In The News
E&E; News: Appalachian Dems Seek Distance from Obama on Coal, Climate
Thursday August 26, 2010
Democrats in Appalachia are running away from the Obama administration's coal record like their political lives depend on it.
They may be right.
After decades in Democrats' hands, much of the mountain corridor -- a string of districts running through West Virginia and along the edges of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee -- has drifted toward Republicans in national elections. Energy issues have driven the switch, particularly since 2000, when Al Gore came to West Virginia touting a carbon-free future and became the fourth Democratic presidential candidate to lose the state since the start of the Great Depression. A Democrat has not won West Virginia since, and in 2008, Republican White House nominee John McCain won every House district in the region, including the eight currently held by Democrats.
The two years since have done nothing to bolster ties between the Democratic Party and the coal industry, particularly in Appalachia.
Along with the president's push for limits on greenhouse gas emissions -- a proposal panned by most U.S. coal companies -- U.S. EPA in April singled out the six states for special restrictions on mountaintop removal coal mining. EPA also stopped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for 79 surface and mountaintop mines in the region, saying they would have violated the Clean Water Act. To date, six of those permits have been approved.
They may be right.
After decades in Democrats' hands, much of the mountain corridor -- a string of districts running through West Virginia and along the edges of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee -- has drifted toward Republicans in national elections. Energy issues have driven the switch, particularly since 2000, when Al Gore came to West Virginia touting a carbon-free future and became the fourth Democratic presidential candidate to lose the state since the start of the Great Depression. A Democrat has not won West Virginia since, and in 2008, Republican White House nominee John McCain won every House district in the region, including the eight currently held by Democrats.
The two years since have done nothing to bolster ties between the Democratic Party and the coal industry, particularly in Appalachia.
Along with the president's push for limits on greenhouse gas emissions -- a proposal panned by most U.S. coal companies -- U.S. EPA in April singled out the six states for special restrictions on mountaintop removal coal mining. EPA also stopped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from issuing permits for 79 surface and mountaintop mines in the region, saying they would have violated the Clean Water Act. To date, six of those permits have been approved.
E&E; News: Groups Request Senate Hearing on EPA's E15 decision
Wednesday August 25, 2010
Thirty-nine industry and environmental groups requested a Senate hearing next month to examine U.S. EPA's handling of a proposal that would boost the amount of ethanol blended in gasoline.
In a letter to Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and the panel's ranking Republican, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the groups say there are too many unanswered questions about EPA's looming decision on whether to increase ethanol in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. EPA is expected to decide the matter this fall after the Energy Department completes vehicle testing.
"We believe there are many questions remaining before EPA makes its final decision on the mid-level ethanol fuel waiver, and that the Environment and Public Works Committee is the ideal place to ask those questions," the letter says. "We also believe that the Department of Energy should fully expand and accelerate mid-level ethanol blends research in the areas that are necessary to protect consumers."
In a letter to Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and the panel's ranking Republican, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the groups say there are too many unanswered questions about EPA's looming decision on whether to increase ethanol in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. EPA is expected to decide the matter this fall after the Energy Department completes vehicle testing.
"We believe there are many questions remaining before EPA makes its final decision on the mid-level ethanol fuel waiver, and that the Environment and Public Works Committee is the ideal place to ask those questions," the letter says. "We also believe that the Department of Energy should fully expand and accelerate mid-level ethanol blends research in the areas that are necessary to protect consumers."
Tulsa World: EPA to Delay Revised Ozone Standards
Wednesday August 25, 2010
WASHINGTON -- A federal agency put off its much-anticipated announcement on revising ozone standards, a move designed to protect public health but one that could put Tulsa County and several others on the dirty air list.
For almost a year, that announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been expected by the end of this month.
EPA's new timetable pushes it back by about two months.
"There will be a slight delay in finalizing our decision on any new ozone standards,'' the agency stated in an e-mail when asked about news reports on the issue. "We expect to finalize the standards towards the end of October 2010.''
