Comments ids has made

obvious, apolitical truths:

1. Unless you’re an energy producer, high energy prices stink.
2. No matter who you are, volatile energy prices stink.
3. Not withstanding points (1) and (2), high and/or volatile energy prices encourage greater energy efficiency.

1.  Not necessarily.  If the price comes without externalities included that affect you, high price can be good.

2.   Not necessarily.  Many don't give a shit what the price is, especially within the boundaries of current politics, just the way they like it.

3.  Not necessarily, see 2.  Also, efficiency doesn't decrease demand or externalities in real terms. 

You might want to re-examine your truths.

Why I am not freaked out by my carbon footprint and do nothing to reduce it?  Gristwash.

So funny, GristWash highlighting transparency.  And what's the penalty amount to if utilities gas the world with ghg into extinction, fine the souless corporation?  GW is so proud of Waxman-Markey, and everytime there's a utilities tool like Doucher watering it down.  F W-M, for X sake.  The utilities old boy network's head is Obama.   If a douchebag is needed, so be it, but it's misleading to line it with silver and use clouds in comparison.

Barton already won.  The bill is so weak and bound to get weaker, even by losing, he wins.  That is a good win.  He doesn't have to pay attention.  Also, considering the justice in the bill that passed, none, it's hypocritical to be talking morals.  Republicans have less tolerance for hypocrisy than Democrats do, i find in general. 

I am surprised to see Sean thinks d*****bag is appropriate for Grist.  then here it is for Grist: douchebag.

This has to be the most convoluted massive giveaway bills ever to be considered on potentially the most critical problem ever to be considered.   To suppot it just to say something passed and to think the world or China or India will fall for it is naive and ill-conceived.  Might as well bomb the rest of the world to reduce ghg emissions for all the good it will do.  It is status quo for a broken and corrupt Empire, but if it makes you feel good, go for it.

Poor Ken Ward, if Joe Romm sees this post he's going to start calling you dirty names for proposing perfect shit should stop more shit from rolling downstream.

Objectively speaking:

>Gar: Mainstream environmentalists who take the position that the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill “could be worse” help ensure that it will be.

>Grist: So who are you talking to/about?

A: Waxman-Markey permit allocation plan: could be worse  http://www.grist.org/article/2009-05-15-waxman-markey-permit-proposal  ". . .  this is better than I expected."

On another matter, I don't think grist can brag anymore about never having deleted a comment . . .

"So there’s good reason to believe that it was a progressive group that kicked off this whole silly kerfuffle, which has done nothing but give Republicans another weapon with which to fight off progress on climate change. Never underestimate the left’s ability to eff itself!"

Never underestimate the gristwash reflex to keep American green al-qaeda in line with a circular firing squad.

And next decade you're going to complain the B+ Romm gives to this years climate bill and the other enviro groups applaud was weak and inadequate. 

near the root

corruption is the fertilizer (as in SC, etc)

see for instance
http://lessig.blip.tv/#1830681
On Lessons from cognitive dissonance theory for U.S. environmentalists posted 9 months ago 30 Responses

I don't see it either

There's no leadership, especially at the White House.  See how Emmanul ducks the question about energy costs going up . . . the environment is a political football in Wash, nothing else

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/03/rahm_emanuel_on_c ...
SCHIEFFER: What the Republicans also say, it raises taxes on everybody. I think everybody expected that taxes on upper-income people were going to go up. Barack Obama said during the campaign that that's what he planned to do. But Newt Gingrich and some of the other Republicans say when people find out that when you're talking about these things you're talking about on the energy front, it's going to be a new tax on everybody that uses electricity, who drives a car, and there's going to be tax increases in myriad other ways.

EMANUEL: Well, first of all, let's be very clear. Because I've seen these scare tactic before. You've seen it too, Bob. 95 percent of Americans, working Americans, will have a tax cut. . .
On Why cap-and-trade requires that Bangladesh evict radical Islamists posted 9 months ago 11 Responses

remember "public utilities?"

Bio: Exactly

Sean, the SC proposal: The company wants to raise rates to an amount equal to up to 90 percent of what it would cost to generate the electricity that would have been produced had it not been for the energy-savings plan.

If this is another case for enviro's to be blamed for damning the good for being imperfect, then it's a sick gristwash world we're living in.On South Carolina misses an opportunity for energy efficiency with Duke's Save-A-Watt program posted 9 months ago 18 Responses

hegemony doesn't rest

I'm sure everyone knows petro is based on the dollar.  Also, technically it'd be a carbon tariff, and us has lots of choices, boycotts too.On Authors of economic collapse advise us to stick with coal posted 9 months ago 25 Responses

us taxing is better than us bombing

Don't worry, Hansen is not God, Obama is the messiah, everyone knows that.On Authors of economic collapse advise us to stick with coal posted 9 months ago 25 Responses

Steven T, honestly

re: "The tide may have turned on global warming"  

the ignorance and arrogance of the American green al-qaeda never fails to amaze me, and my expectations are very low.  
On What percentage of auction revenue is rebated? posted 9 months ago 10 Responses

not that it matters

I meant $4.20/CO2ton to estimate the average net tax to American taxpayers from the CO2 auction: $15B / 138m taxpayers / 25 avg CO2 tons/yr = about $4.20On Cap-and-trade rebates to taxpayers favor efficiency over equity posted 9 months ago 10 Responses

estimating

didja know the payroll tax is capped at about $100K, and half of everyone Obama knows is a tax cheat?

the average net carbon tax will cost every American $4.20/year, except immigrants and the poor, it'll cost more, though energy costs will continue to go through the roof.On Cap-and-trade rebates to taxpayers favor efficiency over equity posted 9 months ago 10 Responses

dumb ass

It's setting a low bar so the enviros can win 5% more and say thank you lord, we win, he is one of US!  Strange #, $15B, compared to the $15B put into the stimulus for whatever, sounds like a wash.  Isn't the important thing the cap and not the $?On What percentage of auction revenue is rebated? posted 9 months ago 10 Responses

Amazing GreenMom

What a fine job has been done working inside the system, on the verge of global meltdown. Insanity, doing the same thing over and over & expecting different results, deal with it.   Don't worry, be happy.  On Memo to tax sirens: Both a carbon cap and a tax can be implemented well posted 9 months, 1 week ago 20 Responses

bfd

Obama pledges to look at a policy!  Seems like slow news day.  Maybe they don't have the boner for Barack y'all do.On NYT breaks story on CO2 regulations ... after two years of Grist coverage posted 9 months, 1 week ago 12 Responses

never in my life

have I seen a longer piece at gristwash that's said nothing at all.  People in tbe capitol are stupid and corrupt, duh!On Memo to tax sirens: Both a carbon cap and a tax can be implemented well posted 9 months, 1 week ago 20 Responses

in the meantime

use nsr too shut down plants . . . oh, wait, that implies courts and justice, an unmentionable,   ummm, in the meantime put a moratorium on new coal plants . . . oh, wait, that implies command and control, another unmentionable,  ummm, in the meantime dem's will dig in on clean coal and tax talk by Repub's is considered poison.On What does the stimulus fight portend for the climate/energy fight? posted 9 months, 1 week ago 7 Responses

nothing there

I've been perusing that link to a blog that connects the dots of arid conflagrations to climate change for a while and it has more than a fair share of opportunistics bloggers out for financial gain from the catastrophe, whose non-solutions are practically GW status quo, tho good for their personal economic recovery.  

