Archive for the ‘Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)’ Category

On Sept 22, 2010, S.3813 the Renewable Electricity Promotion Act of 2010 was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Since Congress has not been able to pass cap and trade, the “green/clean” special interests are looking for alternate ways to push their agenda. This bill would cause higher electricity prices and have a negative impact on the United States economy.

This bill introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) would create a federal renewable electricity standard (RES) of 3% in 2012 and increases to 15% by 2021. Among the co-sponsors are both Colorado Senators, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall.

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The Chicago Climate Exchange is scaling back operations.  The market for their only product, carbon emissions, basically worthless. Currently selling for 10 cents per tonne.

In May and June of 2008 the market was soaring.  What a difference today!
Here are two articles for more information:
From Watts Up with That? “Chicago Climate Exchange drops 50%, new record low” and 21Century Wire “The Great Collapse of the Chicago Climate Exchange”

It seems the AGW (anthropogenic global warming ie human-caused) crowd still doesn’t “get it”. Using “global warming pollution” and calling coal a “dirty source of energy” presupposes some assumptions that have … for about 3 years now … and especially in the last year … been proved to be false. We call on the AGW crowd to do their homework and stop attacking “carbon”. We call on business to get some backbone and stop pandering to the “Green” folks … and defend the use of coal as a American-sourced low-cost fuel that makes sense to support the energy needs of America.

Some references about this attack by Greenpeace

Greenpeace International (Facebook page) calling for Facebook to use 100% renewable energy, click here to read article

Fox News Article dated Aug 2, 2010 “Greenpeace De-friends Facebook”, click here to read article.

Greenpeace International – article dated Aug 2 “Fox News takes a look at Facebook and Coal (Video)

For those who still think carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are causing unprecedented global warming and if we don’t switch to renewable energy (regardless of the cost), disaster is ahead … we recommend the following reading in addition to other articles on this web site.

Is the current global warming unusual?

This chart tells the story, for more information click here to see article at LongRangeWeather.com “Global Temperature Trends from 2500 B.C. to 2040 A.D.

Here’s an article from the Washington Times dated May 19, 2010 “Nero was hotter than Al Gore”

To quote part of the article..
The planet has never been warmer than it is right now, if you believe what global warming alarmists have to say. Mankind’s selfishness in producing “excessive” amounts of carbon dioxide has set us on a path toward global cataclysm, they insist. The problem with this tale is that it neither fits with the historical record nor with a growing body of scientific evidence.

Does increasing CO2 cause global warming?
This article by James Peden posted on The Middlebury Community Network website is a bit long but well worth you time to read.

Here are a few quotes from the Peden article
Co2 is a non-toxic, non-polluting, earth-friendly component that really is critical to our survival.

This was the fundamental mistake that Mann, Al Gore, the Oscar boys, the Nobel Committee, the IPCC, and just about everyone else on the planet made at the beginning. They immediately assumed, noticing that CO2 levels and global temperatures had a pretty good correlation, that CO2 was the culprit, and was causing global temperatures to rise. In fact, it appears it was just the opposite: rising global temperatures caused increased CO2 level in the atmosphere.

Is the “science” settled?
Please take a look at this letter sent Dec 13, 2007 to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and signed by 100 Scientists. Numerous article point out the deficiencies in efforts to model the climate, the advice in this letter … focus on helping people adapt. “Attempts to prevent global climate change from occurring are ultimately futile, and constitute a tragic misallocation of resources that would be better spent on humanity’s real and pressing problems.”

Of course there are many more recent sources, we recommend watching the videos of presentations at the 4th Annual International Conference on Climate Change (meeting held in Chicago, IL on May 16-18, 2010) posted on the Heartland Institute website.

In addition to the fact that attacking coal has no justification based on science, environmentalists and legislators and bureaucrats are causing real harm by justifying huge subsidies and proposing unnecessary rules and regulations.

Read our article about the rule submitted by the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) on December 15, 2009 relating to greenhouse gasses and hearing in the US Senate.

