New Energy
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Betraying the Planet
June 29th, 2009
So the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate-change bill. In political terms, it was a remarkable achievement. But 212 representatives voted no. Most rejected the bill because they rejected the whole notion that we have to do something about greenhouse gases. And as I watched the deniers make their arguments, I couldn’t help thinking that I was watching a form of treason — treason against the planet.
Featured Issues
Why Do We Allow the U.S. to Act Like a Failed state On Climate Change?
It would be laughable anywhere else. But, so everyone says, the Waxman-Markey bill which is likely to be passed in Congress today or tomorrow, is the best we can expect — from America, until the corruption of public life is addressed.... read more »
Without The Grassroots, No Choice But To Deal
By Bill Scher
May 20th, 2009
David Roberts argues that it appears right now a small step on climate change is all we can take. But did it have to be so? And will it always, especially when we don't have time for only small steps if we are to avert a climate crisis?... read more »
America Needs a 12-Step Program
By Kari Fulton
May 20th, 2009
Please America, let's take a rehab from fossil fuels. By reviewing the 12-step program developed in 1935 by Alcoholics Anonymous, I have created 12 steps the United States and the American people must take to alleviate this addiction and truly reach eco-freedom and environmental justice.... read more »
The Case
Why New Energy
The current energy policy is socking our pocketbooks. Families will spend $2,300 more this year to fill up their cars and $1,700 more for home heating oil than at the beginning of the Bush presidency.
And it’s socking our planet. The warning signs of catastrophic climate change are all around us. Arctic ice is melting at a record pace. Wildfires are burning hotter and longer. The lake that supplies water to Phoenix and Las Vegas is drying up. A record number of Category 5 hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Ocean this decade. Hunting seasons and wildlife habitats are beginning to be adversely impacted.read more »
The Challenge
Turning to domestic oil is not a serious option. Not only will that do nothing to reverse global warming, but the oil simply isn’t there. The United States has less than 2% of the world’s oil reserves and imports 60% of the oil we use. We can’t drill our way out of the hole we’re in. The reality is: world oil production is at or near its peak. Global demand for oil—up to 86 million barrels a day—has exhausted spare capacity.
read more »
The Facts
The New Apollo Program
The New Apollo Program is a comprehensive economic investment strategy to build America’s 21st century clean energy economy and dramatically cut energy bills for families and businesses. It will generate and invest $500 billion over the next ten years and create more than five million high quality green-collar jobs. It will accelerate the development of the nation’s vast clean energy resources and move us toward energy security, climate stability, and economic prosperity. And it will transform America into the global leader of the new green economy.read more »
Repower America
What does it mean that all electricity generation within 10 years will be met only by zero-carbon sources of power? The We Campaign, with assistance and advice from dozens of energy experts, assessed the potential for meeting electricity demand from a combination of well-understood sources: improved energy efficiency, renewable sources like wind, solar, and geothermal, and fossil fuel power plants that capture and store their carbon pollution. Generation from existing carbon-free sources like conventional hydropower and nuclear power plants was assumed to remain unchanged from current levels. The assessments uncovered a variety of plausible Repower America scenarios. read more »
The News
EPA Green Lights California's Emissions Rules
July 1st, 2009
EPA Names Locations of Hazardous Coal-Ash Piles
June 30th, 2009
The Case
A Strong Energy Bill Means a Strong Economy and Future
Congress has taken a vital step toward launching the first national action plan to address climate change, and moving America down the vitally needed path to a new economy. Our nation’s workers, consumers, health and environment will all be the winners when this bill reaches final passage. But this bill is just the start of an effective long-term climate and energy policy. Our work is not done. read more »
Waxman-Markey: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Waxman-Markey climate bill has the environmental community agonizing over a tough decision: Pass an imperfect bill now, or wait and make it stronger, a process that could take years. Here's a look at the high and low points of the controversial bill.read more »
Latest from our Bloggers
jul
1
2009
The New Senate Global Warming Deniers
If you wanted to get progressives more excited about the clean energy and climate protection bill that passed the House last week, you might be inclined to point to Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins HuffPost piece on the $1 billion in green jobs funding that was added at the last minute, including "[l]ocal read more »
jun
23
2009
Can't ... Mention... Climate Bill ... Must ... Ask ... President ... If He Smokes
Last night came the surprising news that Speaker Pelosi is speeding the comprehensive clean energy and climate protection bill to the House floor this week despite uncertainty whether it will pass. read more »
apr
23
2009
Overall Cost Of Living "Constant" After Capping Carbon
The first congressional hearings regarding comprehensive clean energy and climate protection legislation were held yesterday, and the most important fact mentioned did not get much traditional media attention. read more »
mar
11
2009
Will the Budget Battle Become a Climate Battle?
It's possible that the President's decision to include a carbon cap policy that would avert a climate crisis in part by fully charging polluters for polluting public sky, will dominate the budget debate.read more »
mar
3
2009
How the Government Enabled the SUV Craze
Our national oil consumption has been compared to an addiction. Behind almost every addict is an enabler — someone who, by supplying the much-needed fix or giving the addict money to buy it, perpetuates the addiction continues. So, if you're going to fault Detroit for selling gas guzzling tanks (or consumers for purchasing them), you also have to fault the government for enabling them to do so, and even rewarding them for it.read more »
feb
26
2009
The President's Budget: Turning The Ship of State Around
The president's budget proposal turns the ship of state away from the cliffs of conservatism and onto the path of active progressive government. At least on the domestic front. The jury is out regarding military matters. And the two are related.read more »
feb
9
2009
Energy Taxes' Faustian Bargain
In states all over the country, environmentalists and the progressive movement are pushing forward proposals to raise taxes on oil, gas and coal companies. Specifically, they are pushing what's known as "severance taxes" - taxes assessed when those companies sever natural resources from the earth. read more »
feb
4
2009
Green Jobs and "Buy America" Laws
The Wall Street Journal explains why "Buy America" provisions and domestic preferences will likely be integral to making sure the green energy revolution actually happens in our country - and isn't outsourced: read more »