The bulk of the American green al-Qa'ida that visits gristwash would find the critique of US imperialism at TomDispatch as disconcerting as the rest of the msm connecting droughts to rising GHG.On What does economic 'recovery' mean on an extreme weather planet? posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 4 Responses

crux of the matter is that the U.S. Supreme Court

in Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad is interpreted to give corporations the rights of persons to screw everyone.On The game plan: regulating CO2 under the Clean Air Act posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 7 Responses

Christopher, Almost there

I am not saying Bruce is effective.  Effective press releases upon a gullible ill-informed public, no doubt.  He won this survey, he can bank on that.  A more effective way of saying what I mean is that I am not commenting on the relative effectiveness of any anti-coal movement someone may currently perceive vis a vis the lawyering in the courts currently taking place.  Now, add them together and rate the combined effectiveness for reducing GHG, and they pale in comparison to the economic downturn.  

Maybe, quite possible, if Bruce spent less time being part of a "movement" for the SC and spent more of his talents and time on his case, he might have won and stopped Big Stone II.  It's quite possible on the whole the SC dumbs people down.

As far as Wal-Mart goes, that corp influences a lot more in life than CO2.  I can see accepting a portion of their plan that solves CO2 without embracing every other piece of their destructive policies, if that answers your question.
On Voting has ended: Grist readers have chosen top eco-hero and eco-villain of 2008 posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 10 Responses

Christophers,

It's quite easy, as turanga alludes to, a movement is not a lawyer going to court supported by carbon addicts writing checks from their couch.  It implies multiple disciplines converging, multitudes of people moving if you will (maybe with signs on any given street), beyond mere check writing.  The SC is a prime example, for instance, as shown in the great book Bowling Alone, which is a club that is a poor example of social capital, & nothing that represents a movement.  I am not commenting on the effectiveness of Bruce's efforts, just the fact that it is not a movement, as gristwash characterizes.  Further, the SC's efforts often reach for the lowest denominator possible, anything to say "we won" even when in the scheme of things, it's a loss, and big coal is crying all the way to the bank, as in the cheap mercury victory.  Really, its hard to say whether Bruce is a lawyer or fundraiser when you think about the whole of the SC.

My point about the Illinois Sierra Club should speak for itself.  Giving Blago their first every gubernatorial endorsement, who just had permited Peabody Energy their first ever coal burning plant, the biggest new source of GHG in 20 years, as Bruce like to point out, & another new coal burning plant in Springfield, they are a sham.  Now, when it comes to an Ill state nearing a financial ruin, with hospitals closing becuase the state is not paying them what they are due, and the SC indifferent to another state subsidy for "clean coal," well, I hope you can figure it out.  If that's part of the movement, I don't have to tell you where you and Bruce can "move" to (hell, there i'll tell you). . .

I hope that helps.On Voting has ended: Grist readers have chosen top eco-hero and eco-villain of 2008 posted 9 months, 2 weeks ago 10 Responses

is there no end to gristwash?

Bruce is a great guy, a lawyer.  Writing a check and going to court does not make a movement.

Congrats, Bruce!  Gristwash has so much integrity, you must be proud.  Why is the Illinois Sierra Club indifferent to clean coal?  Is that in keeping with your "movement?"  
On Voting has ended: Grist readers have chosen top eco-hero and eco-villain of 2008 posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 10 Responses

"Why would that be a waste

check out
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/4/141040/6862
You are praising Obama for talking tough to a straw man, or at best Katie Couric.

What a waste, a fraud, and embarrassment to the American sheeple.On Obama talks tough on energy in first prime-time press conference posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 4 Responses

Obama's army

The GristWash paradigm- people are sheeple, they will do as commanded.  On The players: Obama's people posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 5 Responses

thus depict full societal costs for each

Talk about waste, please.  

Wierd about how Gristwash can't.  On Proposed renewable-energy bill is better than nothing posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 26 Responses

Alternatively,

Which is worse, what Gristwash discusses or how the gristwash treatment of LaHood, considering . . .

The watchdog group named the recently named U.S. transportation secretary and Peoria native it's "Porker of the Month," a dubious distinction. The group contends that "in his new position, Secretary LaHood will preside over the distribution of tens of billions of tax dollars for transportation projects in the stimulus package that is moving forward in Congress."

The organization blasted LaHood for being an earmarks czar while serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and powerful Appropriations Committee. It predicted LaHood will direct millions into the O'Hare Modernization Program, calling it a money-waster.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=268626

Christopher Kelly, who pleaded guilty last month in a federal tax case, was indicted today in connection with alleged kickback schemes involving his roofing company and O'Hare International Airport.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/kelly-blagojev ...

It goes on and on.
On Whose idiocy is worse? posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 11 Responses

Joking?

Hmmm, who altered the economic climate, could it be the dirty elite?  Poor BOgus, can't be ambitious now, with extinction on the horizon.  Must! Take! Afghanistan!  The grid is a perfect monopoly for nationalization, except there is no such thing as capitalism anymore, it's corporatism at the helm.

Perfect series for GristWash.On The new administration holds the incentives for a strong federal climate bill posted 10 months ago 10 Responses

GW misses point again

Try connecting the dots to corporate corrupt media, pol's, military, etc., and give the enviro a break for a minute - google "missing forest for trees" On What will shift the public's attitudes on climate change? posted 10 months ago 21 Responses

it's politics as usual

Union of  Concerned Scientists views geologic carbon sequestration as one potentially viable option to achieve reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric concentrations. In no way, however, should geologic carbon sequestration be seen as a "silver bullet" to reducing emissions, nor should it be researched and developed at the expense of other environmentally sound, technologically feasible, and economically affordable solutions to climate change. UCS views technologies and policies that prevent emissions to the atmosphere in the first place -- such as improving energy efficiency in power generation, transportation and buildings, developing renewable energy, and protecting threatened forests - as the safest and highest priority. http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/solutions/energy_sol ...  

Van Jones: There's also a thing called geological sequestration--which sounds painful! What that means is you'll bury carbon in big holes. But it turns out there aren't that many big holes in the ground. Surpise! Have you noticed any big holes walking around? And even if there were, there aren't any in a country called India, where there are 1.5 billion people. It's volcanic rock. So, even if we had the technology [for geological sequestration], we'd have to create a clean energy for them anyway. So why don't we do it all at once? http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?blogid=4 ...

Barb McKasson of the Illinois Sierra Club said her organization doesn't oppose or support sequestration  http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2009/01/24/fro ...On More on Illinois' Clean Coal Portfolio Standard posted 10 months, 1 week ago 2 Responses

Tom,

The cost study, for which the state is paying for and the SC is neutral about, are total whitewash, whether coming from the Illinois Commerce Commission or wherever.  IN the interim, Coalbama will throw more subsidies at k-Ill coal

What about this one?  It reminds me of the coal2liquid plan Obama was for before he was against it

Ill. coal-to-gas plant moves step ahead
Associated Press
7:24 AM CST, January 21, 2009
WALTONVILLE, Ill. - A planned southern Illinois plant that would convert coal into synthetic natural gas has moved a step ahead.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-coalplant,0, ...
On Legislature approves 'Clean Coal Portfolio Standards,' green-lights new coal plant posted 10 months, 1 week ago 6 Responses

doubly stupid biofuels

There is a long history of SC promoting such shit (and to be fair, SC isn't only Ill enablers of environmental destruction and corruption).

see for example

http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cf ...

