Political Climate Articles
Key oil figures were distorted by US pressure, says whistleblower
The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.
The senior official claims the US has played an influential role in encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the chances of finding new reserves.
The allegations raise serious questions about the accuracy of the organisation's latest World Energy Outlook on oil demand and supply to be published tomorrow – which is used by the British and many other governments to help guide their wider energy and climate change policies.
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Anything to Stop Progress - against what the country wants
Sen. Inhofe explains he's going to Copenhagen so that when Sen. Kerry says "Yes. We're going to pass a global warming bill" then "I will be able to stand up and say, 'No, it's over. Get a life. You lost. I won!' "
Thousands and thousands of climate science advocates - including me - will be in Copenhagen next month trying to advance an international deal that gives the world a chance to avoid catastrophic global warming.
And then there will be the man even the Washington Post calls "the last flat-earther," Sen. James Inhofe (R-OIL). Why is he going? The Ada Evening News reported Monday:
Inhofe said he still intends to attend the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference.
"I'm always the spoiler at this thing. Last night I was on the Larry Kudlow show. He said, 'Inhofe is the one-man truth squad going to Copenhagen.' So when Barbara Boxer, John Kerry and all the left get up there and say, 'Yes. We're going to pass a global warming bill,' I will be able to stand up and say, 'No, it's over. Get a life. You lost. I won,' " Inhofe said.
Sadly, the U.S. Constitution restriction - "No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years" - applies only to physical age. The senior junior-high-school Senator from Oklahoma is proof of that. What's next for Inhofe? Perhaps during the Senate floor debate he plans to say "La, la, la, la, I can't hear you"?
Inhofe makes other equally revealing nonsense statements in the interview:
"The far left is trying so hard to get a cap-and-trade now," Inhofe said
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Voters in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri overwhelmingly support action on clean energy and global warming
The new polls also found that large majorities believe global warming is a serious or very serious threat.
Polling from 3 key states - and 5 key districts - finds strong support for the climate and clean energy bill. Every major recent poll has come to the same conclusion (see Swing state poll finds 60% "would be more likely to vote for their senator if he or she supported the bill" and Independents support the bill 2-to-1). Perhaps that's why E&E News found "At least 67 senators are in play" on climate bill.
In the new polls, likely 2010 voters were asked:
"Congress is considering an energy plan that has two key parts. One part would require factories and power companies to reduce their emissions of the carbon pollution that causes global warming by 17% (20% in MO) by the year 2020 and by 80% by the year 2050. The other part would require power companies to generate 15% of their power from clean energy sources like wind and solar by the year 2025. Would you favor/oppose this entire plan?"
The results:
* 75% of voters in Michigan favor.
* 68% of voters in Ohio favor.
* 67% of voters in Missouri favor.
And this matches every recent poll:
* New CNN poll finds "nearly six in 10 independents" support cap-and-trade
* Yet another major poll finds "broad support" for clean energy and climate bill: "Support for the plan among independents has increased slightly"
* 63% of likely voters (and 59% of independents) in AK, AR, IN, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, NV, ND, NH, OH, PA, SD, VA, WV support the bill (see here)
* Public opinion snapshot: Public backs key elements of global warming bill
* Zogby: 71% of likely voters support House climate bill
* Mark Mellman must read on climate messaging: "A strong public consensus has emerged on the reality and severity of global warming, as well as on the need for federal action" - ecoAmerica "could hardly be more wrong"
The same question was asked in five swing House district and the result was the same:
* 61% of voters in Florida's 2nd district support.
* 69% of voters in New Mexico's 2nd district support.
* 63% of voters in Ohio's 16th district support.
* 70% of voters in Virginia's 5th district support.
* 68% of voters in Washington's 8th district support.
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Is New York's Marcellus Shale Too Hot to Handle?
As New York gears up for a massive expansion of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, state officials have made a potentially troubling discovery about the wastewater created by the process: It's radioactive. And they have yet to say how they'll deal with it.
The information comes from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, which analyzed 13 samples of wastewater brought thousands of feet to the surface from drilling and found that they contain levels of radium-226, a derivative of uranium, as high as 267 times the limit safe for discharge into the environment and thousands of times the limit safe for people to drink.
The findings, if backed up with more tests, have several implications: The energy industry would likely face stiffer regulations and expenses, and have more trouble finding treatment plants to accept its waste -- if any would at all. Companies would need to license their waste handlers and test their workers for radioactive exposure, and possibly ship waste across the country. And the state would have to sort out how its laws for radioactive waste might apply to drilling and how the waste could impact water supplies and the environment.
