Coal company officials and their supporters in Congress are working to increase the industry's already large chunk of the economic stimulus package.
Lawmakers in the House set aside $2.4 billion in their current version of the legislation for research into capturing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Democratic leaders in the House Committee on Commerce and Energy defeated Republican efforts to also make coal eligible for a loan guarantee program for renewable energy projects.
In the Senate, Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., was lobbying fellow lawmakers and President Obama behind the scenes to try to get more money for what supporters call "clean coal" programs.
"He wants it as big as possible," said Jamie Smith, Rockefeller's communications director. "He's going to just keep working for more and more and more money for this."
On Friday, lawmakers and Senate staff members were negotiating their version of a stimulus package, a measure intended to help boost the sagging economy across the country.
If Rockefeller succeeds, it won't be the first time that he helped guide money intended for economic recovery efforts to the coal industry.
Last year, when it passed the massive Wall Street bailout, Congress threw in a $2.8 billion package for the coal industry.
Most of that money was aimed at encouraging power producers to limit greenhouse gas emissions. However, the bill also aimed to promote turning coal into liquid fuel, a move that could double greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fuels.
During a confirmation hearing last week, Rockefeller lectured Treasury secretary nominee Timothy Geithner about "clean coal," and worried that not everyone working in the Obama administration is friendly to the industry.
Rockefeller said that Larry Summers, one of Obama's top economic advisers, favors more research on how to burn coal more cleanly, but, Rockefeller said, "don't try it on Carol Browner," who is Obama's White House expert on energy and climate issues.
Coal company officials and their supporters in Congress are working to increase the industry's already large chunk of the economic stimulus package.
Lawmakers in the House set aside $2.4 billion in their current version of the legislation for research into capturing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Democratic leaders in the House Committee on Commerce and Energy defeated Republican efforts to also make coal eligible for a loan guarantee program for renewable energy projects.
In the Senate, Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., was lobbying fellow lawmakers and President Obama behind the scenes to try to get more money for what supporters call "clean coal" programs.
"He wants it as big as possible," said Jamie Smith, Rockefeller's communications director. "He's going to just keep working for more and more and more money for this."
On Friday, lawmakers and Senate staff members were negotiating their version of a stimulus package, a measure intended to help boost the sagging economy across the country.
If Rockefeller succeeds, it won't be the first time that he helped guide money intended for economic recovery efforts to the coal industry.
Last year, when it passed the massive Wall Street bailout, Congress threw in a $2.8 billion package for the coal industry.
Most of that money was aimed at encouraging power producers to limit greenhouse gas emissions. However, the bill also aimed to promote turning coal into liquid fuel, a move that could double greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fuels.
During a confirmation hearing last week, Rockefeller lectured Treasury secretary nominee Timothy Geithner about "clean coal," and worried that not everyone working in the Obama administration is friendly to the industry.
Rockefeller said that Larry Summers, one of Obama's top economic advisers, favors more research on how to burn coal more cleanly, but, Rockefeller said, "don't try it on Carol Browner," who is Obama's White House expert on energy and climate issues.
"So we have this situation where you cannot run a country unless you find a substitute for what is now currently not clean coal," Rockefeller said, "and my question to you, sir, is why is it that we are not talking about putting this in the package?
"Spending the money to answer what to me is overwhelmingly the largest - solve all the bank problems you want, executives paid fairly, regulate properly - won't make any difference if you don't have electricity," he said.
Obama has touted efforts to shore up the economy as an opportunity to also push changes in the nation's energy systems to be greener and more climate-friendly.
Just days before his inauguration, Obama stopped in Bedford Heights, Ohio, to visit the Cardinal Fastener Factory there. Obama noted that the company's bolts were used in the Statue of Liberty and the Golden Gate Bridge, but that the firm now earns half of its money from making parts for wind turbines.
"In some ways, you can't think of a more iconic company than Cardinal Fastener," Obama said. "The story of this company ... is that renewable energy isn't something pie in the sky. It's not far off in the future. It's happening all across America right now."
During his inaugural address, Obama said, "Each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
"We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories," Obama said.
During his campaign, Obama promised to invest $150 billion over 10 years on a variety of energy programs, and to launch public/private partnerships to build five commercial-scale coal-fired plants that capture carbon dioxide emissions.
However, environmental groups are concerned that Congress will not put tight enough restrictions on "clean coal" projects - requirements that they say actually limit their greenhouse emissions and do so now rather than much later. Also, some citizen groups, especially those who oppose mountaintop removal in Appalachia, argue there is no such thing as "clean coal," whether greenhouse emissions are captured or not.
Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or
304-348-1702.
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Solar Thermal Power Could Supply Over 90 percent of U.S. Grid
PALO ALTO, Calif.—
Ausra Inc., the developer of utility-scale solar thermal power technology, has published a peer-reviewed study showing that over 90 percent of the U.S. electric grid and auto fleet's energy needs could be met by solar thermal power.
Solar power is the nation's largest primary renewable energy resource, offering many times total U.S. energy needs. Solar thermal power stations use fields of mirrors to capture the sun's energy as heat to boil water and drive steam turbines. Solar thermal's low-cost, efficient heat storage makes solar thermal power uniquely able to provide a reliable energy supply from ever-varying sunshine.
http://ausra.com/news/releases/080306.html
Lisa Jackson - EPA Administrator
“As Congress does its work, we will move ahead to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision recognizing EPA’s obligation to address climate change under the Clean Air Act.”
In her memo, Jackson said, “I will uphold the values of scientific integrity, rule of law and transparency every day.”
Her pledges for action indict the record of the Bush Administration EPA:
– “ scientific judgments . . . suppressed, misrepresented or distorted by political agendas ”
– “ policy decisions should not be disguised as scientific findings ”
– “ EPA cannot misinterpret or ignore the language Congress has used ”
– “ EPA cannot turn a blind eye to the court’s decision or procrastinate in complying ”
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/01/24/jackson-epa-memo/