, now nearing the top of the second page).
Many people will probably stick to those five results, too. Of those results, only the Wikipedia article even comes close to offering different points of view, but only in the context of controversies that have arisen for Walberg. It doesn't keep up with current issues.
So how do we fix that? How do we make sure that Walberg's side of the story isn't the only one being seen? One way, of course, is for Walberg Watch to rise in the Google page ranking, and that's happening slowly on its own. But, oddly enough, Tim Walberg gave us another way of getting opposing viewpoints into the top Google rankings, albeit not directly.
The Michigan Republican Party and Chair Saul Anuzis are organizing a protest against Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi tonight at Borders in downtown Ann Arbor where she will join a panel discussion and sign copies of her new book, "Know Your Power" at 7 p.m.
The intention of the protest is to build on the Grand Oil Party's juvenile stunt last week where they preached to each other in the dark after the House and Senate were adjourned for the annual summer break on how giving oil companies more leases in environmentally sensitive areas will reduce gas prices. The email blast to supporters says the intention is to "... send her a strong message that she needs to call Congress back into session now, and hold a vote on an energy bill that will allow America to develop America's oil." No word on why they don't just ask the head oil man in the White House to call them back into session since he has the power to do that, or why for all but the last 18 months of President George Bush's time in office when the GOP controlled both Houses of Congress no real energy plan was adopted.
To help in the protest and to lend an air of authenticity, Anuzis is asking his followers to bring homemade signs, and since he knows they probably can't think of any catchy slogans for themselves, he sent along some helpful suggestions, such as "Gas b-4 Book Tour" "Bring Congress Back" "We Want Lower Gas $" "End The Shutdown" and "Give Us A Vote."
Bill Nowling and the MGOP communications team have really outdone themselves. That was money well spent.
I have a few slogans of my own for the Grand Oil Party attendees to use: "Food stamps for Exxon," "We don't need no stinking books," "Books are for liberals," "Tell Bush to tell you to bring Congress back," "Drill on those thousands of leases you already have," "oil execs need help to pay for their Bugatti Veyrons," or "We need our gas prices to go down by 2 cents in 10 years now."
The Ann Arbor stop will be Pelosi's first stop on a 13-city book tour, and because there are so many people expected to want to meet the Speaker, Borders began giving out wristbands this morning when the store opened. According to Borders, the wristband guarantees a place in line, but offers no guarantee you'll meet the Speaker.
I have a better suggestion for the GOP: buy a book at Borders to benefit a Michigan company. That may be asking a little too much. Buy a DVD while you are there and do some real good. Make sure you carpool.
Jack Ebling recently talked with 7th District Congressman, Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), and his presumptive November challenger, Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek), about energy issues facing the United States.
This afternoon, I’m speaking on the Senate floor about high energy prices. Unless something is done to make energy more affordable, the record-high prices will continue to reverberate throughout our economy, increasing the prices of transportation, food, manufacturing and everything in between. Skyrocketing energy prices are a threat to our economic and national security, and the time for action is long past.
One of the major causes of our energy crisis is the failed policies of the current Administration. In January 2001, when President Bush took office, the price of oil was about $30 per barrel. The average price for a gallon of gasoline was about $1.50. Since President Bush took office, crude oil prices have nearly quadrupled, natural gas prices to heat our homes have almost doubled, gasoline prices have more than doubled, and diesel fuel prices have nearly tripled.
One key factor in price spikes of energy is rampant speculation in the energy markets.
Hats off to rich's Coffeetalk and Mr. Rogers Neighborhood for inspiration on this diary.
Yesterday Rep. Mike Rogers introduced his Energy Plan to the Howell Chamber of Commerce. The Livingston Press & Argus really captures the event: Lawmaker calls for new energy outlook Rep. Mike Rogers is boldly calling for reform in our energy policy
not just for financial and environmental relief, but also for security reasons.
Wow, what kind of reforms could Mr. Rogers be demanding?
High energy prices coupled with revolutionary technological advances in green energy have opened a window of opportunity to revolutionize energy generation in America. This energy transition offers a shift from corporate energy policies towards more community control and a new economy. Proof of this new revolution is the seemingly endless venture capital that is flowing into new energy technologies.
Windpower, is growing at about 25% per year. The major problem is a shortage of windmills. Solar costs are falling steadily while demand soars. Solar water heating, photovoltaics and solar power towers are all proving economical. Geothermal power is being finally being recognized for the potential it's always had. Simple mechanical devices to harness tides and currents are on the cusp of reality.
