Energy

Palin's Big Oil infatuation

I was water-skiing with my children in a light drizzle off Hyannis, Mass., last month when a sudden, fierce storm plunged us into a melee of towering waves, raking rain, painful hail and midday darkness broken by blinding flashes of lightning. As I hurried to get my children out of the water and back to the dock, I shouted over the roaring wind, "This is some kind of tornado."

Posted in Energy, Environment, Politics

Human Rights Advocates: Oil Companies' "Self-Policing" a Dismal Failure

WASHINGTON - The intersection of human rights, the environment and corporate responsibility was highlighted today at a Capitol Hill hearing featuring activists from Burma and Nigeria who underlined the failure to date of "voluntary" controls over major oil companies operating in their countries.

Posted in Corporatism, Energy, Human Rights, Oil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2008
8:00 AM

CONTACT: National Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Jenny Powers, 212/727-4566 and Kate Slusark, 212/727-4592

Landmark U.S. Global Warming Plan for Power Plants Launches

First-of-its-Kind Effort to Reduce Pollution Offers Northeast Head-Start Toward Clean Energy Economy

NEW YORK - September 25 - In a landmark move to build a clean energy economy and cut global warming pollution, Northeastern states today kicked off the world's first emissions trading market that will promote efficiency and cut pollution from power plants. The new approach will reduce carbon dioxide pollution to a level 10 percent below current emissions by 2019, while rewarding smart companies that outperform new pollution limits and lowering energy costs for consumers.

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The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

Posted in Energy

Obama Declares Support For 'Clean' Coal

Barack Obama's campaign yesterday rushed to proclaim his support for "clean coal" technology after remarks by running mate Joe Biden cast doubts on Democratic friendliness to the coal industry.

In a videotaped exchange with an environmental campaigner in Ohio, Biden allowed Republicans to change the subject from the financial gloom that has put John McCain on the defensive this week.

Posted in Energy, Politics

Democrats To Let Offshore Drilling Ban Expire

$Alaska delegate Mel Krogseng wears a hardhat referring to drilling for oil in Alaska on the floor of the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota September 2, 2008. The mantra of \"Drill Here, Drill Now\" appear to have worked on weak-boned Democratic members. Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)$

WASHINGTON - Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., told reporters Tuesday that a provision continuing the moratorium will be dropped this year from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Congress recesses for the election.

Posted in Energy, Environment, Politics

A Towering (but Temporary) Solartopian Victory Against Nuke Power

The grassroots green energy movement has won a huge -- but temporary -- victory over the nuke power industry.

The triumph comes at the federal level, while state-wide ratepayers are still being gouged to pay for new reactors in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and elsewhere.

But it means that no new major federal loan guarantees will be designated to build new reactors at least until after the November 4 presidential election.

Posted in Energy, Politics, Nuclear Power

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2008
2:58 PM

CONTACT: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Aaron Huertas, 202-331-5458

New EPA Report Shows Need for Stronger Fuel Economy Standards, Science Group Says

Statement by Jim Kliesch, Union of Concerned Scientists

WASHINGTON - September 19 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a new fuel economy trends report that projects the real-world average fuel economy for model year 2008 cars and trucks to reach 20.8 miles per gallon (mpg), a 1.5 mpg increase since 2004. These numbers reflect estimated on-road performance, which the agency uses for vehicle window stickers on dealer lots.

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Posted in Energy, Environment

The Senate's 'Drill Drill Drill' Bill Hides Nuke Power Mega-Theft

The McCain/Palin push for endless oil drilling is being used as a smokescreen to gouge a half-trillion or more taxpayer dollars in subsidies and loan guarantees to build new atomic reactors. The mega-theft could be approved by the US Senate this week. Green activists throughout the nation are calling their Senators, as should you.

The atomic power industry can't get private financing to build new reactors. So while Wall Street plummets into catastrophe, it is using the "drill drill drill" mantra to hide this latest raid on the depleted federal treasury.

Posted in Energy, Politics, Nuclear Power, Oil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2008
3:14 PM

CONTACT: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Elliott Negin, 202-331-5439

Thirty Science, Nuclear Security Environmental Organizations Urge Senate

to Strike Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Provision From Energy Bill

Reprocessing Too Dangerous, Too Expensive, Too Polluting, Groups Say

WASHINGTON - September 17 - Thirty science, nuclear security and environmental organizations today urged the Senate to reject a provision in pending energy legislation that would fund the construction of a nuclear waste reprocessing facility.

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Founded in 1969, the Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. The organization is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.ucsusa.org.

Posted in Energy, Environment, Politics, Nuclear Power

Physicists: US Could Cut Oil Use With Better Houses, Cars

WASHINGTON - The U.S. can reduce its dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse-gas emissions by making cars and buildings much more energy efficient, according to a study released Tuesday by a large national association of physicists.

Posted in Energy