In the last 18 months, the United States has taken major steps forward in the transition to a clean energy economy. With historic investments in solar, wind and other innovative renewable energy sources, we are positioned to compete for the clean energy jobs of today and tomorrow, to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and to cut the pollution that harms our families and the future for our children and grandchildren.
With all those steps forward, now is not the time to take a big step backward, by doubling down on the kinds of energy and environmental policies that keep America addicted to oil -- especially foreign oil. As the President has said, traditional sources of energy have to be part of the mix as we transition to a clean energy economy, but they can't be our only sources.
Our nation's addiction to oil pollutes the air we breathe. It sends billions of our dollars to foreign countries. And it leaves American small businesses and American drivers at the mercy of fuel price spikes, like the $4 a gallon prices we were paying not so long ago. For those reasons and more, we've taken significant steps forward, including a historic effort to make American cars more fuel efficient than ever and cut oil consumption by billions of barrels.
The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico presents yet another tragic reminder of the hazards of our oil addiction. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the friends and families of the 11 workers lost in the initial explosion. In the local meetings I've attended since this crisis began, it's clear to see that the entire community feels these losses deeply. It is all the more upsetting, then, that the community's tragedy is compounded by the economic and environmental uncertainty that lies ahead.
The fact that a single accident at a single offshore oil well can cause billions of dollars in damage, result in thousands of people losing their jobs and livelihoods and threaten an entire region highlights how important it is that we keep moving America forward, towards energy independence. We can't afford to go back.
That is why it is surprising to learn that on June 10, the Senate will vote on legislation that would take us back to the same old failed policies and increase America's oil dependence by billions of barrels. Senator Lisa Murkowski, with strong support from big oil companies and their lobbyists, has proposed a resolution that would drastically weaken our nation's historic effort to increase fuel savings, save consumers money and cut oil consumption from American cars and trucks.
Senator Murkowski's resolution would take away EPA's ability to protect the health and welfare of Americans from greenhouse gas pollution. The resolution would ignore and override scientific findings and allow big oil companies, big refineries and others to continue to pollute without any oversight or consequence. It would also gut EPA's authority in the clean cars program, a program that would help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut down on air pollution.
This resolution would take us back to the old energy policies by allowing the polluters to simply pay modest penalties to avoid full compliance with the standards. As a result, the resolution would increase our dependence on oil by 455 million barrels. That dependence rises to billions of barrels when you factor in the Murkowski resolution's effect on a follow-on program that expands fuel efficiency to heavy-duty vehicles and extends beyond the 2016 model year.
Undermining a program supported by our automakers and autoworkers, environmentalists and governors from across the country seems questionable at any time. But going back to a failed approach and deepening our oil addiction at the very moment a massive spill -- the largest environmental disaster in American history -- is devastating families and businesses and destroying precious wetlands runs contrary to our national interests. It abdicates the responsibility we have to move the country forward in a way that creates jobs, increases our security by breaking our dependence on foreign oil, and protects the air and water we rely on.
The Murkowski resolution also undermines EPA's common sense strategy for cutting greenhouse gases. Our carefully constructed approach exempts small businesses, homes, farms, and other small sources from regulation. We know that the local coffee shop or the backyard grill is no place to look for meaningful CO2 reductions. We're tackling our largest polluters and calling on Congress to pass a comprehensive energy and climate law -- one that would extend the protection of small businesses.
At no point in our history has any problem been solved by waiting another year to act or burying our heads in the sand. Our oil addiction is not going to go away unless we act. A broad coalition of industry, government and environmental advocates believe that it can be done -- and we have a plan in motion. There is no need for a resolution that would weaken this important program. Now is not the time to go back. Rather than increasing our addiction, we need to keep moving America forward into a clean energy future.
John Harri's "Polluted by Profit" is a great piece about how the anti-global warming NGO's like Greenpeace receive tens of millions from Big Oil for greenwashing.
From the article:
"Christine MacDonald, an idealistic young environmentalist, discovered how deeply this cash had transformed these institutions when she started to work for CI in 2006. She told me: "About a week or two after I started, I went to the big planning meeting of all the organisation's media teams, and they started talking about this supposedly great new project they were running with BP. But I had read in the newspaper the day before that the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] had condemned BP for running the most polluting plant in the whole country... But nobody in that meeting, or anywhere else in the organisation, wanted to talk about it. It was a taboo. You weren't supposed to ask if BP was really green. They were 'helping' us, and that was it."