Voters from across Michigan chose Governor Granholm's drive to grow the alternative energy in Michigan as the defining moment of 2007. From her jobs missions to Sweden and Germany to her series of alternative energy meetings across the state, Governor Granholm has continuously focused all her energy on diversifying our state's economy by fostering rapid growth in this emerging industry.
And, for Michigan, green energy means great jobs. Experts predict that by 2030, one in four U.S. jobs will be in the alternative energy and energy efficiency industries. They forecast the hottest areas of growth will be solar, wind, ethanol, and fuel cell development. When she first took office five years ago, Governor Granholm immediately got to work on developing those very same industries here in Michigan. Thanks to her efforts, Michigan is now emerging as a world leader in those key areas. United Solar Ovonics, creators of revolutionary new solar energy technology, have expanded their Michigan operations and created hundreds of new jobs. John Deere launched a new wind farm to produce clean, renewable energy in the Thumb. Several Michigan companies have partnered with the governor to open over 20 new ethanol retail locations statewide - not to mention doubling the amount of ethanol produced right here in Michigan. And, in the UP, exploration is underway to develop a new plant to produce biomass-based fuels made from wood.
All across Michigan, the governor's push to make our state the green energy leader is producing results. Thousands of new jobs have been created with hundreds of millions in new investments for our state. But the true potential of alternative energy is only beginning to be realized. In the next 20 years, the green revolution will spawn a multi-trillion dollar industry. Thanks to Governor Granholm's bold vision and aggressive approach, Michigan is poised to lead the way.
The governor's focus on green energy and great jobs in 2007 is only the beginning. Her comprehensive economic plan demands continued action and aggressive policies to keep Michigan moving forward. Governor Granholm's alternative energy strategy defined 2007, and it will continue to define Michigan's future well into 21st century.
As reported in this morning's coffee talk that's the headline from this great editorial from today's Bay City Times, passionately arguing that the legislature should drop its "wobbly" plans for reduced Renewable Portfolio Standards for renewable energy, and get on board with a 25% requirement by 2025. The whole editorial should be required reading for everyone working to build a brighter future for Michigan.
The Bay City Times is the latest in a long line of experts who have called for bold action on renewable energy as an economic stimulus for Michigan's lagging economy.
For example, there was this report from NextEnergy, a Detroit-based alternative energy think tank, noting that of the renewable portfolio stand options they considered, the boldest program also had the most economic potential in terms of jobs and investment. Then there was this opus from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Friedman that systematically showed how those states, countries and companies that invested in "clean technology" were reaping the economic rewards. And more recently, the Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University released this report, which demonstrates how enacting a good RPS is key to attracting jobs and investment to Michigan. Finally, this testimony to the House Energy and Technology Committee from Andrew Such, Executive Director of the Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition, is a good one-stop-shop for facts and figures on the economic input of a better approach to meeting our state's energy needs.
I know legislators are nervous. I know they're worried about costs to consumers (though as Such points out, renewable energy actually helps with price stability, unlike coal and natural gas, which have increased by more than 100% in recent years). But if we're going to reap the economic rewards of global leadership in renewable energy innovation and production, we must act boldly! Middling along just won't cut it. As the Bay City Times argues:
We have the machinists, the engineers, the research facilities and all the equipment we need to make Michigan the go-to place for renewable energy and the technology to produce it.
Draft a plan of action and connect the researchers and bankers with the people here who can build up this new industry.
Aim for the highest renewable energy standard possible.
...
Some may say Michigan can't possibly meet such a high standard.
Don't go wobbly on us.
We need everyone fighting courageously - with bold goals - for the future of our state.
Now that's a blueprint for a brighter future for Michigan!
(Another '08 contender visits Michigan. - promoted by nirmal)
UPDATE by Hazen Pingree:minor style edits.
Read the whole speech here. He does a great job addressing the needs of the auto industry, as well as the needs of the country.
Remarks of Senator Barack Obama to the Detroit Economic Club
Detroit, MI | May 07, 2007
America is a country that hasn't come easily. In our brief history, we have been tested by revolution and slavery, war and depression, and great movements for social, civil, and equal rights.
We have emerged from each challenge stronger, more prosperous, and ever closer to the ideals of liberty and opportunity that lay at the heart of the American experiment.
And yet, the price of our progress has always been borne by the struggle and sacrifice of our people - by leaders who have asked ordinary Americans to do extraordinary things; and by generations of men and women who've had the courage to answer that call.
