Energy Smart

General Motors’ Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz truly does not seem to enjoy being called out when he says absurdities.  There was a recent brouhaha over his  calling Global Warming a “total crock of s–t” in a meeting with reporters.  As the man seemingly converted, the driving force behind the Chevy Volt (a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that could, quite literally, change the nation), some of his discussion, some of his focus seems determined to undermined the public support of developments in the PHEV world.

(more…)

Power2Change

The Sierra Club is launching a nine-state campaign, Power2Change, focused on bringing clarity about what is at stake in the 2008 elections. 

The choices we make in 2008 will define our future - especially when it comes to the election and energy issues. The contrast between competing visions of America’s energy future could not be sharper this year: we can move forward or continue the policies of the past.

The key points are clear …

We have the power to change direction.

Yes, we do. But, what is keeping us (the US) from moving forward to a sensible, prosperous, climate friendly society?

What we have lacked is the political will and leadership …

(more…)

Shouldn’t surprise anyone, but some of the worst polluters in the country, some of those most determined to fight action on Global Warming, are starting to color their political donations ‘purple’.  With Democratic Party control of Congress, high odds that the Hill will tinge even bluer come 2009, and that Barack Obama will be sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office, only a fool would not be hedging bets.  But, that these serial Fossil Fuel polluters might not be total fools when it comes to political influence games does not mean that this is something to celebrate.

Global Warming legislation will have $trillions of implications in the coming decades. This can be done with social equity or a way to enrich the pockets of serial polluters at the expense of the rest of US.   Should we wonder which way these polluters’ donations are trying to drive this equation?

(more…)

While the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Council for Capital Formation take their dog-and-pony show of supposedly independent but fully deceitful analysis about global warming legislation around the country, reviews of the work are coming in from across the country. And, the common reframe:

Thumbs DOWN!

(more…)

Al Gore likes to comment that Global Warming, its existence and the need to act on it, should not be a political issue. 

Protecting the earth from global warming is a mandatory part of following Jesus, former Vice President Al Gore said at a “Stewardship of the Earth” luncheon Jan. 31 2008 during the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in Atlanta.

“This is not a political issue,” Gore told a crowd of approximately 2,500 paying attendees. “It is a moral issue. It is an ethical issue. It is a spiritual issue.”

Yes, if things were working sensibly, were “Sound Science“ not an operative framework of one of the political parties in the United States, the debate would be about “what to do about reality” rather than about trying to deny facts about “what is reality”.  And, this is one of the reasons why John McCain is viewed by so many as a breath of fresh air, because the Senator McFlip certainly can talk a good talk about Global Warming even though Senator McFlop simply doesn’t act on McFlip’s great words.  And, there is quite a strong contrast between Senators Obama, Clinton, and McCain’s positions on Global Warming with Obama’s/Clinton’s words and deeds far closer together than anything to be found with McFlip/McFlop (who risks being the McSame as Bush/Cheney in terms of political appointees and global warming issues). (more…)

Coal is a booming business, with price increases even exceeding those seen for oil. Fossil Fuels and the polluting of the atmosphere are, we can hope, burning their last embers of extravagant enthusiasm.

While coal is a booming business, it is also a business under fire, with people like Governor Sibelius standing tall in the fight against coal-plant expansions and plant after plant being canceled as, for example, the financial industry wakes up to the real risk with investing in such polluting infrastructure.  This reality seems to have a difficult time penetrating the dense barriers to reality that seem to exist in the great Commonwealth of Virginia, fostered by heavy investments in truthiness by Dominion Virginia Power.  Bit by bit, it seems, the veil shielding that truthiness is being lifted, for example in this Richmond Times Dispatch story: Utility reaches deal on plant: Dominion Va. Power loses proposed bonus for clean-burning facility.  Dominion had been pursuing a deal to have a proposed plant get a 1 percent bonus for being ready to be ‘clean’ via CCS, the regulatory body rejected that and took away the bonus. Poor Dominion VA Power.  For their aggressive pursuit of a polluting future, they will have to be satisfied with a guaranteed 12.12% profit, rather than a 13.12% profit.  Still my heart as the world’s smallest violin plays a song of mourning for Dominion Virginia Power and their serial polluting practices while the world sheds a tear.

(more…)

Operation Iraqi Freedom’s Global Warming implications are, of course, only a fraction of the conflict’s environmental impact: both directly and indirectly.  Over at Red, Green, and Blue, Ranjit Arab has an interesting post up: Tangled Up in Green: The Five Years War.

(more…)

Steadfast stay the course policy making is often overblown.  As some have said about George W Bush, ‘you’ll know he’ll say the same thing Wednesday that he said Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday.’  The real world is not static, learning institutions and learning individuals will adapt to changing reality and changing understanding of reality … or suffer the consequences.  Thus, developing more nuanced understandings and being able to see multiple angles (positive and negative) of complex situations, complex evolving / changing situations, now that is generally a strength.

But, McFlipping and McFlopping to pander to different audiences, to seek to represent oneself via a truthiness that doesn’t seem to meet the real situation, to abandon seemingly core moral positions for momentary advantage, this is a far different thing.

When it comes to Global Warming and the Climate Crisis, John McCain is McFlip in favor of doing something and in favor of “green technology” and McFlop in failing to show up for 100% of the relevant votes in the Senate.

(more…)

Architecture2030, a fantastic organization, seeks to send a message come 19-22 April:  think about Nancy Reagan and Just Say No to the opiate of coal!  Send the message to all when you:

Wear BLUE for Earth Day 2008!

(more…)

Terra Daily reports on a Yale meta study looking at the economic impacts of a carbon-constrained economy.  The results:

“As Congress prepares to debate new legislation to address the threat of climate change, opponents claim that the costs of adopting the leading proposals would be ruinous to the U.S. economy. The world’s leading economists who have studied the issue say that’s wrong - and you can find out for yourself,” said Robert Repetto, professor in the practice of economics and sustainable development at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies …

Check out See For Yourself, an interactive website which enables users to examine studies, their assumptions, and results.

(more…)