21 of 31 drilling states have no regulations specific to hydraulic fracturing
4 of 31 drilling states have detailed regulations guiding hydraulic fracturing
10 drilling states require that fracturing chemicals be disclosed
0 states require that the volume of fluid left underground after fracturing be recorded
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In "Act of Despicable Hubris," coal front group ACCCE exploits veterans groups to push dirty energy agenda
You may recall from September that the dirty coal group's 14th forgery impersonated American veterans, whereas real vets support strong action on climate and clean energy - as does GOP Senator John Warner, former Armed Services Committee chair. The coal industry is still up to its dirty tricks, as made clear in this Think Progress repost.
accce-whoThe American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) - a front group of big utilities and coal companies - is no stranger to fraud. During the summer's House debate on cap-and-trade legislation, lobbyists working on behalf of the coal group sent forged letters to members of Congress, and lied under oath about it. Now, ACCCE is trying to exploit Veterans Day by misrepresenting veterans groups in an email to supporters:
With Veterans Day around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on all the military personnel who are involved in ensuring our country is protected.
Energy security is one issue that has become increasingly important to our veterans. In fact, national veterans groups Votevets and Operation Free are urging the government to become more energy independent and less reliant on foreign oil.
We can do this by using the abundant domestic fuels we already have. With more than 250 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves, the United States has more coal than the Middle East has oil.
The letter implies that VoteVets and Operation Free support ACCCE and its dirty energy agenda, but the the two groups are actually vocal backers of clean energy legislation. VoteVets excoriated ACCCE for citing them in the email, writing that VoteVets "will never advocate the continued use of carbon based fuels" and that ACCCE is trying "to hijack America's Veterans" in "an act of despicable hubris."
Operation Free - a veterans group which is dedicated to fighting climate change - was also quick to condemn ACCCE. In a blog post, Operation Free wrote that the email "dishonors Veterans day" and is "insulting to all of the Veterans who are fighting to protect America's national security by supporting clean, American power."
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Massey's Blankenship says U.S. should expand coal use, warming science unsubstantiated
Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship has been an outspoken critic of the science behind global warming and the push for climate legislation for decades. As Congress continues to move forward with cap-and-trade legislation, Blankenship says an emissions plan will send jobs overseas and hurt the economy. During today's OnPoint, he gives his take on the Senate's climate debate and explains why he believes the world has entered a period of global cooling. Blankenship, who is also on the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, discusses recent controversy surrounding the chamber's stance on climate legislation and explains why efforts to develop carbon capture and storage technology should be stopped.
Also watch OnPoint, 09/28/2009
Climate: PG&E's Darbee explains company's decision to leave U.S. Chamber of Commerce
OnPoint, 07/09/2009
Coal: ACCCE's Lucas discusses industry's lobbying efforts to change climate legislation
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Must-see video of Sen. Kerry grilling AEI's Kenneth Green: "You just can't just throw that stuff out there."
Senator Kerry: Has your study been peer reviewed?
Kenneth Green: No, I don't work in the peer review literature, Senator. I don't work for a university.
Steven Hayward, the F.K. Weyerhaeuser fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, recently said, "The brain waves of the American right continue to be erratic, when they are not flat-lining." He may have had in mind his AEI colleague Kenneth Green, whose lack of knowledge on climate was laid bare for all to see by Sen. John Kerry in today's Finance Committee hearing:
I don't know what is more revealing and embarrassing for Green and AEI - that Green couldn't actually name a single peer-reviewed study in his defense or that when Kerry calls him on it, his only defense is an appeal to authority - his own "opinion" (!):
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United States and China to Cooperate on Clean Energy
President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao announced on November 17 a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean and renewable energy. The presidents began by establishing a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center to facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by scientists from both countries. The center will be supported by $150 million in public and private funds over the next five years, split evenly between the partners.
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Bipartisanship? Why even try?
Under pressure from Tea Party activists, Charleston GOP censures Lindsey Graham for bipartisanship effort to preserve our national security
On Monday, the Charleston County Republican Party's executive committee "took the unusual step" of officially censuring Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The local GOP committee admonished Graham for stepping across party lines to work with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on a bipartisan clean energy bill and other pieces of legislation. The censure stated that Graham's "bipartisanship continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom."
Part of the fury from the right against Graham is being spurred by the oil and coal industry. The oil company front group "American Energy Alliance" has blanketed South Carolina with ads smearing Graham for seeking to address climate change.
The pressure against Graham has also stemmed from his criticism of hate radio and Fox News host Glenn Beck. "Only in America can you make that much money crying," said Graham, mocking Beck in early October. Beck has responded with a slime campaign against Graham that he typically reserves for liberals. The leader of the Charleston Republican Party, Lin Bennett, is also a member of Glenn Beck's 9/12 organization in South Carolina. According to its website, the Charleston GOP claims to work closely with tea party groups and Beck's 9/12 activists in selecting its favored candidates.
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