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Hill Heat has an exclusive on the first state “climate change dialogue” conducted to try to scare American with the truthiness argument that dealing with global warming will cost jobs. (REMEMBER:  This claim takes the truth out of truthiness: we can create a stronger, richer, more jobs intensive economy by getting off our carbon addiction!)  

Now, as to the road test …

It was train wreck I am certain they will not want repeated.

Well, normally I don’t cheer transportation disasters, but I hope this is a disaster that the NTSB doesn’t investigate and the “operators” learn nothing: this is a train wreck worth repeating time and again.

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The engagement of truthiness coming from coal-industry mouthpieces is being taken up on many fronts.  RFK Action is undertaking Coal Awareness Week. As part of that, this includes remixing of Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) advertising.  See here and here … If ABEC seeks to take the truth out of truthiness, RFK Action is taking the ‘iness’ out to provide us some Truth.

“If you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME.”  Yes, that old ditty from grade school has direct relevance from time-to-time.  The atrocious ACCF/NAM study on the fiscal implications of climate legislation seems to take this adage to a new level.

As already noted in Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics, and Statistics from industry on pollution control costs, this report works with absurd assumptions, such as that the annual wind power introduction into the electricial grid will have an upper limit lower than what occurred in 2007. Reminder: wind power installations (in the US and globally) have been growing over 20 percent year. This study assumes (makes ASSes out of U and ME, Seriously) that the installation rate goes backward.  Where they can be determined, the so-called “study”‘s assumptions run counter to common sense.

Footnotes matter and this “report” done by SAIC for the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has a doozy of a note. Page 3, Footnote 4, the last sentence reads:

“The input assumptions, opinion and recommendations are those of ACCF and NAM, and do not necessarily represent the views of SAIC.”

Conducted by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the independent study examines the implications of the legislation with respect to future energy costs, economic growth, employment, production, household income and the impact on low income earners.

One sign that serious people consider some form of carbon-constraining legislation in the United States a serious possibility is the proliferation of industry-funded “analysis” somehow “proving” that “Global Warming is going to wreck the economy”. 

You know the old adage, “Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”.  Well, there really should be a new category added: 

Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics, and Statistics from Industry Projecting Pollution Control Costs

Time after time, when faced with potential mandates, industry has warned of disaster to come economically.  Seat belts, crash worthiness, air bags in cars: people won’t be able to buy cars.  Need to replace CFCs, costs will be so high that you’d have to be a Rockefeller to afford air conditioning or a refrigerator.  Reducing sulphur emissions and electricity bills will skyrocket.  Every time the potential mandate has emerged, the screams of pain to come fill our ears and politicians’ in-boxes, backed by tainted study after tainted study. The study that the National Association of Manufacturers‘ paid for, released earlier today,  Analysis of  The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 2191) Using the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS),  fits well within that long lineage.

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For this lowly blogger, the WIREC trade show was somewhat like being a kid in the candy store. There were so many truly Energy COOL items on the floor, so many chances to meet and speak with people pursuing intriguing (exciting) paths forward.  A lot of passionate and capable people. 

And, then there were all the lawyers.  A lot of lawyers and legal related booths.  I truly did not expect this.  On reflection, this suggests a limited thinking on my part. Why wouldn’t the sharks be gathering?  Energy laws are complex and confusing. There are a lot of regulatory issues and navigating those can matter as much as developing a technology. And, not in the least, there is a lot (LOT) of money at stake in the game. And, the existing and coming issues related to moving toward a carbon-constrained economy put even more money on the table, potentially to enrich those who know how to manipulate and navigate the system.  Law offices see $ signs (lots and lots of $ signs) here and are pursuing those dollars with a passion.

Notably, at many of the law booths, the document preparation was especially non-green in approach:  glossy, non-recyclable, one-sided printing, in binders.  Yup, green me wants to hire that pin-stripe suit. 

And, having that experience last week had me prepped to read with interest SolveClimate’s post “How Lawyers Blog“.

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EcoGeek founder/owner, Hank Green, has blocked advertising from a Coal astroturf organization, America’s Power.  Green posted, yesterday, A Letter to the US Coal Industry:  Why I blocked your ad.

I’m a little bit angry right now. For the last 12 hours, unknown to me, the U.S. coal lobby has been plastering EcoGeek with B.S. ads for their B.S. clean coal campaign. I’m not really a big fan of helping to spread their heifer droppings so I’ve blocked the campaign.

This is Green’s livelihood, his source of income.  He has chosen to put his money (or the money he won’t have) where his mouth and philosophy are when it comes to creating a viable future. 

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The next two days, the National Academies will be holding a Summit on America’s Energy Future. This looks to be a serious two days of presentations by some real heavy-hitters.  And, since the registration is full, you’ll have to be satisfied (like me) with striving to keep up with this agenda via webcast.

The meeting has a quite interesting focus, one that is truly intriguing:

The National Academies Summit on America’s Energy Future is a two-day, critical overview of the recent influential energy studies and initiatives. This timely event is intended to stimulate discussion among participants with diverse points of view on energy issues.

What concerns me, looking to the next two days, is how “diverse” the “points of view” truly will be. And, to what extent the format enables serious discussion and examination of studies, rather than simply presentations of them.

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Barbara Boxer has been a real leader on Global Warming issues in the US Senate. A leader who suffered for far too long under the ‘tutelage’ of Senator James Inhofe (R-Exxon).  Sadly, for whichever set of reasons, Senator Boxer has being working hard to corral votesin support of the fatally flawed Lieberman-Warner Coal Subsidy Act and reacting strongly against those who have the audacity to question the bill and her approach to it.   The bill, however, is getting growing notice and the questioning of Senator Boxer’s approach to it is spreading.  

In the face of such criticism, Barbara Boxer held a press conference today  with a range of environmental organizations to support action on Global Warming.

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Yes, you too can have a voice in bringing “recognition of the world’s biggest contributors to our global addition to fossil fuels”.  Energy Action Coalition, Co-Op America and Rainforest Action Network have joined to present “the FOOLIES: the Fossil Fools Awards, 2008“.

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Barbara Boxer has been a real leader on Global Warming issues in the US Senate. A leader who suffered for far too long under the ‘tutelage’ of Senator James Inhofe (R-Exxon).  Sadly, for whichever set of reasons, Senator Boxer has being working hard to corral votes in support of the fatally flawed Lieberman-Warner Coal Subsidy Act and reacting strongly against those who have the audacity to question the bill and her approach to it.   The bill, however, is getting growing notice and the questioning of Senator Boxer’s approach to it is spreading.  

In the face of such criticism, Barbara Boxer will hold a press conference Wednesday, 12 March, with a range of environmental organizations: Boxer and Environmental Leaders United on Urgent Need to Address Global Warming. 

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