Upper Left

We find it dismaying that the Chamber neglects the indisputable fact that a decisive majority of experts have said the data on global warming are compelling and point to a threat that cannot be ignored. In our opinion, an intellectually honest argument over the best policy response to the challenges of climate change is one thing; disingenuous attempts to diminish or distort the reality of these challenges are quite another.

Labels: Climate Change, Corporations, Energy Policy, Peter Darbee, PGE, US Chamber

Chris Dodd, with a strict emission standards and carbon tax proposal that won over the likes of Al Gore, had arguably the best energy plan out of the entire 2008 Democratic presidential field.

He was an early and forceful voice on FISA and has since discussed the idea of Bush administration torture trials. Plus he had the balls to endorse Ned Lamont over his long time colleague and King Rat Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) in 2006.

Now Dodd stands up for marriage equality in the middle of a re-election race that the Republicans are salivating all over.

He deserves more love from the left. If you know someone in Connecticut, where Dodd’s polling has been dismal all year, I suggest you call them.

Labels: Chris Dodd, Energy Policy, FISA, Marriage Rights

...yesterday I introduced The Clean Environment and Stable Energy Market Act of 2009, HR 1683, that would reduce emissions 80 percent by the year 2050. As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I propose a solution that addresses the issue from the prism of financial impacts — providing a price signal for producers of greenhouse gas emissions to change to newer, clean technologies, and at the same time, provide a stable market that encourages the significant investments that will be required to transform America.

Labels: Budget, Energy Policy, Environment, HR 1683, Jim McDermott, Ways And Means

For the first time in eight years I am looking forward to reading the morning newspapers.

Labels: Choice, Energy Policy, Headlines, President Obama, Torture, War On Terror

Shouldn’t there be strings, no make that chains, attached to a bailout? Shouldn’t Congress, and Obama, insist on none of the money going to SUVs and that all cars and trucks meet higher fuel standards in five years? Shouldn’t there be an incentive clause to increase fuel efficiency in less than five years? Shouldn’t the money be spent on retooling and not on marketing?

Labels: Auto Industry, Bailout, Barack Obama, Congress, Economy, Energy Policy

· Question 1: Which of the following oil companies would reap hundreds of millions in new tax breaks under John McCain?

1. ExxonMobil
2. Chevron
3. ConocoPhillips
4. Valero Energy
5. Marathon
6. All of the Above

· Question 2: Which of the following ideas to promote alternative and renewable energy sources has John McCain opposed?

1. Ethanol production
2. Tax incentives for renewable energy
3. Renewable fuel mandates
4. All of the above

· Question 3: Which of the following strategies to expand domestic oil supply does John McCain oppose?

1. Force oil companies to explore and develop land already under lease
2. Bipartisan compromise to expand production, invest in alternative energy
3. All of the above

· Question 4: Which of the following strategies to expand domestic oil supply do the oil companies oppose?

1. Force oil companies to explore and develop land already under lease
2. Bipartisan compromise to expand production, invest in alternative energy
3. All of the above

Labels: Energy Policy, Exxon-McCain '08, John McCain, Oil

Labels: Barack Obama, Energy Policy, Humor, John McCain, Paris Hilton

Bush says Congress stopping offshore oil

Labels: Congress, Democrats, Energy Policy, George W. Bush, Oil

"If I haven’t gotten combat troops out of Iraq, passed universal health care and created a new energy policy that speaks to our dependence on foreign oil and deals seriously with global warming, then we’ve missed the boat."

Labels: Barack Obama, Energy Policy, Goals, Health Care, Iraq, Withdrawal

Yesterday, McCain admitted that his offshore drilling proposal would probably have mostly "psychological" benefits, NBC/NJ’s Adam Aigner-Treworgy reports.

Labels: Energy Policy, John McCain, Off Shore Drilling, Oil