ACES Ambivalence Disorder

ACES-Ambivalence

So the US House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act on Friday. Given that many of us in the climate community have been griping for months on end about what a compromised, watered down, insufficient, coal friendly, piece of corporate welfare that the bill is, many of you may be wondering how you’re supposed to feel about this. Should we jeer or cheer? Should we do like Al and celebrate the mere passage of a climate bill as an historic achievement, or make like Greenpeace and raise our fists in protest against this flawed product of a hobbled political system?

If you’re ambivalent, that’s okay. Torn is exactly how you should feel about this bill. You’re just experiencing a very common condition I like to call ACES Ambivalence Disorder (AAD). Symptoms include irritability, frustration, dissatisfaction, anger, resentment, and political disillusionment on the one hand, and on the other a vague sense of hope and relief that the government is finally, actually, incredibly doing something (and may do more if only we push them).

If you peruse the array of statements many environmental orgs and yea-voting reps released after the ACES vote, you’ll find that most of the authors have been stricken with AAD as well. Just consider this press release from 1Sky, entitled “1Sky is Relieved by House Victory on Energy Bill; Ready to Work for More.” We feel you 1Sky. Or, kind of. I think.

We at CCAN are not entirely immune either. On Friday after scrambling (successfully!) to get MD Congressmen like Frank Kratovil just to vote yes on ACES, I joined Mike Tidwell, Jesse Tolkan and over a hundred climate activists on the east lawn of the Capitol to demand that Congress give us more.

So, again, to all you suffering from AAD, fear not. It’s perfectly normal. You’re in perfectly good company.

And best of all, there’s a cure. And you can be part of it. Here’s how: finish reading this blog, go directly to your phone and call Senators Cardin and Mikulski to let them know how you feel. Tell them that for starters what we need to help us all feel better about the bill and alleviate our AAD is the restoration of the EPA’s authority to regulate emissions from coal-fired power plants, and a huge dose of their leadership. For the full prescription check out Mike Tidwell’s recent letter.

Here’s to our speedy convalescence. Continue reading

Navigating a Minefield Part 1

Cross-Posted from: HERE

I’m pretty sure that from now until the Senate votes on a climate bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will look at what he’s going to have to do to get 60 votes for a measure, and add 30 seconds to his schedule every day where he takes a pillow and cries into it. The Senate is where legislation goes to die. As elated as I was at passing the Waxman-Markey bill out of the House, it hit me pretty fast that this was going to get ugly.

Environmental groups have been talking about the idea of strengthening, but in the Senate what kind of grassroots pressure and mobilization would that really take? What kind of bill would we end up seeing if we had “business as usual” activism on this bill? The first thing I want to do is talk what is necessary for a much stronger bill, and I must admit that this has long odds considering we came up short in the easier of the two chambers. Next, I’m going to show you what compromises would have to be included in the bill in order to reach 60 votes assuming the level of support by the American public is as dull as it was in the House. Continue reading

EPA Releases locations of 44 "high risk" coal ash impoundment sites.

EPA LogoYesterday the EPA performed a turn-around on its protection of the locations of 44 “high risk” coal ash impoundment sites, signaling a desire to make the regulatory body more transparent.

Formerly protected under the auspices of national security, the ash impoundments, located in Ohio, Arizona, and throughout the southeast, have been determined to be particularly vulnerable to failure. In a time where the future of American energy remains stuck between antiquated fossil fuels and cleaner, renewable technology, concerns over proper disposal of coal ash has risen to the top of the debate, particularly after last December’s TVA sludge disaster in Roane County, Tennessee.

The reason behind this concern is, of course, fairly easy to identify. Coal slurry ponds, which may hold several billion gallons of the toxic sludge, are typically held in place by earthen dams made of rock and other fill material. While typically sturdy, history has shown us that these dams are definitely prone to failure, especially when not regulated properly. In fact, the dangers surrounding slurry dams have been well known and well documented for decades. West Virginia’s Buffalo Creek Flood of 1972 destroyed over 500 homes with a 30-foot high, 132 million gallon wave of the toxic stuff. When blasting occurs near these ponds (as it does near Marsh Fork Elmentary in Sunrise, WV), the risk becomes intensified as nearby shockwaves may threaten the structural integrity of the dam.

Marsh Fork Elementary

Fly ash, though dry and therefore less at risk to flooding, presents just as serious a hazard to the local ecosystem, including surrounding communities, wildlife, and groundwater reserves. Fly ash is stored in landfills, most of which are lined, but all of which are failure-prone. Particles in the air, blown from these ash impoundments, can cause serious health problems such as asthma and other respiratory diseases. Like wet slurry, fly ash contains a cocktail of harmful heavy metals and other contaminants that present a serious threat to the local and regional ecosystem

Waxman-Markey Passes House 219-212!

