Get Energy Smart! NOW!

First, let me express my sympathy for all those caught in the devastating path of tornadoes earlier this week.  To be caught in such devastating power of nature, recourse totally beyond one’s ability for action, is beyond my emotional imagination.  I can only begin to imagine the pain for the families of the 52 dead and for those whose lives were otherwise struck by these storms.  

Second, we should clearly understand, at this time, it is absolutely impossible to tie any single weather event, any specific ‘abnormal’ temperature, any storm to the effects of Global Warming.

Thus, it is impossible to state that “Global Warming caused the tornadoes” with any confidence.  Just as it is impossible to state that “Global Warming caused the California fires”, even if Global Warming did fan the flames (see also Forest Chief Warns of Global Warming threat) , perhaps the correct statement is that Global Warming did not cause these tornadoes, even if Climate Change fostered the atmospheric stew that led to the tornadoes.

[Read more →]

Congressman Dingell endorsed Hillary Clinton earlier today.  Within that endorsement, with its favorable words about Obama and stronger words for Clinton, is the following:

“Senator Clinton also understands that a green economy is a smart economy.”

“Green economy is a smart economy …” Boy, can we say that these are words in line with a blog called “Energy Smart”? 

[Read more →]

Greenpeace has sent a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer expressing their support for Friends of the Earth (FoE)  effort calling on the Senate to Fix or Ditch the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill.   Senator Boxer jabbed back at FoE

“They’re sort of the defeatist group out there. They’ve been defeatists from day one. And it’s unfortunate. They’re isolated among the environmental groups.”

Well, Greenpeace’s letter makes it clear that, contrary to Senator Boxer’s statement, FoE doesn’t stand alone. 

I also strong disagree with your sentiment that Friends of the Earth stands isolated its position.  As I travel across the country, I meet people looking for leadership on this issue, but not just any leadership.  As ice caps continue to melt, seas continue to rise adn weather gets more and more extreme, they are not looking for government action simply for action’s sake.  I find it difficult to locate any citizen concerned about global warming does doesn’t want the same result as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.

This letter is a strong endorsement of the FoE effort, calling on Senator Boxer to either Fix Lieberman-Warner or Ditch It.

[Read more →]

Dealing with our environmental and global warming challenges is not susceptible to a single, simple, silver bullet answer. There are technological, resource, political, fiscal, and social challenges. At times, multiple domains can coalesce to help drive change.

In 2002, Ireland instituted a fee on plastic bags. There was an awareness campaign and a fee of 33 cents.  The result? 

Within weeks, plastic bag use dropped 94 percent. Within a year, nearly everyone had bought reusable cloth bags, keeping them in offices and in the backs of cars. Plastic bags were not outlawed, but carrying them became socially unacceptable — on a par with wearing a fur coat or not cleaning up after one’s dog. 

That’s right, the Irish take their canvas bags to the supermarket. 

[Read more →]

The United States is rapidly falling behind in the race to be positioned for a properous 21st century.  Decades ago, when it came to energy, there was not a domain in which the United States did not have (or at least share) the lead, and by a significant margin in many arenas.  “Green” is going to be the green machine of the 21st Century, and the signs are coming in one after another that that machine is not now likely going to be American. 

While America wallows in higher gasoline prices and even more money heading overseas to pay for oil imports:

Germany is seeing the payoff.

The [green] sector—both energy suppliers and equipment manufacturers—employs more than 235,000 people and generates annual sales upwards of $33 billion, government figures show. Nearly 60 companies in Germany specialize in wind systems….Nearly 100 companies manufacture solar cells or supply the sector, with more than half of those in the old East Germany, which has earned the nickname Solar Valley.

[Read more →]

Can we hope for Dead On Arrival.  When it comes to energy, the President’s bill has some tremendous problems.  For example:

 The FY2009 DOE budget terminates the weatherization assistance program …

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is cut by $280 million …

The Energy Efficency and Renewable Energy (EERE) budget is cut by $490 million (28 percent).

Coal research is expanded by $237 million, or more than 40 percent

And so on …

For more information, see The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming press release: On Climate, Energy, President’s Budget Picks Dirty, Dangerous Fuels.

It isn’t too often that I turn to the pages of the Wall Street Journal for good news, but let today be a little different.   As per Wall Street Shows Skepticism over Coal, major banks, working with some environmental organizations (including, the much maligned Environmental Defense),

are imposing new environmental standards that will make it harder for companies to get financing to build coal-fired power plants in the U.S.