The press official who sent the e-mail did not respond directly when asked why the agency had decided to delay the announcement
"We are continuing to carefully consider the proposed options and the information we received during the public comment period on the January 2010 proposal,'' the statement read.
For almost a year, that announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been expected by the end of this month.
EPA's new timetable pushes it back by about two months.
"There will be a slight delay in finalizing our decision on any new ozone standards,'' the agency stated in an e-mail when asked about news reports on the issue. "We expect to finalize the standards towards the end of October 2010.''
The press official who sent the e-mail did not respond directly when asked why the agency had decided to delay the announcement
"We are continuing to carefully consider the proposed options and the information we received during the public comment period on the January 2010 proposal,'' the statement read.
E&E; News: White House website hushes cap-and-trade rhetoric
Thursday August 19, 2010
The White House has recently revised its energy and environment website, stripping references to a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases and a pledge to funnel $150 billion into clean energy research.
Gone from the site is a section titled "Closing the Carbon Loophole and Cracking Down on Polluters." The website had pledged to "finally close the carbon pollution loophole" by stemming emissions through a market-based cap, according to a version obtained by Jesse Jenkins of the Breakthrough Institute, but the updated version omits any mention of cap and trade.
Instead, the new climate change section highlights the Obama administration's achievements, including an national emission monitoring program and international agreements aimed at slashing greenhouse gases.
Gone from the site is a section titled "Closing the Carbon Loophole and Cracking Down on Polluters." The website had pledged to "finally close the carbon pollution loophole" by stemming emissions through a market-based cap, according to a version obtained by Jesse Jenkins of the Breakthrough Institute, but the updated version omits any mention of cap and trade.
Instead, the new climate change section highlights the Obama administration's achievements, including an national emission monitoring program and international agreements aimed at slashing greenhouse gases.
DESPERATION TIME
Wednesday August 11, 2010
As the case for job-killing cap-and-trade regulations founders, some activist groups are getting desperate-and throwing truth overboard. Consider the recent full-page ad sponsored by several such groups. Though it's difficult to tell, the ad is directed at supporters of a recently proposed amendment to the House Interior-Environment appropriations bill. The amendment would have postponed for two years EPA's greenhouse gas regulations for stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. The proposed EPA timeout got ‘yes' votes from five Republicans and two Democrats (it ultimately failed on a 7 to 7 vote during the subcommittee markup of the Interior-Environment bill).
Tulsa World: State Gains in Road Funding
Monday August 9, 2010
WASHINGTON - Oklahoma not only lost its much-dreaded donor status on federal road funds, but, according to a newly released report, the state is receiving up to $1.29 for every $1 it sends to the Highway Trust Fund.
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, a major player in Congress on transportation issues, credited that dramatic turnaround on the massive law he helped craft, as well as so-called earmarks.
"I think that makes up for what we didn't get in the past,'' the Oklahoma Republican said Friday, recalling the state's donor status that lasted roughly a half-century.
"My feelings were we went for decades not getting what we should get.''
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, a major player in Congress on transportation issues, credited that dramatic turnaround on the massive law he helped craft, as well as so-called earmarks.
"I think that makes up for what we didn't get in the past,'' the Oklahoma Republican said Friday, recalling the state's donor status that lasted roughly a half-century.
"My feelings were we went for decades not getting what we should get.''
Arguments against hydraulic fracturing unfounded
Friday August 6, 2010
Many people are aware of the debate surrounding hydraulic fracturing and the accompanying claims of pending environmental disaster from those who want it stopped or placed under strict federal regulation.
In more than 20 years as a corporation commissioner, I've never seen anything that approaches this current unfounded and growing national hysteria.
Simply put, hydraulic fracturing (HF) is an essential oil and gas production technique used for reservoir stimulation. Ironically, given the opposition in the name of the environment, HF is also used for environmentally friendly applications such as geologic storage of carbon, developing water wells and "green" geothermal energy and even cleaning up Superfund sites.
Opponents portray hydraulic fracturing as some horrible practice that endangers our water supplies, polluting them with cancer-causing chemicals.
In fact, 99 percent of the materials injected are water and sand.