Cross-Posted from: HERE

Wow, one hell of a day! I was in DC for most of the hours of the day with many other youth(and a few older) climate activists rallying around climate legislation with the chant “we want more!”, to having a presence in the halls of Congress with the green shirts, to engaging Congressmen as they walked to the gallery, to attending the gallery to watch the vote. Time for an outburst…MAN AM I PUMPED. Here are the results of the vote.

I’m pretty exhausted, but I want to make a few comments and observations before passing out. I will add more depth to some of these later on. Continue reading

Australia: An Example one Way or the Other

Cross-Posted from: HERE

Here in the United States, environmental groups are all over the place regarding their stance on the Waxman-Markey bill in Congress. Some say thumbs up, others say it’s better to pass it than pass nothing, and others either cannot support the bill, or want a no vote from liberal Democrats. I explain my position and rationale here. I saw an article in the NY Times today which made me think a lot about the dilemma faced here. On one hand, the 17% target in the Waxman-Markey bill will most likely not lead to a desirable treaty in Copenhagen. On the other hand, what if we show up to Copenhagen with absolutely nothing? One thing I think people overlook is the fact that Henry Waxman and Ed Markey are two of the most progressive lawmakers in the US Congress. They know energy, and they aren’t a bunch of pansies when it comes to global warming. Their bill is as strong as the political system in the US will tolerate.

Australia faces a similar situation. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ran on a platform that included taking action on climate change, and he’s put forth a cap and trade plan, but it’s only 5% reduction below 2000 levels by 2020, but Australia is willing to go as far as 25% if other nations step up in Copenhagen. It’s passed out of Australia’s House, but is facing huge problems in the Senate. The labor party can’t pass the law on its own, and the conservatives are vowing to fight it and kill it. However, in Australia they have a 3 party system, and the 3rd party is the Greens party, which is strongly pro-environment. If the Greens party teams up with Labour, they can pass the bill. However, the Greens are saying that 5% is too weak, and they cannot support it. Right now, their position is 25% or bust. If this position holds, we’re going to see a very comparable result as we would see in the United States if the liberal members of the Democratic party listened to their base and voted no because the bill wasn’t strong enough. Would the result be a stronger bill, or an empty sheet of paper in Copenhagen? Of course, Australia has an advantage in that if their bill fails twice, they can call elections and have the people kick out the troublemakers. Let’s see what happens to the bill. In my opinion, it will give a good indication of what would happen here. I highly recommend reading the NY Times article.

Take me out to a Green Ballgame …

This Saturday, going out to a local ball park could be a fun evening with a “green” theme. Bethesda Green, a non-profit working to help Bethesda, Maryland, green itself is having a fundraising event with the semi-pro Bethesda Big Train. The Big Train is truly that ‘family friendly park’, small, low cost, and almost always with things going on.

This will be quite a busy night at that ballpark. Putting aside watching a game, Bethesda Green will be joined by The Big Green Bus, which is a Dartmouth College student project taking a vegetable oil powered bus around the country for climate change awareness (and action) and The Honest Tea company.

Putting aside that Green element, this will be a busy evening with “Carnival Night”, Teacher Appreciation Night, Great Book night with a number of authors …

Much more pleasant then going to the Nationals’ “green” stadium.

Sigh … if the stadium were only at a Metro stop …

Dominion announces lunar energy plan

RICHMOND, VA
26 June 2012

Dominion CEO Tom Farrell surveys potential lunar sites for project: Total Dominion

At a press conference earlier today, Dominion unveiled new plans for how the controversial firm may move forward into a cleaner energy future for the planet: harvesting power from the moon. The plan, entitled “Total Dominion,” hopes to revolutionize how Virginians, and the world, will receive energy for years to come.

Dominion hopes to procure federal funding by early next week to begin construction of its very own permanent lunar processing facility for the production and transport of Helium 3, abundant on the moon as a result of the sun’s solar wind, to be used in nuclear fusion reactors back here on earth.

“Just like clean coal,” says CEO Tom Farrell, “helium 3 technology will allow us to move forward into the 21st century without a massive hit to the economy.” Although options such as wind, solar, and geothermal have stayed on the table, they remain unpopular inside Dominion’s corporate culture. “I have a great waterfront property in Virginia Beach,” says Farrell, “and I’ll be damned if some crop of huge windmills is going to ruin my view.”

Governor Deeds McDonnell endorsed the project, calling it “a massive leap forward in Virginia’s energy portfolio,” and the “next step in making the Commonwealth a leader in green technology.”

