Last week, on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War, hundreds of people stood with Oil Change International in the streets in front of the American Petroleum Institute demanding a Separation of Oil & State. They know, just as we do, that oil was the central motivation of the war in Iraq, that oil money … Read More
Separate Oil and State
Iraq = 25 million new cars, and counting
On the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, a new report from Oil Change International, entitled A Climate of War (pdf) quantifies both the greenhouse gas emissions of the Iraq War and the opportunity costs involved in fighting war rather than climate change. Here are some facts on the war and warming: Projected total US … Read More
“What will it take to wake the Senate up”
Great editorial in today’s New York Times, which argues that “One of the major shortcomings in last year’s admirable energy bill was its failure to extend vital tax credits to producers of wind, solar and other renewable fuels. This was entirely the doing of the Senate, which caved in to the oil companies and their … Read More
GOP Should Stop “Coddling Big Oil”
Interesting op-ed from a Silicon Valley newspaper by the CEO of Akeena Solar, which calls itself America’s leading solar installer. The CEO, Barry Cinnamon, argues “This week the House of Representatives will vote on the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. This act would eliminate $18 billion in tax breaks for oil … Read More
Democrats Unveil New Energy Tax Package
In the US, Democrats have unveiled a new wide-ranging, $17.5 billion renewable energy and building-efficiency bill even though Republicans have repeatedly blocked their efforts in the Senate. In renewing their push, Democrats are relying on the same financing plan that produced Senate opposition last year, repealing tax breaks granted to oil and gas companies.
Nader: Big Oil’s Profit and Plunder
While many impoverished American families are shivering in the winter cold for lack of money to pay the oil baron their exorbitant price for home heating oil, ex-oil man, George W. Bush sleeps in a warm White House and relishes his defeat of the Congressional attempt to get rid of $15 billion in unconscionable tax … Read More
Merry Xmas, Big Oil
All spin aside, you have to say this was a bad last few days for the planet. The week started off well in Oslo, but then we get the terrifying news that the Arctic might be sea ice free by 2013. Next, the US Congress backs down from taking away oil industry subsidies and requiring … Read More
Pelosi Pushes Energy Bill
In a move that is said to have surprised even some environmentalists, the US House of Representatives has put forward a $21 billion energy package, including repealing tax breaks given to oil companies in 2005. The bill will cause problems in the Senate, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressed ahead with the entire package, taxes … Read More
When Fuel and Politics Mix
Interesting article in today’s New York Times about the differing Democratic and Republican long-term approaches to energy policy. “Over the next decade or two, the differences could have a major effect on billions of dollars in government spending, on the relative prices of gasoline versus renewable fuels and on the efficiency of American cars and … Read More
Presidential Hopefuls Outline Climate Plans
As the world gears up for the Bali Climate Summit in December, last week-end saw three US presidential candidates present plans to combat climate change. Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards and front runner Hillary Clinton appeared before an audience of about 1,000 as part of the event Global Warming and America’s Energy Future. Kucinich, the first … Read More