"Gov. Blagojevich calls on President Bush to Address Nation's Oil Addiction and Boost Energy Independence -Governor urges President to pursue national policy modeled on Illinois' plan to meet 50 percent of state's motor fuel needs with homegrown resources by 2017; Governor launches taskforces to help implement his plan

Biofuels Investment & Infrastructure Working Group incl: Verena Owen, Clean Air Campaign Chair, Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter "
On Legislature approves 'Clean Coal Portfolio Standards,' green-lights new coal plant posted 10 months, 1 week ago 6 Responses

SC reality

"If this [clean coal] works, it's going to obviously be helpful to secure a position for Illinois coal in the long-term energy future." Illinois Sierra Club director Jack Darin said.
 http://www.galesburg.com/news/news_state/x512384214/Gover ...On Sierra Club delivers 'Coal is not the answer' slogans to ACCCE posted 10 months, 1 week ago 3 Responses

Fear Ombama

When the dedicated right rant against the media, or the more dedicated right scream this world is coming to an end days, the wash liberals mock them.  I agree the media blows, and science is increasingly supporting their big screamers, too.  The unilateral disarming from wash liberals is disgusting.

Clinton loosened the control of financial institutions and now it brings collapse.  Obama's envirergy politics, the Shitcago way, will bring the same, more likely than not.On What Obama's green team has to say about coal posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 26 Responses

and not to compare

toxic sludgeslides and mountaintop removals to mere cave-ins in the heartland, subsidence happens too, the recent court case is another little chink in the heart of coal country.On Illinois leg. and gov. hoodwinked by 'clean coal'; will Obama be as susceptible? posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 4 Responses

Let me guess

Not long ago the Illinois Sierra Club was holding up the Illinois wind farms, is the Sierra Club still for the birds, do they still believe putting a new windmill next to a new coal plant in Illinois, as their Pope said, is a smart energy solution.  The fact that Illinois is the only state in the region to levy a sales taxes on wind farm equipment part of their scheme, too?

My guess is DaveChgo1 is in the SC.
On Illinois leg. and gov. hoodwinked by 'clean coal'; will Obama be as susceptible? posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 4 Responses

its ill coalture

It's the Citizens Utility Board, not Consumers U B, which maybe explains its stance, and by now everyone knows how Illinois' citizens live with dirt like its not even there.

About WTF, I've been asking for months if not years and never receive a reply.  Dave Kolata, executive director of Citizens Utility Board, (312) 263-4282, cell (312) 560-0929, dkolata@citizensutilityboard.org

In the long run, we're all dead.On Another rate increase in the name of cheap coal posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 27 Responses

David,

Right you are.  Nonetheless, the Citizen Utility Board, supposedly looking out for consumers, supports the plans, so I'm not sure how you'd explain that.On Another rate increase in the name of cheap coal posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago 27 Responses

grassroots organizing

Sierra Club's campaign had next to nothing to do with Dynegy's decision, tho as Abe says, you can fool some of the people all of the time . . .On Dynegy pulls out of coal-fired power plant partnership posted 11 months ago 4 Responses

Jobs

Steve Cook
, Franklin County, IL, economic developer
"I pray that coal will be king again"

Clean coal is part of the Illinois alternative energy mix.  Obama lost out to McCain 50%-48% in Franklin.  Hell win them over with more jobs by 2012.On Green stimulus, green jobs posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 13 Responses

usual msm gristwash

Those Indiana steel plants reinforced with Casten's product are the most smelly, dirty, disgusting, plants imaginable found on some of the most beautiful shoreline in the world, except for breathing and them.  I feel sorry for the people living around it for a long time, some being the powerful lobby of mobile home residents.  

Ginger Zee is the weekend weatherwoman, and environmental reporting is her secong gig.  That's the state of msm gristwash.  

What a shame.
On Castens on TV posted 1 year, 1 month ago 1 Response

hopeless

Who will BO talk to if he is in the White House?  The poor deluded sap hoping against hope her $50 donation to the msm machine means something?  Might as well donate it to gristwash for all the good it will do.

He may be a proponent of "new politics," but Barack Obama's presidential campaign runs on the same old fuel as that of any other candidate: big donations. Mr. Obama has lots of $50 and $100 givers in his hometown and elsewhere, with many enticed to contribute via the Internet.

But Chicagoans also have been particularly active in snagging the bigger bucks, with about 100 top local fundraisers, or "bundlers," collectively pulling in donations in the neighborhood of $10 million to get the senator to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Though not all of that was raised locally, his Chicago bundlers undoubtedly account for a big chunk of the nearly $16.9 million he pulled out of Illinois overall.

And those figures are just as of June 30, with the fall campaign -- and lots more bundling -- yet to come.

The list includes a broad swath of the city's upper crust, with particular representation from the black business community and the venture-capital, hedge-fund and investment industries, which face higher taxes and tighter regulation under some proposals pending in Congress.

OBAMA'S CHICAGO BUNDLERS
More than $500,000 bundled

James and Paula Crown president, Henry Crown; principal, Henry Crown John Rogers CEO, Ariel Investments

$200,000 to $500,000

Neil Bluhm principal, Walton Street Capital Frank Clark president, Commonwealth Edison Les Coney executive vice-president, Mesirow Financial Holdings Katherine Gehl chairman, Gehl Foods, former Chicago chief technology adviser Bruce and Vicki Heyman managing director, Goldman Sachs; homemaker Steven Koch vice-chairman, Credit Suisse John Levi attorney, Sidley Austin Chuck Lewis owner, Coach House Capital Steve McKeever founder, Hidden Beach Recordings Tim and Alicia Mullen investor, ex-partner, Goldman Sachs; consultant Penny Pritzker chairman, Classic Residence by Hyatt, national finance chairman, Obama for President Jim Reynolds Jr. chairman and CEO, Loop Capital Markets Bob Rivkin and Cindy Moelis vice-president, Aon; homemaker Andrew Schapiro attorney, Mayer Brown Lou Susman vice-chairman, Citigroup Global Markets, former national finance chairman, Kerry for President Grace Tsao-Wu owner, Tabla Tua, family owns Freedman Seating James Tyree chairman and CEO, Mesirow Financial Holdings Ann Wedner homemaker, fundraiser

$100,000 to $200,000

Peter Bynoe attorney, Loop Capital Markets, former executive director, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority F. K. Day president, SRAM Rick Fizdale and Suzanne Faber retired Leo Burnett executive; spouse Alexi Giannoulias Illinois treasurer Paul and De Gray director, Richard Gray Gallery; homemaker Joseph Gutman Grosvenor Capital Management Mellody Hobson president, Ariel Investments Dan Hynes Illinois comptroller Valerie Jarrett president and CEO, Habitat Brad Lippetz principal, Brad Lippetz Real Estate Group Susan Pisor fundraiser Jonathan Pizer owner and general manager, Central Merchandising Robert Roche president, Oaklawn Marketing Desiree Rogers president, social networking, Allstate Financial Lee Rosenberg founder and president, Rosenberg Capital, board member of American Israel Public Affairs Committee Bettylu Saltzman philanthropist and Democratic activist Alan Solow attorney, Goldberg Kohn Judy Wise educator Sheldon Zenner attorney, Katten Muchin Rosenman

