Sadly the mention of a Green New Deal (GND) makes some people reach for their untaxed revolvers, but it remains a left issue easily reified as a slogan, and misunderstood in its implications for transforming economies. As always there is a need to transcend the sectarian struggles over how to proceed in terms of political action….
Category: Energy
There will be matters still to be resolved related to Trump Russia beyond the pardons.
Like the counterintelligence limits of the Mueller report, there are still slender skeletons to be revealed in the corruption of US interests. Trump’s inquiry about a strike against Iran last week was not about Iran’s nuclear proliferation as much as it was part of much larger regional conflict among nuclear powers. Did Kushner secretly sell off…
Let's not let the perfect be the enemy of the good: fossil-fuel subsidies are still in trouble
Trump has pimped for the fossil fuel industries because it’s still about money, just like dialing back some election promises in order to reinstate them after election day. Because the Trump recession needs to be fixed, and taking back Congress will move re-regulation back to the clean energy agenda, rather than the fracking fakery of…
Renewable Energy Surges Pass Coal in Production of US Electricity
http://www.msn.com/… The New York Times reports that renewable energy sources including wind and solar power are now regularly outproducing coal fired electric power plants in the United States. Just 10 years ago, almost 50 percent of electricity came from coal but lower costs are now driving up renewables and increasing making coal the dirty fuel of…
Renewable Energy Surges Past Coal in Production of US Electricity
The New York Times reports that renewable energy sources including wind and solar power are now regularly outproducing coal fired electric power plants in the United States. Just 10 years ago, almost 50 percent of electricity came from coal but lower costs are now driving up renewables and increasing making coal the dirty fuel of a…
“Take 2 Tax-Cuts, Rollback Regulations & Call Me In The Morning!” COVID-19 as excuse for profit
“We are in the midst of a crisis where people are literally having to skip work and may miss paychecks or face medical debt” because of coronavirus, said Robert Hockett, a professor at Cornell University who has advised Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on economic policy. “The idea you would look to…
The “Everything Terrible Trump Has Done So Far” Omnibus (Week 159)
As part of the ongoing project to catalog every awful thing the Trump Administration has done as a reference for future political arguments and whatever few posterity survives to see 2020, here’s everything awful the Trump Administration has done this week. ____________________________________________________________________________ 1786. Blocked witnesses in the impeachment trial 1787. Mocked a reporter's transgender parent 1788. Expanded the…
The War on Christmas is Now a War on Coal
Mandy Gunasekara served in the EPA as Trump’s Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation from March 2017 to Feb. 2019. Before that, she was counsel to Sen. Inhofe, the most insistent of all climate deniers. Now she’s a climate denier for Fox News and also runs Energy45, a dark money…
Holy Warren G. Harding – there's even a Tea Pot Dome in the Arms for Dirt scandal
It’s not animal husbandry, but like Rachel Maddow’s new book chronicles, US crony capitalism in the Trump era can often devolve to fossil fuel kleptocracy. In today’s Arms for Dirt, the GOP demand to prosecute the Bidens distracts from the concurrent deals Rick Perry made for his cohorts. These potential crimes were aided by Rudy Giuliani attempting to destabilize…
Anti-Capitalist Meet-Up: post-Trump environmentalism must move beyond a Green New Deal
< p class=”is-empty-p”> x YouTube Video In less than 400 days the US could be relieved of perhaps the stupidest self-proclaimed “environmentalist” in US history. We will need to refocus the post-Trump environmental economy to sustainable goals that reposition the discourse about economic growth, particularly energy production, distribution, and consumption. The Green New Deal is only a…
Iranian-flagged oil tanker on fire in Red Sea, some oil spilled
Report of an explosion aboard a National Iranian Oil Company Tanker Sinopa carrying 1 million barrels, sailing in the Red Sea near Jiddah. Block TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state-run news agency and other media say an explosion has struck an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia. There was no immediate acknowledgement…
Who knew? Ukraine-gate is actually a Rick Perry crime spree!
Stop me before I dance again. Rick is no stranger to jail time, among other stupid things. Perry was in contact with Ukrainians during period of the infamous call because of associated energy meetings, but none of that diminishes the reality of the Trump call, the notes, the extortion, or the bribery. More Trump misdirection, although…
The New Wave of Electric Cars: Infographics
Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of how much the electric vehicle market has been changing year to year. Not only are growth rates spectacular — 54% annually globally — but the capabilities of each new generation of vehicles rises dramatically. It is this latter aspect that I wish to focus on today — or, to put…
Republicans set to pass law defining the burning of wood for energy as “carbon neutral”
A new law called the Energy Policy Modernization Act is on the fast track to being sent to President Obama to sign into law. Inside this bill is a small provision that could have wide ranging impacts. An amendment introduced by Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski would designate the burning of wood and wood products for…
Do you believe Clinton is unaware of top fossil fuel donors?
Hillary Clinton’s opponents in the Democratic primary pledged to not take donations from the fossil fuel industry. It’s an appropriate response to the fossil fuel industry’s tremendous influence in Washington, despite their presenting a catastrophic threat to the future of civilization. When an Iowa voter asked Clinton to take the same pledge she dodged the…
Blockade of Chicago Petcoke Facility Calls for Green Jobs Instead of Toxic Fossil Fuels
Seven community members and concerned citizens are blockading entrances to the Koch Carbon Transfer Terminal (KCBX) on Chicago's Southeast side. The blockade began at 8am Monday morning. By 9am they were joined by 10th ward Chicago Alderwoman Susan Garza who sat in support with the blockaders. Over a dozen trucks have been prevented from entering or…
“This Changes Everything” Moves Focus to Communities on Fossil Fuel Frontlines
Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis visited Chicago to host a sold out premier showing of their new documentary film, This Changes Everything. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. I know the issue well. I've seen plenty of climate change documentaries before. But the filmmakers won me over at the start by admitting they aren't excited…
Democratic Candidates Agree on Climate Science, Differ on Solutions (IL-18)
The two Democrats running to replace Aaron Schock in Illinois' 18th Congressional district supported action on climate change in a recent debate sponsored by several news organizations. Both candidates mentioned a letter from Pope Francis calling on Catholics to make combating climate change a top priority. Less than a week after being issued, the pope's encyclical…
Hillary Clinton is Taking Democrats Backward on Climate Change
When Barack Obama announced his Presidential campaign in Springfield, Illinois he spoke of climate change. Let's be the generation that finally frees America from the tyranny of oil. We can harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol and spur the production of more fuel-efficient cars. We can set up a system for capping greenhouse gases. We…
Illinois Legislators Face Backlash for Coal Mining Bill
Illinois State Senator Andy Manar is getting pushback from constituents after introducing a bill to help the heavily subsidized state coal mining industry. A coal industry lobbyist with Foresight Energy joined Manar and other legislators at a press conference for a bill to give Illinois coal an advantage over imports. Roughly 90% of coal burned…
