Energy: A tar-nished reputation

This is a crosspost from this blog: http://madrad2002.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/tar-sands-column/

So I have a column in the Diamondback today. I want to correct a couple of small things that the editors changed. I put “tar sands” everytime I discussed them, but they were changed to “oil sands” for some reason. Other thing is when I mention natural gas is being used to extract the oil from the sands, I say I would rather us be using that natural gas to replace coal plants because it is cleaner than coal. For the record I do recognize natural gas is not clean and not what we should be pursuing, I just would rather us burn it to replace coal rather than burn it to extract tar sands oil.

http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2009/03/03/Opinion/Energy.A.TarNished.Reputation-3656037.shtml

Energy: A tar-nished reputation

Matt Dernoga

Issue date: 3/3/09 Section: Opinion

Last week, President Barack Obama met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss energy. The United States and Canada share the largest energy trade partnership in the world, with Canada supplying the United States with more oil and natural gas than any other country. A major point of interest has been the Canadian oil sands, from which Canada is extracting increasing amounts of oil to export to the U.S. Continue reading

It's about time! Obama Clears the Way for Clean Cars Implementation

For years, the Bush Administration blocked states from implementing Clean Cars legislation that would regulate carbon dioxide emissions from cars and help to reduce global warming pollution. Just days after taking office, Pres. Obama announced today that he is clearing the way for states to implement stricter emissions rules. Both Maryland and Washington, DC have passed legislation demanding that cars meet California’s emissions rules and, coming from an organization that spent years raising awareness about the importance of Clean Cars legislation, all we can say is: it’s about time! Finally, Maryland and DC are able to implement a law that enjoyed overwhelming support when it was passed years ago.

DC and Maryland are both leading the nation in tackling global warming. The states have strong green building standards, efficiency measures and now strong automobile standards. While the states have been stepping up to the plate and making strong strides in reducing global warming emissions, the federal government has been lagging behind and even blocking our efforts. We are enormously gratified that one of President Obama’s first acts as President was to come out and support the states who are leading the way to fight global warming, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and protect our health.

Check out this video where Obama explains why this waiver is so important:

Read the transcript of the full speech here>> Continue reading

Best Week Ever! Waxman wins and Boxer starts swinging

icecreamSo, it all started last Thursday with the EPA’s appeals board “Bonanza” decision, which made CO2 a pollutant to be regulated under the Clean Air Act. 30 coal plants died right then (and we were all clapping!). Virginia’s Climate Commission met and decided to up the governor’s efficiency targets and nearly decided to ban all coal plants. That was great, but then, on Tuesday, we had an awesome rally and Obama announced a “new chapter on American’s leadership on climate change.” And then today, as if we could take any more good news, climate champion Henry Waxman took the influential House Energy and Commerce Committee chairmanship and Barbara Boxer announced her Action Plan on Global Warming. AND I just had some ice cream, which was GREAT!

So, other than making my week “The Best Week Ever”, here’s the significance of these awesome developments, starting with the most recent ones:

Waxman appointment Continue reading

Obama: "A new chapter on American's leadership on climate change"

Obama addressed Tuesday’s governors’ meeting on climate change and signaled a dramatic departure from the Bush administration’s stance on climate change:

Note he doesn’t mention Tim Kaine. Could that be because he ruined his national reputation on coal?

More perspectives:
*Adam Siegel: http://getenergysmartnow.com/2008/11/18/obama-speaks-out-against-global-warming/
* Joe Romm: http://climateprogress.org/2008/11/18/obama-the-science-is-beyond-dispute-delay-is-no-longer-an-option-denial-is-no-longer-an-acceptable-response/ Important within is Bill McKibben’s comment: “A hopeful day Continue reading

Obama Wins; Will the People?

ted glickFuture Hope column, November 5, 2008
By Ted Glick

“It was, however, the inauguration of a president [Franklin Delano Roosevelt] who promised to look to the forgotten man and the passage of legislation which promised to protect the forgotten industrial worker that gave the discontented an Continue reading

Welcome Obama: Yes We Can lead on climate!

reengage reprioritize reinvest

Please join us in congratulating President-elect Obama and the newly elected Congress! As Sen. Obama said in his victory speech, it’s time to “join in the work of remaking this nation,” and we couldn’t agree more. Here is our chance — right now — to work with our new leaders to make sure our vision of a clean energy future becomes reality.

Make no mistake, no matter how committed our new government is to taking action, nothing will happen without your involvement. Some very important decisions will be made in the next few weeks and we want to make sure our call for climate action is heard loud and clear.

Join us on Tuesday, November 18th at 12 noon as hundreds come together on Capitol Hill to call for Climate Action Now! We will be welcoming our newly elected leaders and calling upon President-elect Obama to attend the crucial United Nations Climate Conference in Poznan, Poland in December.

Will you join us on the Hill? Register here>>

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