$50,000 to $100,000

Wendy Abrams philanthropist Michael Alter president, Alter Group Sheldon Baskin real estate investor, Metroplex Michael Bauer state lobbyist and gay activist Jatinder Bedi editor, Indian Reporter Les Bond president, Columbia Capital Marty Castro attorney, vice-president of external affairs, Aetna Robert Clifford personal injury attorney Tom Cole attorney, Sidley Austin Kevin Conway attorney, Conway & Conway Mark Cozzi president, Lincoln Park Capital Greg Dingens senior business manager, Phoenix Realty & Investment Justin Douglas Stanley Energy/Douglas Ventures Mark Erwin trader, Chicago Futures Group Mickey and Judy Gaynor retired attorney; homemaker Tom Gearen attorney Howard Gottlieb investor, Glen Eagle Partners Kenneth Griffin president and CEO, Citadel Investment Group Brandy Isaac fundraiser and project manager, First United Methodist Church David Jacobson attorney, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal Patricia Jones Blessman psychologist Marilyn Katz principal, MK Communications Alan King attorney, Drinker Biddle Jack Levin attorney, Kirkland & Ellis Larry Levy restaurateur, founder of Levy Organization Lewis Manilow investor Judd Miner attorney, Miner Barnhill & Galland, Obama's former employer Marty Nesbitt chairman and CEO, Parking Spot Quintin Primo president, Capri Capital Partners Sunil Puri developer and CEO, First Rockford Group Michael Sachs chairman, Grosvenor Capital Management John Schmidt attorney, Mayer Brown, former associate U.S. attorney general Tariq Siddiqui real estate developer Balvinder Singh owner, A-One Carpets Amy Singh attorney Leo Smith investor and partner, Neo Phonetics David Solow attorney, Neal Gerber & Eisenberg Robert Weissbourd real estate developer and principal, RW Ventures Harvey Wineberg accountant Matt Yale director of public affairs, Ariel Investments
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=30705

What did I leave out?

GW, GHG, etc.

& the need for subsidizing sustainable solutions.  The Libertarian vote is not going to vote Dem anyway and I'm sure similarly abhors the SC, so you can quit courting them.On Bearded freak hippie discusses biofuels with Bill Scher posted 1 year, 2 months ago 23 Responses

not obama

George,
If Obama admitted his plan falls short of the science he recognizes, and he tells what others in the world beside New Orleans will be lost, how he plans to budget for it (surely more military spending) I might be able to respect him because at least it would be the truth.  

Stopgreenpath,
Obama/Daley happy plan for the 2016 Chicago Olympics includes turning a beautiful meadowland 100+ years old Washington Park, into an temp Olympic stadium.  Don't just listen to his speeches, you know.
On Obama's energy and climate advisors posted 1 year, 3 months ago 52 Responses

whatyu talking bout? II continued

To clarify, Evil Jones was Obama's mentor in the Ill senate.  From the same article as above to give a taste of his MO, "Jones announced his retirement last week, following a controversial Chicago tradition of waiting until after the primary election so that the Democratic Ward committeemen, rather than voters choose his replacement . . .his son, Emil Jones III."

Obama is a product of corrupt advisers and mentors skilled in lies and deceit.  Dem's should be happy.On Obama's energy and climate advisors posted 1 year, 3 months ago 52 Responses

whatyu talking bout?

Being too pure for politics is not a virtue. It's an affectation, and one that ends up getting people like W elected, and thereby putting thousands of people at risk of suffering and death.

If anything, the virtue of allegiance to R party put W in office, not to mention a broken democracy and devious msm.

Greenwashing enviros ignoring science will dig bigger holes for generations to come, putting millions and billions at risk of suffering and death.  For instance in March '07, Howard Learner praised the dirty, rotten, Illinois Governor's long-term goal of 60% ghg reduction by 2050.  With those type of advisers and accompanying gristwashing, the future looks grim.  Try telling the truth, for a change.

BTW, if you ever want to see a dysfunctional government, take a look at Illinois, where the Dem's control both houses and the mansion.  On Obama's energy and climate advisors posted 1 year, 3 months ago 52 Responses

Surprise!

Gristwash caught behind the times and Green Party calls for inaction.  Who'da thunk it?On Brings back memories posted 1 year, 3 months ago 3 Responses

duh

Compared with his slightly hysterical opponent, Mr. Obama had been making good sense on energy questions.

That seems balanced enough from NYTimes.  You are so emotional defending the Democrats presumptive nominee, you fail to see the balance in an opinion and dishonest condidate right in front of your nose.  No wonder the government is in such a mess, considering the testimony they get from kids in food fight, beside the crappy media.On The New York Times' absurd energy editorial posted 1 year, 3 months ago 9 Responses

sos

First nuclear, now clean coal

July, 2007, in the Land of Obama:

In essence, the state would take out an insurance policy to cover the cost of any lawsuit resulting from ccs.

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=170 ...

passed both houses unanimously.  

And you talk about McCain like he'd be an environmental disaster.On How much of a subsidy is the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industry Indemnity Act? posted 1 year, 3 months ago 11 Responses

production is socialized

Read the whole thing!  Not bad.  

However, it'd be better when sharing about the story of the inequality of labor to expand that to how the degraded, devalued, worker finds self-esteem more on what they purchase than the work they do.  However, living in a gristwash world where being anti-consumption risks being the anti-christ for Pope's American Green Al Qaeda, I can see why you might have left that out.On Economics, policy, and vision for fighting global warming posted 1 year, 4 months ago 12 Responses

hit lub

At Sierra Club, we decided if the goal of green continued to seem so huge, so unattainable, so out of reach, people would give up.

Whatever the "goal of green" Pope is really after, this Clorox sell-out to the we-can't-do-it is business as usual. American Green Al Qaida, your Pope.
On Sierra Club and Clorox celebrate their partnership posted 1 year, 5 months ago 10 Responses

add this to the ppm

Ripping you a hole again

Title X Future of Coal

Subtitle B Long]Term Carbon Capture and Sequestration Incentives

Calendar Year Percentage of Emission Allowances Established for the Year That the Administrator Shall Allocate to the Bonus Allowance Account

2012 3

2013 3

2014 3

2015 3

2016 3

2017 3

2018 3

2019 3

2020 3

2021 3

2022 3

2023 3

2024 3

2025 3

2026 4

2027 4

2028 4

2029 4

2030 4

2031 1

2032 1

2033 1

2034 1

2035 1

2036 1

2037 1

2038 1

2039 1

2040 1

2041 1

2042 1

2043 1

2044 1

2045 1

2046 1

2047 1

2048 1

2049 1

2050 1

elephants in the room

So we're left with what we already knew: Almost everyone is "concerned," but no one is willing to sacrifice.

Looking at this post, there's nothing that shows concern by anyone (other than sponsoring a survey) and nothing shows no one is willing to sacrifice for global climate.  