[Read more →]

Environmental Defense sent out an e-mail to Senate staffs and Senators specifically calling out this blogger for attention, calling for advertising coordination between Senators and Environmental Defense in support of the Lieberman-Warner Coal Subsidy Act (CSA, mistakenly called the Climate Security Act).

My statement:

I am saddened that Environmental Defense seems far more interested in pushing forward fatally (and, I do mean fatally … and I think of my/our children when I write that … ready to provide details to those interested) flawed legislation than in positioning the nation for a move to meaningful action. 

Now, if anyone actually cares to read what I wrote, this is how I ended the specific post in question:

And, this is the saddest thing about this issue, about having to write this diary. When it comes to sensible approaches to Global Warming, Senator Boxer gets the science, she gets the challenge, she understands the risk for her grandchildren.  It is sad that Boxer is aiming her ‘left hooks’ at strong voices for environment, like FoE, rather than humanity’s real foes exemplified by Senator Inhofe (R-Exxon).

It is sad that Environmental Defense (which gets the science, gets the challenge, and understands the risk for our children/grandchildren) is aiming their left hooks at strong voices for the environment, like FoE (and myself), rather than at humanity’s real foes as exmplified by Senator Inhofe.

Wouldn’t it be better if Environmental Defense (and the Senators that they contacted) were spending this money and energy educating Oklahomans about climate change and how Senator Inhofe is working against their interests?

A Siegel

PS:  Thank you ED for that back-handed compliment.  Didn’t realize that I’m a “major DailyKos contributor” and that anyone, at the end of the day, really gave a damn.

[Read more →]

The situation is moving from sparring to some serious boxing when it comes to the Lieberman-Warner Climate (in)Security Act (CISA) .  Friends of the Earth (FoE) has launched an advertising campaign voicing reason re Lieberman-Warner, pointing out that the CiSA (the Coal-Subsidy Act) is not just inadequate, but also is far weaker than the energy and Global Warming positions of the two Democratic Presidential candidates.  Why, FoE is asking, are Democratic leaders so desperately working to get votes for a bad bill, carrying the names of two endorsers of John McCain for President?

Fix or Ditch the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Bill

After years of ignoring global warming, the U.S. Senate is finally considering legislation to cap greenhouse gas pollution. Unfortunately, the Lieberman-Warner bill being advanced by Senate Democrats lavishes up to $1 trillion on industries responsible for global warming, and in return asks for reduction targets well below what scientists say are necessary. If this is the best Senate Democrats can do, the world is in trouble.

And, at the same time, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is working hard to whip up support for Lieberman-Warner, Boxing our way to disaster. 

Senator Boxer has reacted angrily to FoE’s efforts (note: E&E article behind firewall), basically calling them a “foe” rather than guardian of the interests of humanity, of America’s citizens (born and unborn), when it comes to sensible choices for Global Warming legislation. 

“They’re sort of the defeatist group out there,” she said. “They’ve been defeatists from day one. And it’s unfortunate. They’re isolated among the environmental groups.”

Yes, Senator Boxer, please focus on attacking an organization that is calling on all Americans to support legislative action that does not fall short of what science says is required to give us just a 50% chance of avoiding catastrophic climate change.  No, much better to be praising legislation that represents a trillion dollars of new corporate subsidies (making dealing with Global Warming that much more expensive and harder to do) and falls far short of what science says is required.   

“Far from being defeatists, we’re being realists,” Friends of the Earth President Brent Blackwelder said when asked to comment on Boxer’s remarks. “We’re focusing on what the scientists tell us has to be done to solve global warming. It’s not acceptable to pass a bill that falls short of the science. It’s not acceptable to pass a bill that gives $1 trillion to polluters.”

Let us be clear, this is not Friends of the Earth seeking the perfect as the enemy of the good.  Even with the fixes FoE seeks, the resulting bill would be ‘maybe good enough’ and not ‘perfect’.  No, the challenge is not perfection as enemy of good but, simply, bad, inadequate and dangerous being the enemy of good enough.

[Read more →]

Word is that the Senate Finance Committee has $5 billion in Green-related elements in its draft $150 billion stimulus package. Not tremendous, but at least a taste of sanity. 

  [Read more →]