Enviros Fuming Over Use Of "Green" Auto Money

usatoday.com:

Environmental groups are disappointed that money put aside to aid automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars is now going to fund their operations.

Although the bill promises the money for retooling plants will be replenished in the future, environmentalists are skeptical. And they're also upset the bailout doesn't ban automakers from suing states that set tougher emissions limits than federal rules.

"We know they need help retooling their factories, and we feel very strongly that if those funds are going to be diverted and not replenished, Congress is walking away from their own commitment to fuel efficiency," says Phyllis Cuttino, head of the U.S. Global Warming Campaign for the Pew Environmental Group.

Read the full story here

-OR-

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Read the whole story: usatoday.com

Comments

[rkimball]

kiss america's energy independance goodby. may opec stick it to us again, double. we are begging for it & much more.

[research]

Not necessarily!

Use the remaining money to gov building orders for green energy, eff, solar wind, plug in hybrid cars

That 300B$ will jump start the economy with

gov competitive contract orders, that

the banks will lend to companies that get them.

The companies will hire,

the mortgages will be paid,

cars will be bought.

Economy restarted.

It's GOP banker hoover failure

versus

FDR Union people public works

success.

Even Cheney see's it.

My profile has ref links.

[Cogitoe]

No one expects this $14 billion to solve anything. It is simply a bridge to a Deomcratically controlled White House and Congress in January when a much larger bail-out will be approved. Of course, that one won't work either. I would rather spend the money on creating new jobs that do make sense and are sustainable. If you like, give special preference to laid off UAW workers. Just don't flush the money trying to preserve flawed and uncompetitive businesses.

[Viper]

I cautioned that if the high gas price brought about a severe recession, that green would go out the window. Hungry out of work people.. say drill, baby drill.

We are losing 600K jobs per month. And you think losing 3-20 million more will help go green? No way. And it will take a decade to replace those jobs in a country that had not even before this dissastor created any net private sector jobs in 8 years and in MFG lost 5 million.. The cost of feeding themn, healthcare and tec will be in the trillions.

GM/Ford were on the right track. Finally. GM has too many product lines/makes.. because our laws force it to! If GM/Ford goes it just means more imports and MFG in China where they open a new dirty coal plant per day...

The net effect of the run up in oil prices was a switch to dirtier coal and more MFG in countries where you can cut the air with a knife.

When unemployment reached 15% ( its 12 percent now), people will not care about the environment... They will do what happned in the past or in haiti... cut down trees for warming their houses.

Regards

[eus]

And automakers should be required to put way more recycled materials in their cars to stimulate the recycling industry--- there are probably ways of helping out the auto industry that would also benefit other industries, green industries and emerging technologies == more green, more fuel efficiency, more jobs.

Oh heres a thought...why not take some of the money from the space program and give it to the auto industry. We dont need fancy space shuttles and stations! we need green cars jobs.

[research]

rescuing manufacturing DOES work.

Rescuing Banks Do NOT WORK.

It's Hoover GOP Bankers

versus

FDR Obama unions people

Again, just like the last great depression.

see my profile for ref links.

[JuniorNorman]

LEGALIZE HEMP so our existing diesel trucks can go green.
BRASSCHECK TV air powered cars.

[johnniec]

Could it be that the Republicans are on the right side of this heavily flawed bailout plan? I hate to say it, but I think so! Let them declare bankruptcy. I think it is awful the democrats are taking money from a green auto fund and giving it to car companies where it could then be used to pay lawyers to sue states trying to raise standards. This also proves environmental voters are still taken for granted by Dems. They are in a position of great power and still cave to Bush whenever possible.

[Viper]

Its the repugs that took out of the bailout provisions the restriction that they cant fight envornmental laws in the states. Bush said he would VETO also.

In the last 30 years when have they been on the right side?

Regards

[jdmba]

Also, many southern rethugs are using the opportunity to eliminate competition and funnel more money to the foreign car manufacturers located in their states. This hurts the consumer in the long run. They are also using it as an excuse to weaken labor unions.

[Viper]

Also pls note the DEMs wanted to use the TARP funds and not tap the going Green Funds. Bush said he would VETO that also. Repugs would not support that. So that only left one source of funds.

Regards

[SolarPowerGuy]

Very well said.

I've been hoping that at least GM would go bankrupt for years.