Congressional "Junk Shots" Won't Work. Just like those BP engineers trying everything in failed attempts to plug up the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, Congressional opponents of action on clean energy and climate are trying one "junk shot" after another to trash the clean energy and climate ... Get the facts congressional "junk shots" won't work. Just like those BP engineers trying everything in failed attempts to plug up the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, Congressional opponents of action on clean energy and climate are trying one "junk shot" after another to trash the clean energy and climate change bill in the Senate. As NRDC's Dan Lashof points out: "They make two wildly contradictory arguments against a comprehensive response that includes limits on carbon pollution. First they say that an energy and climate bill is not a response to the oil spill because it won't significantly reduce America's insatiable oil appetite. Simultaneously they argue that any bill that limits carbon pollution is a giant gasoline tax that will force Americans out of their cars. These arguments can't both be right. In fact, neither is." In fact, studies show that comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation will provide long-term savings for consumers, reduce our dependence on oil, create millions of new jobs, and put our nation back in control of its energy future. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and Climate Works have all concluded that household income will grow robustly under comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. Recent work from the independent Peterson Institute and Climate Works both establish that the Senators Kerry and Lieberman's American Power Act would lead to new jobs for American workers. These studies find that employment levels will be higher by an average of 203,000 to 440,000 jobs each year between 2012 and 2020 if the bill becomes law. Read less

The Economy/Energy Tax Claims Debunked. Following President Obama’s speech to the nation about the oil pollution disaster in the Gulf, several special interest groups vilified him for promoting a push toward clean energy solutions to the environmental nightmare created by our oil addition. ... Get the facts the economy/energy tax claims debunked. Following President Obama’s speech to the nation about the oil pollution disaster in the Gulf, several special interest groups vilified him for promoting a push toward clean energy solutions to the environmental nightmare created by our oil addition. A number of oil-funded groups such as Americans for Prosperity and the Heritage Foundation, attacked Obama for supporting the American Power Act, comprehensive energy and climate change legislation sponsored by Senators Kerry and Lieberman. AFP and Heritage have lambasted the legislation calling it an energy tax. But over the past two weeks, a number of economic studies have punched holes in this attack. As NRDC’s Laurie Johnson blogged, studies by MIT, the ClimateWorks Foundation, and EPA have shown that the new comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation will create jobs, cut energy bills and clean up the environment. Despite Cheneyesque fear-mongering by the fossil fuel industry and their front groups, and EPA report found that American households would gain nearly $6500 increased income from an investment of less than a dollar a day. And a study by ClimateWorks using independent analysis of the Peterson Institute shows that under the APA 540,000 new jobs will be generated between 2012 and 2030. The bottom line is when Big Oil groups try to scare Americans with false claims about higher taxes, look no further than the Gulf of Mexico to understand their credibility. Read less

The Economy / Congressional hearing. After the tragic coal mine disaster at the Massey Energy mine in West Virginia, The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is holding a hearing to ask top US coal mining companies what they are doing to support climate legislation. ... Get the facts the economy / congressional hearing. After the tragic coal mine disaster at the Massey Energy mine in West Virginia, The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is holding a hearing to ask top US coal mining companies what they are doing to support climate legislation. Expected to appear are the CEOs of Peabody Energy and Arch Coal, two of the largest privately held companies in the world. Combined, the two companies have spent tens of millions of dollars to block climate legislation, including lobbying congress and funding front-groups to peddle their dirty energy agenda. Front groups like the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), famous for hiring Bonner and Associates which sent forged letters to several members of Congress. Peabody and Arch have each contributed at least $5 million to ACCCE, whose most recent report attempts to frame climate legislation as a war on the poor. That of course discounts the positive economic impacts of clean energy and climate legislation, which could generate as many as 2 million jobs according to economists, and cut harmful air pollution by dirty coal fired utilities.  Not to mention that clean energy investments actually create more jobs and opportunities for low-income communities and communities of color. Stay tuned for more dirty energy attacks to come. Read less

Cap And Trade: An Affordable Truth. Today's op-ed column by Paul Krugman, "An Affordable Truth" supports a view that a cap and trade bill designed to dramatically cut our greenhouse gas emissions is  “affordable, essential”, and can help our economy recover faster.   ... Get the facts cap and trade: an affordable truth. Today's op-ed column by Paul Krugman, "An Affordable Truth" supports a view that a cap and trade bill designed to dramatically cut our greenhouse gas emissions is  “affordable, essential”, and can help our economy recover faster.   Read more here … Read less

Same As It Ever Was: No Switch From Chamber. The US Chamber would like you to know that it hasn't changed its position on climate, no matter what its recent letter to the Hill might have implied. According to a fresh blog post by Bruce Josten, the letter's author, the position stated in the letter ... Get the facts same as it ever was: no switch from chamber. The US Chamber would like you to know that it hasn't changed its position on climate, no matter what its recent letter to the Hill might have implied. According to a fresh blog post by Bruce Josten, the letter's author, the position stated in the letter "has been our position for the last two years and only represents a change to those who have willfully misrepresented it in the past."  Read more here ... Read less

Don't Fall For Gas Price Hoax! Good news for American motorists:  Despite doomsday prediction from energy-industry-funded interest groups, U.S. consumers actually will see a net reduction of $13 billion in 2020 and $46 billion in 2030 in their gasoline expenditures ($100 and ... Get the facts don't fall for gas price hoax! Good news for American motorists:  Despite doomsday prediction from energy-industry-funded interest groups, U.S. consumers actually will see a net reduction of $13 billion in 2020 and $46 billion in 2030 in their gasoline expenditures ($100 and $326 in average net savings per household, respectively) if Congress moves ahead to impose a cap-and-trade system, according to a new analysis from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ... Read more here ... Read less