What is the 11% inflation from industry?  Fuel price increase is already considered in a cost increase.  Is inflation code for additional profit factored in?  Is that the sacrifice grist is disappointed with that consumers are unwilling to make, to dirty power? The elephant in the room- grist knows nothing.
On Deloitte survey of consumers and utility regulators posted 1 year, 6 months ago 3 Responses

No ethanol

because of self-interest, my guess.

As the NYTimes opines today

Ending the tax subsidy should be easy.

they may be forgetting about the special interests.
On How should sustainable-food advocates respond to the latest farm bill proposal? posted 1 year, 6 months ago 25 Responses

2 cents

MyCane seems to be calling for reducing the mandates, not the tax credits.  Eliminating the tax credits would have a far bigger and better effect on easing the current food price crisis.On Is there no end to it? posted 1 year, 6 months ago 5 Responses

well

I don't think you answered the question or understand it.  DR created "relentlessly efficient" according to above and it is he who signs grist.org, not the good posts that are almost always guests at grist, who is the purveyor of GristWash as I see it, aka, greenwash.

Sean's proposal that David enhances, which encompasses easing clean air standards harmful to human health, mtr, bla bla bla, seems very similar to the Bush White House goal for efficiency it calls carbon intensity, where both can be achieved at the same time as increasing annual emission levels (with more of the more efficient plants).  If we all do agree to the 80% reduction, all the noise about Casten's RED coalgeneration is a stupidly small part of it all.  I've seen Sean raise red herrings about absurd results with additionality, I've seen him seemingly try to bore an enviro to death, and now it's self-serving hype.  Is that it?On Output-based carbon regulations ignore critical types of efficiency posted 1 year, 7 months ago 21 Responses

respectfully

Reverend Wright would be complaining about Sean's upbringing and his small hermeneutic; Obama would say split the baby, or maybe like DR, still looking for "reasons" to go one way or another.On Two simple, effective, and diametrically opposed climate policy proposals posted 1 year, 7 months ago 51 Responses

said Peru

thinking Chile.

http://adbusters.org/media/flash/hope_and_memory/flash.ht ...On Thought of the day: American foreign policy posted 1 year, 7 months ago 14 Responses

fyi

Published on Sunday, April 20, 2008 by The Independent/UK  
Exposed: The Great GM Crops Myth

By Geoffrey Lean

Genetic modification actually cuts the productivity of crops, an authoritative new study shows, undermining repeated claims that a switch to the controversial technology is needed to solve the growing world food crisis.On Worldwide resistance to GMOs dwindle as food bills rise posted 1 year, 7 months ago 7 Responses

Lie + War = American Green Al Qaeda

Not too tangential WSJ piece highlights how the CAA increased US GHG emissions for the last few decades.  

Coal Usage Increases
Faster than Power Output
By REBECCA SMITH  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120857134922828371.html?m ...
April 19, 2008; Page A7

The power industry consumed 1.046 billion short tons of coal in 2007, up 1.95% from 2006,  actual electricity production rose by 1.6%, less than the increase in coal usage.   . . . The increase in coal consumption is related to a shift to the use of western coal, mostly from Montana and Wyoming, which generates less heat than coal mined in the eastern U.S. Nevertheless, western coal is often used because it contains less sulfur than eastern coal, making it easier for power plants to meet certain air-emissions limits.

cornbama

Received this in January, 2007

Dear [ids]:

Thank you for writing to share your thoughts about the Iraq War and global hunger.  I appreciate hearing from you, and believe that we can do better in seeking an end to both of these problems.

On November 20th, I gave a speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs detailing my views on the changes that need to be made in our Iraq policy. I have enclosed a copy of that speech for your review.  I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me as developments occur.

I also share your concerns about hunger globally and nationally, and hope that my role as a Senator will allow me to contribute to the search for solutions to this terrible human problem.  As you know, hunger and malnutrition are particularly devastating for children, and we must do all we can to give our youth a head start.

From food aid programs to disaster relief programs to the Dole-McGovern international school lunch program, I support a wide range of U.S. assistance efforts that attempt to alleviate the suffering caused by hunger and malnutrition.  As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will continue to push for additional resources as well as innovative approaches  to deal with this critical issue.

You mentioned a concern that ethanol production is taking food out of people's mouths. Generally speaking, scarcity of food is not the cause of global hunger. The world produces enough food to feed itself, but economic failures and other localized problems such as war cause hunger and famine in different places and at different times.

Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

On another subject:
"Consider our large investment in carbon capture and sequestration for "clean coal" combustion, another subsidy backed by the lobbying power of big industries."

According to the Center for American Progress
"While the technologies are complex, the overall value of introducing [CCS] into the U.S. and global economies is undeniable." http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/03/ccs_101.ht ... March 31, 2008.  So it is not just big industry, unless you're saying . . .

Anyway, I like the good news part of this post.On Time bashes grain ethanol posted 1 year, 7 months ago 18 Responses

Characterizing Joe R

The lede in Joe's The Hansen (et al) Ultimatum post is the "analytical weakness" and mentioning potential "core weaknesses" in the Hansen draft.  That seems enough from a reputed enviro for a good reporter to refer to Hansen's work as 'controversial.'  You yourself call the political-science aspect controversial.  The "media interviewer" is solid.  

I also find Revkin characterizes you properly in writing something you believe not to be politically actionable as something having significant gaps in your view.

It seems to me your critical lede was in part to be a "fair and balanced approach."  It seems this stirring is your bad.On NASA's Hansen responds to NYT's Revkin posted 1 year, 8 months ago 8 Responses

Hmmm

I can't imagine what Tony would recommend burning for the smokestacks rather than coalOn Notable quotable posted 1 year, 8 months ago 24 Responses

Coalbama wins Wyoming

after a 30 minute speech touting alternative energy clean coal technology http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=796 ...

which is the exact position of Environment Illinois, the PIRG, that is pushing the state to invest in clean coal technology, after losing the federal FutureGen $- commentary:

"Let's hope Illinois is doing more to get back in the game than what's being reported in the press. "
http://illinoisenvironmentalnews.typepad.com/illinois_env ...

It's like he doesn't know any better.
On Obama wins Wyoming posted 1 year, 8 months ago 5 Responses

movies of some people

Joint Resistance Against the Separation Barrier in Beit Umar
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7xdMlrY354Y - dramatic 7 min

IDF Uproots Palestinian Fruit Trees
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xv9CY5-RKLg - sad 8 minOn Border wall brings peace in the Middle East posted 1 year, 9 months ago 3 Responses

elephants in the room

Of course, DR is ignoring the scam and injustice some see in carbon trading, as in "Bad for the South, bad for the North, and bad for the climate"
http://www.carbontradewatch.org/durban/

A good interview with author is found in the March 3, 2008 archive here:
http://chicagopublicradio.org/Program_WV.aspx

The offsets coal will get away with in the lies and wars of climate change is ignored, and the fact that emissions will reach 1990 levels by about 2027 and L-W's future failures is being glossed over at best.