What the American people expect from YOU, is to protect this nation from the poisonous effects that this disaster is going to have on our land, air, and most importantly, our food. We will be watching what YOU approve, how many 'waivers' YOU issue, and what regulations YOU enforce.
As the disaster moves most certainly upon the land, it hands off from the Coast Guard to YOU. It becomes your responsibility to 'enforce' what laws are at your discretion, in consultation with the president. That is your charter, and that is your oath. Don't fail the American people....get your own lawyers, scientists, and doctors prepared!
Forget about Senator Murkowski! She's a bought and paid for shill for Big Oil. There's nothing YOU can do about that. Get ready for the fight of your life, because YOU are the new FEMA!
Only today in the information age we plainly see what's going on, for many decades events like this were never discussed in public. Which explains why, in 2010, we are still suck with technologies invented in the late 1800's, and if Sen Murkowski had her way, we would be until at least she's retiring from her high office.
Vote in progressive Representatives and Senators this year whereever it is possible.
Support their campaigns directly (for example via www.actblue.com to replace bluedog dems with non-conservadems).
Every effort counts to prevent the candidacy of (for example happening yesterday) a Blanche Lincoln which must have come as a terrible disappointment for every future oriented American and as a big hooray-Martini-champagne-party-occasion for the multinational corporations.
No wonder the post went pending. My apologies.
think green, clean, -- and expensive. $8/gallon for gas? Sound good? $500/month energy bills even better? Plastic bags/cups/plates -- $1/each?
Get real -- getting green will be very, very expensive - can our fragile economy thrive with that?
Time for YOU to "get real."
Does President Obama care at all about the environment? If so, I'm not seeing it.
I worked on his campaign. I feel totally betrayed.
He should never have approved more offshore drilling. Everyone knew this was a risk. Scientists have been saying this for years. He turned his back on them and us.
Now that we haven't even cleaned up the Gulf mess - and probably never totally will - he wants to open up more drilling? That is brainless. Does he not understand bio-diversity and the interconnectedness of nature? These are basic college concepts.
He hasn't said or done a thing about the suffering animals. He couldn't have stopped the leak, but if he loved the environment, why didn't he race to this disaster. If someone you care about is dying, you rush to their side. He doesn't seem to care.
His only concern seems to be for the drill operators who are now unemployed. But, if I had a job pouring poison into your backyard or drinking water, would you let me keep going just because it is my job? And, anyway, their job loss should be on BP's tab. Why can't BP hire those folks to do clean up? There will be clean up jobs for years to come.
Where is his effort to curb GHG emissions? He treats the energy bill as if it were a jobs bill. I'm not feeling a great commitment on climate.
And now he's allowing hunting of already tortured whales?
"Reagan and the Oil Slicks" which proved to the world that the R party was in bed with the oil mafia.
Murky Murkowski is just one more carrier of the oil indusry's money poison, and so transparant.
Do we have to have the catastrophe in the julf a few more times to stop this insanity?
There are lots more rigs with thesame BP designed weaknesses. will it ever end?
Here is the answer:
http://www.dcasystems.com - Alternate Solar Energy to Heat and Cool your Home, Car, Boat and anything else that uses Fossil Fuels. You'll save 70% on your energy costs guaranteed! We have recently gotten China to come aboard and most Fast Food Restaurant chains in America are now interested. Wake up America...or you'll be the next Banana Republic.
Global Warming did not cause the BP Climate Spill. Plugging the leak won't stop global warming.
Energy independence and renewable energy have absolutely nothing to do with each other, unless you only need enough energy for one dim bulb for your whole house. Any scientist or engineer will tell you that the energy output of Solar and Wind is minuscule. Your solar panel couldn't generate enough electricity to power the drill used to bolt it to the roof. It will NEVER recoup its costs in energy savings, not if you consider inflation in your 20 year payoff accounting scheme.
Energy Independence for American can be summed up in one word: coal.
President Obama is a highly competent leader, but even he can't just pull the solution out of his butt on this one.
Going against the interest of the people by feeding the parasites is all both parties do and have done for a long time. The degree varies but the main direction down the drain for the people while the richest parasites ever to haunt the planet get richer and richer remains the same.
Criminal parasites in collusion with politicians turned traitor is what makes up huge parts of our politics today.
Either we start to fight back ourselves or it will get worse. It is the people against the ones in power. And it has been for a very long time. The dead have been piling up in droves on our side while the enemy only becomes richer and more powerful.
And don't kid yourself. The enemy works the world so it is the people of the whole world who have to fight back. The borders only work against us and for the enemy. As long as people fight one another the real enemy can stay back and profit.