CBO Study Does Not Predict Slowdown. As EDF reports:  "It must have been a late night for one of the headline writers at the Washington Post. That's the best explanation we can think of for the seriously misleading headline on a generally balanced story by reporter Juliet Eilperin.  ... Get the facts cbo study does not predict slowdown. As EDF reports:  "It must have been a late night for one of the headline writers at the Washington Post. That's the best explanation we can think of for the seriously misleading headline on a generally balanced story by reporter Juliet Eilperin.  The story is about the testimony of the head of the Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Elmendorf, who appeared before a Senate energy panel yesterday. Read more here ...  Read less

Clean Energy: It's A Bargain! A new NRDC Policy Brief summarizing economic analysis of clean energy and climate protection legislation -- the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), on our economy shows that:  ACES will boost our economy by driving $300 billion of investments ... Get the facts clean energy: it's a bargain! A new NRDC Policy Brief summarizing economic analysis of clean energy and climate protection legislation -- the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), on our economy shows that:  ACES will boost our economy by driving $300 billion of investments toward clean energy (through 2030), creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process; ACES is affordable at a cost to American households of less than a postage stamp per day; ACES will make America more secure by reducing oil imports as much as 5 million barrels per day due to a combination of lower demand and greater domestic production using CO2 captured from power plants for enhanced oil recovery.  Read more here ... Read less

CEI's Bogus Treasury Memo Spin. The clean-energy opponents at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) are back from their August vacation with a new "smoking gun" document that they say reveals the true costs of federal climate policy. But the claims about the supposed "Treasury memo" ... Get the facts cei's bogus treasury memo spin. The clean-energy opponents at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) are back from their August vacation with a new "smoking gun" document that they say reveals the true costs of federal climate policy. But the claims about the supposed "Treasury memo" don't really measure up to what’s in it... One thing is clear:  Opponents of clean energy legislation are claiming this memo says things it doesn't.  Read more here from Pete Altman and Dave Hawkins at NRDC ... and see this item at Media Matters and Wonk Room's take on the subject ... Read less

Strong Regulation Will Keep Carbon Markets Viable. In a recent WSJ article, Louisiana State University economist Joseph Mason outlines his concerns that special interests have already taken control of the European carbon markets and that the US carbon markets are unlikely to fair any better. He ... Get the facts strong regulation will keep carbon markets viable. In a recent WSJ article, Louisiana State University economist Joseph Mason outlines his concerns that special interests have already taken control of the European carbon markets and that the US carbon markets are unlikely to fair any better. He worries that even a Fed-like regulator for the carbon markets will not be enough to keep a cap and trade program viable over the long term. Putting aside the challenges of creating Professor Mason’s recommended carbon tax, there are ways to make sure a carbon market functions smoothly.  Read more here ... Read less

Railroading The Chamber On Climate Bill? What is the connection between Union Pacific Railroad, dirty coal and the US Chamber of Commerce's stance on climate legislation? The dots connecting them draw what has the appearance of a conflict of interest between Tom Donohue's role as ... Get the facts railroading the chamber on climate bill? What is the connection between Union Pacific Railroad, dirty coal and the US Chamber of Commerce's stance on climate legislation? The dots connecting them draw what has the appearance of a conflict of interest between Tom Donohue's role as President of the US Chamber of Commerce and his role as an 11-year member of the Union Pacific Railroad's Board of Directors.  Read more here ... Read less

What The NAM/ACCF Ads Leave Out. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) have run full throttle scare ads across the country against the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) (for an example click here). They want ... Get the facts what the nam/accf ads leave out. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) have run full throttle scare ads across the country against the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) (for an example click here). They want you to believe climate protection will bring nothing but hardship and economic ruin to America. Of all their little "facts" and figures, hjere's one NAM/ACCF actually don't want you to know: By 2030, their own model predicts the average American household's income going up by at least 100 times the increase in household energy expenditures from curbing global warming. In other words, your energy expenditures will go up by less than 1% of the increase in your income to protect the planet from the most dangerous impacts of global warming! Read less

Price Collar Won't Protect Carbon Cap. A brief Politico article in July 2009 titled "Time for a Price Collar on Carbon" argued that a price ceiling should be included in the Senate version of climate legislation as a way to better ensure the bill's passage. While the authors of the article ... Get the facts price collar won't protect carbon cap. A brief Politico article in July 2009 titled "Time for a Price Collar on Carbon" argued that a price ceiling should be included in the Senate version of climate legislation as a way to better ensure the bill's passage. While the authors of the article believe a price ceiling is necessary to get the bill over the finish line, they fail to weigh the costs a price ceiling would impose on 1) the cap's integrity; 2) low carbon investments; 3) the price of carbon allowances in later years; and 4) our ability to negotiate a binding global agreement on emissions reductions over time. Read more here. Read less

ACES: Good For Farmers, Small Business. Recycling their flawed May 13th analysis, the Heritage Foundation has released a new memo criticizing the precedent-setting Waxman-Markey Bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES, HR. 2454). Par for the course, the Foundation gets it all ... Get the facts aces: good for farmers, small business. Recycling their flawed May 13th analysis, the Heritage Foundation has released a new memo criticizing the precedent-setting Waxman-Markey Bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES, HR. 2454). Par for the course, the Foundation gets it all wrong: an engine of economic growth, job creation, energy security, and protection from dangerous and costly global warming pollution is turned into a nightmare for farmers and small businesses.  But then, should we expect anything else from an institution that has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from Exxon? Can they seriously expect us to believe them?  Read more here. Read less