It's like nobody realized a reduction in 2008 counts as a reduction for 2009, 2010 thru like 2100, and a ton going in the air today is over our head until like 2100.On The core progressive issue in the fight over climate legislation posted 1 year, 9 months ago 25 Responses

don't fall for it

Clinton won Florida when Ross Perot had 1m votes.  There were 1m more voters when Nader had <.1m and Gore still lost.  The Dem's designed the butterfly ballot that gave Buchanan Gore votes.  Gore lost his home state TN that Clinton won twice.  Gore lost West Virginia that Clinton won twice and went Dem in every Pres election but one since 1980.  Any one of which gives the electoral college to Gore, in addition to the popular vote.  Blaming Bush on Nader is falling for the msm grist establishment position.  Nader has the freedom to speak to the issues, and that bothers some people and all Dem friends with long records of lies and wars with nukes and coal behind them.On Ralph Nader announces his presidential run, calls for carbon tax posted 1 year, 9 months ago 23 Responses

opportunity cost

i think is the technical term when talking about reducing war spending.On Converting the permanent military economy to a green economy posted 1 year, 9 months ago 41 Responses

Environmental justice is for trolls at grist?

Requesting an environmental justice policy from a business reinforcing a pollution stream on a localized population is not a substantive according to Gristwash.  Like I said, I have no problem with profits.  Putting pollution into the commons for free, that's a trolls discussion for grist.  Ech.  On Our command-and-control air-pollution regulations are working against our climate policy posted 1 year, 9 months ago 17 Responses

ill corruption

I don't see how ignoring NSR to improve GHG is improving both simultaneously, as you say.  If it's such a crisis, it seems command and control is in order.  I don't object to profit.  I object to gristwashing/greenwashing in order to make a buck and exploiting a crisis.  I take what I take to be your father saying below as that.  Your self-interest calls into question (in my mind at least) everything you post at gristwash.  You have a vested interest in dirty coal.

CASTEN: We've estimated that there could be 350 billion dollars spent in the United States on new, efficient, local power plants that recycle energy, and that that would reduce U.S. energy costs by about 70 billion dollars per year, and it would slash total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent for the whole country. It would put the U.S. below the Kyoto level and we'd save 70 billion dollars. So this has the possibility of solving many of America's problems, not just the environmental problem, but defending against foreign energy supplies and keeping jobs here. One of the things that happens when you do this is that the manufacturer gets an extra revenue stream and cuts its costs. I'm just not willing to say 'well, the Chinese have lower standards and cheap labor and so they're going to do all the manufacturing and we're all going to be Wal-Mart greeters.' We have brains and a terrific entrepreneurial system and this is a way to apply those brains and return our manufacturers to competitiveness

GELLERMAN: Well Mr. Casten, thank you very much. Good luck.

CASTEN: Thank you, Bruce.

GELLERMAN: Thomas Casten is chairman of Illinois-based Recycled Energy Development: RED.http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=08-P13-00 ...On Our command-and-control air-pollution regulations are working against our climate policy posted 1 year, 9 months ago 17 Responses

another ill enviro

Scrap NSR, exactly when finally the AG is talking NSR with Midwest Generation.

Janszen pooh-poohs the current "morass of ad hoc deployment of various products and technologies, mostly improvements on what has been around for decades" like cogeneration, and your family business finds it convenient to scrap NSR, and please do not talk about water use.  The best thing you have working for you is leeching on to the market price of power going up.

Do you propose a policy about the pollution stream you mean to reinforce on the local population, or will you just do it for whoever pays?On Our command-and-control air-pollution regulations are working against our climate policy posted 1 year, 9 months ago 17 Responses

speaking of consumer Jones

The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence  (Breen)  http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-97801951813 ...
argues that the colonists' shared experience as consumers in a new imperial economy afforded them the cultural resources that they needed to develop a radical strategy of political protest--the consumer boycott. Never before had a mass political movement organized itself around disruption of the marketplace. As Breen demonstrates, often through anecdotes about obscure Americans, communal rituals of shared sacrifice provided an effective means to educate and energize a dispersed populace. The boycott movement--the signature of American
resistance--invited colonists traditionally excluded from formal political processes to voice their opinions about liberty and rights within a revolutionary marketplace, an open, raucous public forum that defined itself around subscription lists passed door-to-door, voluntary associations, street protests, destruction of imported British goods, and incendiary newspaper exchanges. Within these exchanges was born a new form of politics in which ordinary man and women--precisely the people most often overlooked in traditional accounts of revolution--experienced an exhilarating surge of empowerment.  Breen recreates an "empire of goods" that transformed everyday life during the mid-eighteenth century. Imported manufactured items flooded into the homes of colonists from New Hampshire to Georgia. The Marketplace of Revolution explains how at a moment of political crisis Americans gave political meaning to the pursuit of happiness and learned how to make goods speak to power.

Of course, look where that got U.S.
On If people want to keep up with the Joneses, could they at least adopt a different set of Joneses? posted 1 year, 10 months ago 128 Responses

Losers-Weiners

Poor?  Half the world lives on $700/yr.  In the U.S., the poverty threshold is $10,000/yr.  It'd be nice to recognize it's a global problem, not because saving the world is something Americans can support unless it includes bombs, but because when asking someone to sacrifice it helps to see someone else suffering more, ya know, Schadenfreude.

Perfect by Fred Holland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al_8STEFrSY&feature=re ...On Grandfathering is Robin Hood's evil twin posted 1 year, 10 months ago 13 Responses

f gen

Sindark is right, the apparent death of F Gen is nothing to cheer about, it's not like the money won't go to other coal projects.  Funny the Ill legislators are complaining polititx is trumping science in this particular coal matter (for TX sake), as if it isn't always the case.  Mattoon will get over it.  

A BO POTUS will likely split the difference and give both TX and ILL more coal subsidies.  Illinois is about the most corrupt pay-to-play state in the union with a lot of nuke and coal $ around, that is BO's constituency.  Protecting the health of the planet and those on it and preserving its resources is secondary. On Obama joins Illinois legislators pushing to revive FutureGen posted 1 year, 10 months ago 14 Responses

Pompey

Not sure what you mean by having "to pacify market forces."  True enough, "a capitalist economy will gravitate toward the cheapest anything" when working properly, and coal has all types of unaccounted costs that are sickening and ignored by the market and pushed on the commons and is disturbing.  Can't argue against stopping MTR ASAP, though parts of your creed sounds like "clean coal."

Thanks for the info, it seems to fit.  BTW, there should be a carbon tax on the coal exported to China to begin with.
On Could alternative energy companies drive the next big market bubble? posted 1 year, 10 months ago 23 Responses

Bikechess,

Obama won the Dem primary, that is not winning a red state.  

Wouldn't it be nice if he won in a landslide and provide the enviro mandate?  Yes, but he is campaigning as much for digging bigger holes as not.  That does not create a mandate in office for any significant change.  You can hope, though, if you like. On South Carolina primary posted 1 year, 10 months ago 13 Responses

Truth hurts

I'll echo The Truth Hurts above, noting U.S. is the #1 cause of CO2 and the #1 most obese nation (obese defined by bmi).

It'd be better to qualify the societal obesity Andrew refers to as environmentally-caused obesity, as opposed to other causes, and it wouldn't appear so ignorant.

