Over my 40 years in public service, including my time as chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have seen the evolution of public perception and political will on global warming and energy policy.
We have gone from a public that was averse to change to one eager to take advantage of the untapped possibilities of tomorrow.
We know that we cannot squander opportunities to create jobs and grow our economy, just as we cannot afford to lag behind our competitors in a 21st century global economy. We know our potential: In Nevada, critical investments in solar, geothermal and wind energy, as well as energy efficiency, are diversifying our state's economy and have created reliable jobs that can never be outsourced. That story can and should be told across the nation.
And, of course, we know the cost of inaction. The Gulf oil spill was the most recent warning, but other reminders happen every day. Rising energy costs and our dangerous dependence on foreign oil demonstrate our urgent need for a national clean energy strategy. Democrats are firmly committed to achieving this goal.
I had hoped Republicans would be equally committed; it is, after all, their future, too. I had hoped they would join us to see where we could find common ground. Senator John Kerry has worked harder than I've ever seen a senator work to bring them along. But they have decided, en bloc, to block sensible legislation that reduces pollution and lowers carbon emissions. They have chosen short-term political gains over solving our country's long-term energy challenges. They might think that strategy will pay political dividends in November, but down the road we'll all be paying for our inaction.
For long-standing supporters of comprehensive clean energy legislation -- and I include myself in that camp -- this development was undeniably disappointing. But it is not an excuse to sit on our hands. As Majority Leader, I had a tough call to make: either allow Republicans' delaying tactics to stop us from doing anything on energy, or do what we can to create green jobs, address the Gulf oil spill and continue to gather support for a comprehensive clean energy bill. I chose the latter option to ensure that these goals can be accomplished now instead of later.
The plan we introduced does four primary things: First, it ensures that BP pays to clean up its mess. Second, it invests in Home Star, a bipartisan energy efficiency program that lowers consumers' energy costs and create jobs. Third, it protects the environment by investing in the Land and Water Conservation Fund. And fourth, it reduces our dependence on oil by making investments in vehicles that run on natural gas.
These provisions deserve bipartisan support but in no way does it replace action on comprehensive clean energy legislation. I know that we still need a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions and pollution, incentivize the use of alternative energy sources and create even more American jobs. Chairman Kerry and others who are tirelessly committed to this effort will continue to pursue a plan that does these things and can overcome the Republican Leadership's determined objections. And we will work with the President and his team to push this over the finish line.
I know some would rather we introduce and force a vote on a comprehensive climate bill today, even if 60 Senators do not yet want to pass it. I understand their position and share their frustration. But we don't have the luxury of wasting the American people's time. An unsuccessful vote might be politically satisfying, but it does nothing to create jobs, hold BP accountable, lessen our dependence on oil, cut energy costs or protect the planet. Our bill, on the other hand, does each of these things.
I am equally committed to passing this bill and to our larger goal of comprehensive energy and climate reform. We can accomplish both. We have to.
Bill Liao: The Gulf Oil Spill: An Assessment Ongoing
Odes to a Dead Climate Bill -- in 140 Characters or Less
The Early Word: Climate Bill on Ice
Efforts to Block EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations Back in Play
From lvrj.com:
Nothing personal, but former Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons said Wednesday that Sharron Angle, a fellow Republican whom she called "a friend," isn't getting her vote in the U.S. Senate race.
In her first campaign appearance for Sen. Harry Reid, Gibbons said the fact that she finished behind Angle in their 2006 race for Congress has nothing to do with her opposing Angle now and backing the Democratic incumbent. Both women lost to Rep. Dean Heller, who barely beat Angle.
Gibbons also denied she is opposing Angle to spite conservative Gov. Jim Gibbons and the GOP after the couple's bitter divorce amid unproven allegations he had affairs. She endorsed Reid last fall while battling her husband, who compared her to "an enraged ferret in a phone booth."
"I still consider her a friend," Gibbons said of Angle when asked by a reporter whether she had a "personal vendetta" against the Tea Party favorite during a news conference arranged by Reid's campaign.
"I think the world of both of them," she added. "But this is about the future of the state of Nevada. And we can't really afford to have someone that is so extreme and so uncompassionate and non-caring about our citizens. We need someone in the United States Senate that will stand up and fight for us."
More at: http://www.lvrj.com/news/ex-first-lady-gibbons--reid-right-choice-102048153.html
Since it is impossible to get a climate bill passed, why don't you do something sensible like ending the investor owned guaranteed rate of return (GROR) electric utility monopoly practiced in 48 states. The time for this monopolistic arrangement has come and gone. All you have to do is open up the market to competition under the California Independent Service (ISO) model. Allowing residential and small business producers of clean renewable energy to sell their excess capacity at market rates nationwide, would do more to reduce GHG emissions than anything in the current watered down climate change legislation.