An example of nuclear fusion. The flash in the center represents electricity.

Although science has yet to find a viable method for large-scale fusion, Dominion isn’t worried. “The technology just isn’t ready yet, but we cannot wait around for it to become commercially viable.” When that technology is expected to go online, nobody knows.

“With the massive failure of the whole

Column on Waxman-Markey Bill

Cross-posted from: HERE

I have an op-ed out today about how the Waxman-Markey bill is being misrepresented, and despite its flaws we should still support it, and push for strengthening. Sources at the end. By the way, this doesn’t mean I’m not at direct actions protesting what I find objectionable.

The environment: Don’t hate, legislate

MATT DERNOGA

Issue date: 6/18/09

There are multiple perspectives being offered on a federal climate change bill called the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The bill’s authors, Henry Waxman and Ed Markey, laud the bill as strong and tough on coal. The environmental camp is split into those who feel passing this bill is better than passing nothing, and those who think the bill is so weak it should fail. The bill’s opponents think it will bring about economic Armageddon.

For the record, I’d like to see a bill that slashes greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, sells 100 percent of all its “permits to pollute” to industry for a steep price, has zero offsets, prevents construction of all new coal-fired power plants and invests $50 billion a year in clean energy. I’m feeling like Alex Rodriguez in the playoffs: 0 for 5. Continue reading

Dominion announces "Smart Grid" initiative for Charlottesville.

Dominion power aims to revolutionize the way it distributes electricity, beginning in Charlottesville, VA. On Tuesday morning, members of Albemarle County board of supervisors, the Charlottesville city council, Governor Tim Kaine and Dominion CEO, Tom Farrell, met along the city’s pedestrian mall to announce Dominion’s new Smart Grid initiative. John Casteen, president of the University of Virginia, was also in attendance. With implementation expected to be completed in the next few months, Charlottesville and the surrounding area will be among the first in Virginia to use the technology on a large scale.

Smart Grid meters allow data to be sent in real time from residential and commercial locations to Dominion, allowing very fast monitoring of energy usage, peak hours, and overall efficiency. The system will assist in better calculating better levels of base-load power, in addition to allowing customers to monitor their personal usage and make changes based on on-and-off peak rates.

A digital "smart" meterDominion is strumming a fresh chord with this initiative. Formerly a company who treated the “e” word as if it were lethal, the Smart Grid will hopefully aid Dominion in coming to the realization that money can, and will be, made through more efficient distribution promoting conservation among its customers. In the past, utilities have generated profits through increased demand and production. Massive economies of scale wherein cost is reduced through sheer numbers helped to keep giants like Dominion afloat without the need for increases in efficiency standards. While the world rests in economic purgatory, businesses are forced to remodel the way things get done. We’ve all heard, “small is beautiful.” Well, efficiency is marked by small gains aimed at strategic cost-cutting that serve to save energy producers billions in lost energy due to outdated technology. “Everyone benefits from efficiency,” says Farrell. For the first time in a long time, Dominion may be correcting course from a prolonged history of avoiding improvements in their distribution network and dumping the costs on consumers.

Governor Kaine offered congratulatory words to the town and Farrell, citing gains made by state government through his Renew Virginia initiative as well as applauding the, “passion of locals,” embodying “characteristic humility and modesty.” Kaine, who has stifled on environmental policy throughout his tenure, called for Virginia to remain on the crest of the “tidal wave” that is changing energy priorities. The project, according to Kaine, opens the commonwealth to a “whole series of opportunities” for Virginia to become a real leader in energy tech as we move into the 21st century.

The $600 million project bodes well for Charlottesville, a town characterized by progressive attitudes toward energy and the environment. Hopes are that this initiative, with a total of 47,000 smart meters at its completion, will set an example for other communities and energy companies in the state.

Is this another case of Dominion greenwashing? Yes, and no. The Smart Grid program allows consumers and producers to better structure the way electricity is generated and used, leading to higher profit margins and less waste, ideally to be passed on to ratepayers. These improvements have the potential to be good for all of us. If Dominion learns from this experiment, efficiency will likely become a statewide priority. A corporation that blocked a proposed efficiency bill last year is now taking the lead on a new energy future for Virginia. Now if we could wean them off coal, we’d be going places. However, I’m not holding my breath. You haven’t earned our trust, yet.

Peterson Bought Out

What Could be Inside?
What Could be Inside?

Cross-Posted from: HERE

A month ago, I wrote about the staggering amount of money energy lobbyists had given to members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and how coincidentally those who had received the most money were causing the most trouble. Ever since the bill passed out of that committee, its main obstacle has been the Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson. Continue reading