By environmental caused, referring to environmental factors ("food environments") Where the evidence from the psychology, marketing, consumer economics and public health disciplines on the role of environments in shaping consumer food choices.  Psychology literature has shown that the home and office environments affect what we eat. Subtle differences in the difficulty of obtaining food can affect the amount consumed.  Marketing literature has revealed that manipulation of supermarket environments affects consumer purchases. Shelf space and location as well as special displays have independent and positive effects on sales of particular food items. Price reduction strategies have often been used to promote product sales.  http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2008/1/27/he ...On The parallels between accepting obesity and ignoring global warming posted 1 year, 10 months ago 71 Responses

not uncommon

Janszen says
"The alternate title for the Harper's piece was `The Good Bubble.' These are changes we need but lack the political ability to make due to the inertia of entrenched interests...Employment of the bubble system that was responsible for the tech and housing bubbles may be the only means available both to fight the impact of the debt deflation recession that started in Q4 2007 and also to deploy resources on the scale required."

In this scenario, the big losers will likely be the investors or taxpayers, as in the housing collapse."

So he might not be so against alternative energy as in Harpers.  More likely he is out to protect investors over taxpayers.  Though, not sure what the "debt deflation recession started in Q4 2007" is.  He might simply be missing the forest for the trees, not uncommon among economists.
On Could alternative energy companies drive the next big market bubble? posted 1 year, 10 months ago 23 Responses

BFD

Obama in the Nevada debate:
"OBAMA: That's why I want to set up a cap and trade system. We're going to cap greenhouse gases. We're going to say to every polluter that's sending greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, "We're going to charge you a dollar -- we're going to charge you money for every unit of greenhouse gas that you send out there." That will create a market. It will generate billions of dollars that we can invest in clean technology.

And if nuclear energy can't meet the rigors of the marketplace -- if it's not efficient and if we don't solve those problems -- then that's off the table. And I hope that we can find an energy mix that's going to deliver us from the kinds of problems that we have right now."
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/15/debate-transc ...

Obama has the market deciding nuclear strategy and climate change, too.  He doesn't call for deeper cuts than L-W, which essentialy is status quo as McCain relates.  Neither relate water usage to nuclear or coal.  And the 'suppose i'm wrong' thing is another way to highlight postitive aspects of clean technology, so who cares.  On McCain's doubletalk express on global warming posted 1 year, 10 months ago 14 Responses

ready set coal

a big Nevada adviser to Obama who is also heavily promoting coal, adviser Billy Vassiliadis is the PR and advertising firm for a coal industry front group called Americans for Balanced Energy Choices

http://blogforcleanair.blogspot.com/2008/01/obama-coal-co ...On Coal front group pouring millions into targeted disinformation campaign posted 1 year, 10 months ago 18 Responses

Gristwashing

"(And good for Obama for pushing efficiency into the mix.)"

Right.  The conversation turns to curbing co2l plants (thanks to Edwards) and Coalbama changes the subject to efficiency.  On Edwards puts the coal issue into the Dem debate posted 1 year, 10 months ago 20 Responses

F Gen

Re: Matoon, IL, where F Gen is heading:  
Next generation talks about FutureGen
 . . .it could also help Mattoon grow as well and that could produce some changes at Mattoon High School.  "We could have more kids coming in," said Chase Louthan. . . . Covington said he feels confident the experts have weighed the potential risks. "They have had plenty of time to think about this. They're pretty smart and they've done their homework," he said confidently.  
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2007/12/23/news/doc476c8d97 ...

And the rest of IL:
It is the commitment of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to maintain the scope of this project in Illinois and implement the independent recommendation of the FutureGen Alliance.
Sincerely,
Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator
December 18, 2007
Other members signing on to today's letter include Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Peter Roskam (D-IL), Danny Davis (D-IL), Melissa Bean (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Jerry Weller (R-IL), Jerry Costello (R-IL), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Ray LaHood (R-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL).  http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48739949_illinois-dele ...

Re: The regulatory framework from 1880- Samuel Insull, Edison's business partner, referred to the corrupt pol's of Chicago as his model how industry would rule the regulatory roost.  Also interestingly to me, he used health concerns to sell centralized power (less soot from the home stove).  BTW, recently, ComEd joined the PJM grid, which is planning to arbitrarily raise prices to flush cash down the generating industry in hopes it creates more power generation, whatever kind the industry choses, to meet greater demand.  & the last ComEd Environmental Impact Disclosure I received revealed 0% of its known sources come from renewable energy, and it's unlikely any does.

A rather absurd statment:
American Clean Coal Fuels Director Stephen Johnson has planned for more than a year to build a coal-to-synthetic transportation fuel plant near Oakland. . . . Johnson said the plant will not compete with FutureGen for coal.
http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2007/12/23/news/doc476c861c ...

Sean,

How sick is it that dirty water is not mentioned along with clean coal?  And F-Gen's heirs won't be getting clean air, either.  

See FutureGen plant won't be free of air pollution http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/23/opinion/let ...  Sunday, December 23, 2007  . . . According to the Environmental Impact Statement, it will still be allowed to emit over 2,000 tons of health damaging air pollution every year. It will add to the number of asthma attacks, hospitalizations, strokes, heart attacks, early deaths and host of other ills.On Grist contributor bashes 'clean coal' posted 1 year, 11 months ago 37 Responses

btw

while on the subject of ill enviro's, check out more of the same . . .

Coal industry front group brags about access to Obama/Oprah event

http://blogforcleanair.blogspot.com/2007/12/coal-industry ...On There is no comparison between Chinese and American GHG emissions posted 1 year, 11 months ago 41 Responses

short sighted

Kyoto seeks a 1990 -5% level by 2012, and is currently seen as too weak to prevent meltdown.

L-W seeks a 1990 -5% by 2020, and with 15% offsets factored in, actual emissions will hit that level by 2026.

It seems to require little sacrifice in near term from U.S., just like the Bush war on terror.
On On Lieberman-Warner, long-term emissions targets, and picking a trajectory posted 1 year, 11 months ago 11 Responses

read it and weep

If you like talk, vote for Oprah or Obama.

Before his current office, in Coalbama's one term as an Illinois state senator, his mentor was Senate President Emil Jones.  This year, after the Governor's corrupt Illinois Commerce Commission voted to allow the electrical power industry to set their price in an auction that gouged consumers, the Senate unbelievably voted to reverse the auction and freeze rates.  Emil Jones, nukes best friend, used a once on a lifetime maneuver as President to effectively kill the freeze.  Point is, BO is a product of a very corrupt and nuke and coal friendly upbringing.  When he TALKS global warming, the focus is on transportation.

He and Jones are like Cook County President Todd Stroger, whose only veto as President was on a pollution tax (soot) on the biggest polluters in his county (um, 2 coal plants).  The black politicians in Obama's neighborhood are firmly in the grasp of the dirty power paradigm.  On Obama expecting 'serious conversation' about 'drastic steps' on climate change posted 1 year, 11 months ago 19 Responses

Shellenberger says . . .

in both of his comments . . .

paraphrasing  . . .'If king coal & deniers made a holocaust reference, DR would be incensed . . ."

Walking next to a passing coal death train, 1/4 mile from two spewing coal power plant, in the middle of a lower income class neighborhood, considering the science of oncoming speciecide, I get to thinking how deniers would make reference to the holocaust vis a vis enviros . . .

Certainly the enviro supported CAA 1990 amendments that skewed use to Western coal and upping CO2 levels can be referenced as part of the "banality of evil" . .  .  or the 2007 enviro's in my hometown (Illinois Sierra Club, etc) for applauding the operators, Midwest Generation, and IL EPA, for finally agreeing to look at cleaning (obviously not incl. C02) or closing the Chicago plants sometime between 2015-2018, as part of a holocaustic banality of evil . . . or the supporters of the Lieberman-Warner movement as included in the U.S. banality of evil . . . but I don't think any of that works for coal supporters.