This legislation should garner the support of Republicans if they, do indeed, support free markets. If they don't, the Democrats can make hay by calling them out for not supporting competition and free markets. California has added over 500,000 clean tech jobs because of their ISO model, additional state investment tax credits and allowing residential and small business producers to get paid full market rates for their excess capacity sold into the grid.
Adding loan guarantee legislation for federal, state and local governments as well as business and residential property owners for energy efficiency to be paid back with the energy savings would also do more than anything contained in the current watered down climate change legislation. Imagine all levels of government retrofitting every building across America without having to use taxpayer dollars for the upfront capital costs and the tax savings when the loans are paid back.
By implementing these two strategies, America will go back to work.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/business/global/25carbon.html?scp=7&sq=cap+and+trade&st=nyt
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/12697/64796
Carbon trading was meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union by making polluting more expensive for heavy industries, encouraging them to invest in cleaner technology. But even supporters admit that the system, also known as cap and trade, is falling far short of that goal. Critics decry it as just another form of financial profiteering with little environmental benefit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yxn7fQy2Bs
This will require utilities to waste hundreds of billions of dollars and years of valuable time in the global warming fight building technically, fiscally and politically unworkable wind and solar projects.
If they succeed, the Repugs will use this stupidity to all but eliminate the Democrats in midterms, showing the party to be a collection of foolish, spendthrift, impractical dreamers unworthy of voter support.
One of the last honest Repug's possibly because he is retiring, Senator George Voinovich and others will amend that renewable standard to a clean standard to include zero GHG nuclear power.
Nuclear power uses per kwh produced far less not renewable materials than do solar and wind with massive toxic waste disposal problems at the end of their short lives.
Renewables and their associated fast spooling low efficiency load balancing gas plants actually produce more GHG's than they save, while we can power the world on zero GHG's for hundreds of years on the world's football field size stack of existing nuclear waste.
Here is Obama's opportunity to seize the moment and call the Repubs on their pronuke claims maybe saving us his part in the midterms and citizens from the end of civilization and the continuing deaths of three million souls every year the coal to nuclear conversion is delayed.
If any of our elected reps cared about jobs, property values, local economies, the environment or its ecosystems, they would be pushing super, super hard for FEED IN TARIFFS FOR CLEAN POWER PRODUCED IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. WE can own it, WE can get the financial and environmental benefits and WE can eliminate the Big Energy Middlemen who are mercenaries at their best and murderers at their worst.
NO MORE BIG SOLAR OR BIG WIND! These are way more expensive than efficiency upgrades and rooftop solar, and really, really really hurt our environment, all while not even reducing GHGs! It's insane - another giveaway to Big Energy. We can't afford this kind of waste and destruction - we need feed in tariffs, PACE loans and a TOTAL MORATORIUM ON WILDERNESS-KILLING PROJECTS.
Get it together, Reid! Local, democratically owned solar has massive support across the political spectrum - in Germany the conservatives are installing more panels on their homes and businesses than the liberals! You could get 99 votes if you Senators weren't so beholden to BP, Chevron, Shell and Goldman Sachs. We don't want them to get another dollar or another acre of our nation, and technically, you work for US. Throw us a bone, Harry!
The real problem is there are not enough Democrats on-board. Harry just doesn't want to admit that, so he just blames Republicans.
they didnt want us to see it
Thank you.Powerixir
Thank you for your communication at the Huffington Post. Please take advantage of the opportunity (control of Congress) to pass meaningful legislation via reconciliation. Why not use the best reason there is to pound this through - our national security. Of course there will be job creation, lessen oil dependency and save our planet. Our military is already planning ahead for climate change that puts our nation more at risk. Use the real national security card, we already know the bogus security card worked for Iraq.
In the same determination to win such a fight, Many of us here will encourage you to take these important battles straight to Budget Reconciliation, and get them through. Straight up and down vote...
While you can! And watch your ratings soar, because Americans love a good fight.
Take the areas of Energy legislation that'd have the biggest impact on bringing jobs quickly...
Straight up and down vote!
Campaign Finance Reform CAN be drafted in reconciliation because federal government budgets pay for elections, and would need to, especially after it's passed. Talk about a victory... This would leave EVERYONE catching their breaths!
Straight up and down vote... BAMM ! !
Let rethugs scream and yell bloody murder, and have your "Good Fight" letter ready, telling them all to go jump in a lake with our corrupt rightwinger activists on the Supreme court.
You want Dems to get re-elected? Wanna give them a fighting chance after rightwing SCOTUS repelled borders, going for the jugular with "Citizens United", knowing Bush's stupidity potentially ruined it for neocons?
Then do this ! ! !
For Goodness Sake, Senator, let's stop fooling around and fight to win, for a change.