In more than 20 years as a corporation commissioner, I've never seen anything that approaches this current unfounded and growing national hysteria.
Simply put, hydraulic fracturing (HF) is an essential oil and gas production technique used for reservoir stimulation. Ironically, given the opposition in the name of the environment, HF is also used for environmentally friendly applications such as geologic storage of carbon, developing water wells and "green" geothermal energy and even cleaning up Superfund sites.
Opponents portray hydraulic fracturing as some horrible practice that endangers our water supplies, polluting them with cancer-causing chemicals.
In fact, 99 percent of the materials injected are water and sand.
NRO: Oil-State Rebellion
Thursday August 5, 2010
As the oil from the Deepwater Horizon leak continues to evaporate in the Gulf of Mexico, the Democrats' chances of using it to grease the passage of a new energy bill are evaporating, too.
Last week, House and Senate Democratic leaders rolled out what Politico called their "big spill bills." The legislation, of course, was stuffed with nearly $15 billion in green goodies: new chokeholds on offshore drilling, cash-for-caulkers, and retrofitting for natural-gas trucks. "That kind of bill, folks, ought to pass, 100 to nothing," said Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.). Indeed, with the public still sour about the BP slop, Democrats thought they could pressure Republicans to come along. "If, after the worst oil spill in the history of the country, Republicans were to vote ‘no' against new offshore-drilling protections - can you imagine the ads?" asked one senior Democratic aide.
Last week, House and Senate Democratic leaders rolled out what Politico called their "big spill bills." The legislation, of course, was stuffed with nearly $15 billion in green goodies: new chokeholds on offshore drilling, cash-for-caulkers, and retrofitting for natural-gas trucks. "That kind of bill, folks, ought to pass, 100 to nothing," said Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.). Indeed, with the public still sour about the BP slop, Democrats thought they could pressure Republicans to come along. "If, after the worst oil spill in the history of the country, Republicans were to vote ‘no' against new offshore-drilling protections - can you imagine the ads?" asked one senior Democratic aide.
Politico: Greens turn to small-scale issues
Wednesday August 4, 2010
Climate change wasn't the only environmental issue on Congress's agenda over the past three years - it just seemed that way.
With the cap-and-trade bill dead in the Senate, lawmakers and environmental groups are looking to shine the spotlight on a slew of problems that received almost no attention in recent years, such as acid rain, overfishing, polluted drinking water and toxic chemicals in consumer products.
"It's quite obvious for the last several years that the climate debate has sucked up all the oxygen from other environmental issues," said Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit group Clean Air Watch. "After the fighting and exhaustion of climate, there are a lot of other issues waiting in the queue."
With the cap-and-trade bill dead in the Senate, lawmakers and environmental groups are looking to shine the spotlight on a slew of problems that received almost no attention in recent years, such as acid rain, overfishing, polluted drinking water and toxic chemicals in consumer products.
"It's quite obvious for the last several years that the climate debate has sucked up all the oxygen from other environmental issues," said Frank O'Donnell, president of the nonprofit group Clean Air Watch. "After the fighting and exhaustion of climate, there are a lot of other issues waiting in the queue."
E&E; News: Votes on energy bills likely to fail
Tuesday August 3, 2010
With dueling votes expected tomorrow on competing Democratic and Republican energy bills, several key Democrats yesterday indicated they won't vote for their party's measure in its current form.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said yesterday he is negotiating with Republican leaders to hold two test votes on the rival energy and oil-spill response bills this week. But because of procedural hurdles and lack of support, neither bill likely will pass before the Senate leaves for recess this weekend.
Several key Democrats expressed concern over language in the Democrats' bill (S. 3663), which would need at least 60 supporters at tomorrow's cloture vote in order to move forward.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said yesterday he is negotiating with Republican leaders to hold two test votes on the rival energy and oil-spill response bills this week. But because of procedural hurdles and lack of support, neither bill likely will pass before the Senate leaves for recess this weekend.
Several key Democrats expressed concern over language in the Democrats' bill (S. 3663), which would need at least 60 supporters at tomorrow's cloture vote in order to move forward.