Absent any idea how king coal can use the holocaust to justify its position, it seems clear Shellenberger for one is simply is using this conversation to piss on enviros.  I find it a good conversation to have.  On Is the analogy between climate change and Hitler's atrocities appropriate? posted 2 years ago 49 Responses

BC 2035 - 1990

Even assuming big coal pays for all of its credits in a market based system, if this bill is enacted as I read it, after taking into account provisions allowing for 15% of emissions in offsets, allowing for banked allowances, borrowed allowances (less interest), and bonus allowances for C&S, not even including a provision for offset reversals, actual annual ghg emissions from coal use will fall back to 1990 levels sometime between 2030 - 2035.

An offset defined other than offsetting dirty power removed from the grid with sustainable power is a risky proposition, especially considering the cap here is weak to begin with, the difficulty tracking sequestration projects (and poor record doing so to date), and the blow back and costs associated with sham offsets.  

This bill concedes too much to dirty power.  It allows 18 months to set up the systems for C&T and monitoring offsets (regardless of who pays).  If something has to be passed, funding and putting into place those little pieces as a first step, which should not be difficult, is as far as I trust dem pols in r gov now.On Tracking Lieberman-Warner: A friendly spin? posted 2 years ago 2 Responses

Right on

What Rudy says is pretty much what the newly nominated AG is saying, who the Democraps will almost surely approve.  That's U.S.On Notable quotable, non-environmental edition posted 2 years, 1 month ago 3 Responses

winning grants

McKibben is right calling for no "half-measures," conservatives like that.  Problem is, even the best of the above proposals is a half-measure.  

Interesting the greens leach on to Lieberman-Warner, which isn't even bi-partisan, missing a Democrat, and supports two of the biggests boosters for Pentagon spending.  God grant us winners.On Green groups battle over climate bills in the Senate posted 2 years, 1 month ago 13 Responses

Impeach

About connecting the anti-warring & anti-warming, I find little separation between the neo-con's and their war efforts and the neo-enviro's and their efforts.  

Capture and sequester terrorists to rid the world of terrorism.  Neo-enviro's is worse, capture and sequester carbon to maintain carbon addiction.  Both take billions away from better ways.  

The 1990 soot cap and trade neo-enviro's call a model for carbon turned the US market to Western coal and its worse GHG record since 1990, could be the tipping point to GW meltdown now or soon.  The world may not be so grateful the US breathes easier.

C&S, C&T is not close to being in the anti-war mode that Ted Glick is exemplifying.  NRDC, ED, Sierra Club, etc., the democraps and liars, more represent checkbook elitist whereas the anti-war movement is more populist and without the corporate affiliations, big differences to bridge and not likely in time to mean anything.
On Stopping global warring and global warming posted 2 years, 1 month ago 16 Responses

black is not the new green, either

BO.com: "Coal is our nation's most abundant energy source"

Umm . . . isn't solar and wind the most abundant energy source?  BO is an ignorant pimp for coal, make no mistake about it.  

It's stunning how far global warming has come in the last few years (as runners drop like flies in Chicago from the heat).  Greens should be as happy with this BO plan as someone dying of thirst is happy getting spit in the face.On Thoughts and reactions on Obama's bold new energy proposal posted 2 years, 1 month ago 21 Responses

Down with Step It Up

One example of social capital growth now happening is the Step It Up people meeting around the country to plan for their Nov. 3 action.  But their message blows hot air.  They set a carbon goal for 43 years from now; there's a goal to conserve energy by 10% in 3 years which is somewhat suspect in its GHG effect and not easily measured; and a call for no new coal plants is essentially a call to maintain status quo.  

Greater social connections without the proper U.S. leadership and vision is just as likely to make matters worse for the world at large than better.On It's not that individuals can't do anything about climate -- they just can't do it by themselves posted 2 years, 2 months ago 30 Responses

TX & IL bottom feeders

Public Citizen and SEED are also wrong in saying their agreement is precedent setting.  The precedent for proudly applauding capitulation to coal is the Illinois Sierra Club and its midwest coal team after agreeing to a new coal plant with Springfield's utility CWLP in July, 2006.  

Applauding another new CO2 plant for its accompanying efficiency savings or wind turbines they call offsets is the neo-con's Straussian noble lie.  It follows relativism to nihilism.  It's contemptuous of ordinary people, condemning them to ignorance in a cave.  It kills any remaining hopes and wishes of the world for U.S. leadership on the anthropomorphic global climate problem she practically started.  

These paper tiger enviro's should not try to justify their existence with propaganda press releases touting more coal use that ignores its accompanying waste.
On Because voluntary offsets are never, ever like indulgences posted 2 years, 2 months ago 19 Responses

Zacaroni's ass

Associated Press - August 24, 2007 10:24 AM ET

A week of heavy rain has taken its tool on underground tunnels and reservoirs in northern Illinois, forcing sanitation officials to pour MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF raw sewage into Lake Michigan.

The sewage being dumped is both raw and partially treated.On And don't piss off Pearl Jam posted 2 years, 3 months ago 9 Responses

so right you r

The earth is our 'nest egg' and its natural resources should be properly valued and monitored, so people know what they are getting into.  If the valuation exists, it is not in the public conscious as isn't future generations on the mind.  Maybe the two absences are connected to economists who want to rule the world without ever having valued it.

Planning should start with rolling black-outs (with certain exemptions)now, across the nation, done with great civic pride, to get people to think, maybe, about power, even.  Food in a refrigerator is good for two hours without electricity, and people can survive without TV.

  On One economist says no posted 2 years, 3 months ago 58 Responses

ILL Enviros C ->

Hallelujah!  Today, a mainstream Illinois environmental thing said something beside "Lake Michigan":

"The reason for the increase in pollution is that the facility will be processing dirty Canadian "tar-sands" oil, which is more difficult
to refine."

That one bullet point of six in an environmentillinois.org flyer/petition to be delivered to BP stations, ends:
"I am shocked that you would increase your pollution of Lake Michigan, so I'm going to buy gas somewhere else today, and every day until you agree to avoid any increase in pollution to Lake Michigan."

Difficult, but not dirty?  As long as it doesn't dirty Lake Michigan we'll gladly burn through it.  That's about as good as the environment gets from Chicago to Springfield, IL., so I guess the people doing this deserve some sort of thanks
On It's easy being not green posted 2 years, 3 months ago 31 Responses

Auto-catalytic warming

The auto industry spends (100's of?) $1,000,000's advertising SUV's and other enviro-killers and then complain they can't phase them out because that is all Americans want- the downward spiral American style.On The latest from Congress posted 2 years, 4 months ago 3 Responses

Greenwashing Daley

Two articles below support show that further references to Mayor Daley of Chicago being green is a classic case of greenwashing:

Daley's city not so 'green'
By Michael Hawthorne Tribune staff reporter June 18, 2007  p.1
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/06/18/2719505.htm

Daley's 20% green-power goal for 2006? In reality, not 1 watt
by Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune Nov. 20, 2006, p.1
http://www.airpollutionnews.com/2006/11/20/7612/daleys-20 ...On 15 Green Cities posted 2 years, 4 months ago 51 Responses