Here’s an article posted at OregonLive.com dated July 12, 2010
“Pacific Power customers face a ‘rate shock’ in 2011”

And finally, an interesting list of countries that now realize that renewable energy is a massive waste of taxpayer funds and has zero or negligible effect on CO2 emissions. Article found at The Carbon Sense Coalition (located in Australia) dated July 21, 2010 “Sunset for Subsidies” Read the rest of this entry »

Harry Reid announced yesterday, July 22 that he does not have the votes for a broad energy bill (aka climate change bill, aka legislation to curb US carbon emissions). Reid is still expected to introduce an energy bill next week that would implement offshore drilling reforms, promote natural-gas vehicles, promote energy-efficient houses and businesses, and perhaps include a target for electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar.

Meanwhile according to a New York Times article “Efforts to Block EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Regulations Back in Play” Dated July 23, 2010. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to allow a vote this year on a two-year postponement of EPA action to impose regulations on carbon emissions on stationary sources.

Additional information in Reuters article dated July 23 – “Senate climate bill in peril as Democrats delay action”

On April 20, an explosion of a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in a ruptured well.  The ruptured well has been gushing oil for over two months. Instead of solid support for the cleanup and getting the best proposals to control the leak we see  …

• The Obama Administration imposing a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. In spite of a U.S.  District Judge ruling that the edict violates the law, the administration has appealed the injunction. It is estimated that 40,000 jobs are at stake if the moratorium is imposed.
• The Obama Administration is proceeding to work on a “comprehensive energy and climate bill”.  The Obama Administration continues to attack fossil fuels and push wind and solar.
• Congress is expected to use “backroom” tactics to pass Climate legislation.  After the outrage over the procedures used to pass the Health Care Legislation (Obamacare), it appears that Harry Reid is considering similar tactics to push this Climate/Energy Legislation thru.

Select “read the rest of this entry” for links to articles supporting these statements.

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We liked this cartoon from “The Gentleman from Lickskillet” comic strip by Steven J. Allen and Kevin Tuma. This cartoon strip describes the adventures of Congressman Randall Dill, his family, constituents and adversaries. Click here to visit The Gentleman from Lickskillet website.

On June 10, 2010 … the US Senate debated Joint Resolution 26 – a resolution to disapprove a rule submitted by the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) on December 15, 2009 relating to greenhouse gasses. After over 6 hours of debate the US Senate voted against the resolution 53 to 47.  You can view the entire session at CSpan Video Library


According to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), because this (i.e., EPA action) is our worst option to reduce emissions and Congress needs time to develop a more appropriate solution, I have introduced a resolution of disapproval … I introduced this back in January … to halt the EPA’s regulations.  My resolution does not affect the science behind the endangerment finding, but it will prevent the finding from being enforced through economy-wide regulations.

 About the Opposition

Most of the comments by Senators opposing Resolution 26 were “red herrings” … about their confidence that the scientific findings were compelling, about fuel standards and about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Instead of reasoned debate, we got political theatre! Did they read the bill?… did they read the EPA rule? … or did they use Barbara Boxer’s talking points to prepare their comments? Read the rest of this entry »

The Senate is scheduled to vote on S.J.Res 26 – A joint resolution disapproving a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.  The Resolution is sponsored by Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).  If passed this resolution would block the EPA from using the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon emissions.  Check C-Span schedule for Thursday, the senate will be debating this for 10 hours according the The New York Times.  Click here for an article posted at Townhall.com on June 6, 2010

For excellent information about climate change issues, we suggest you view coverage of the Heartland Institute’s 4th Annual International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-4) – a worldwide gathering of global warming “realists” – held in Chicago, IL, on May 16-18. PJTV will offer viewers videos and analysis from each keynote speaker as well as a number of the conference events.
More than 700 people — including a good many scientists, along with economists, policy analysts, and legislators — gathered together to  discuss the once-settled but increasingly controversial proposition of an anthroprogenic global warming (AGW) crisis. There was general agreement to explore real-world facts and test the assertions of alarmists. The presenters and audience members continually asked whether the data says what the modelers say it does.
Videos of the presentations at the conference can be found at Heartland Institute Web site…get informed.

Article updated May 25, 2010: Both White House and EPA are in denial regarding the  once-settled but increasingly controversial proposition of an anthroprogenic global warming (AGW) crisis and therefore the need to control greenhouse gas emissions.  In Congress we see new legislation both for and against more government control of GHGs.

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