Jul

14

Sarah Palin Slams Carbon Cap and Trade

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Sarah Palin’s Op Ed from today’s Washington Post that has gotten so much attention:

There is no shortage of threats to our economy. America’s unemployment rate recently hit its highest mark in more than 25 years and is expected to continue climbing. Worries are widespread that even when the economy finally rebounds, the recovery won’t bring jobs. Our nation’s debt is unsustainable, and the federal government’s reach into the private sector is unprecedented.

Unfortunately, many in the national media would rather focus on the personality-driven political gossip of the day than on the gravity of these challenges. So, at risk of disappointing the chattering class, let me make clear what is foremost on my mind and where my focus will be:

I am deeply concerned about President Obama’s cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage.

American prosperity has always been driven by the steady supply of abundant, affordable energy. Particularly in Alaska, we understand the inherent link between energy and prosperity, energy and opportunity, and energy and security. Consequently, many of us in this huge, energy-rich state recognize that the president’s cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the U.S. economy.

There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn’t lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America’s economy.

Job losses are so certain under this new cap-and-tax plan that it includes a provision accommodating newly unemployed workers from the resulting dried-up energy sector, to the tune of $4.2 billion over eight years. So much for creating jobs. Read more

Jul

7

Blame It On China | Cap and Trade Battle Begins in Senate

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China Holding Up Agreement on International Climate Goals, Berlusconi Says

China threatens to derail climate treaty talks as U.S. and European leaders lay the groundwork for a new accord to fight global warming, Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said today.

Inhofe Says Climate Change Legislation Won’t Win Support of U.S. Senate

Republican Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma said climate legislation won’t be approved by the U.S. Senate even though it’s likely to get the endorsement of the Environment and Public Works Committee.

House Presses Cap and Trade
Energy Secretary Chu pressed Obama’s case on behalf of climate-change legislation as Senators clashed over the “cap-and-trade” proposal.  Read more

Jun

30

Chicago Climate Exchange® Issues Statement on Passage of American Clean Energy and Security Act

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Chairman and Founder of the Chicago Climate Exchange Inc.® Dr. Richard L. Sandor issued the following statement today on House passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009:

“The Chicago Climate Exchange appreciates the hard work put in by Chairmen Waxman, Markey, Peterson and others to pass this important legislation. This bill is a great first step for creating green jobs, reducing carbon emissions and securing America’s energy independence. It recognizes the valuable role a market mechanism can play in achieving emissions reduction goals at least cost to consumers. Read more

Jun

29

American Iron and Steel Institute Says Climate Bill as Passed by House Puts Steel Industry at Competitive Disadvantage; Bill Must Have Important Modif

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The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) expressed its disappointment today over the House passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.

“We believe this bill has moved at a rushed pace that has not allowed for full debate of provisions that are critical to the steel industry, which was clearly underscored by the fact that the bill passed in the House by only seven votes,” said Thomas J. Gibson, AISI president and CEO. “The bill, as passed, will need important modifications as it moves through the Senate.

“We appreciate the hard work of Congressmen Doyle and Inslee and we look forward to continuing our work with them as this legislation moves through the process,” said Gibson. “However, we can say - with certainty - that if this bill is enacted as it presently stands, U.S. steelmakers and our workers will be at a significant competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace. Several modifications must be made to achieve the bill’s stated purpose of avoiding job loss and emission migration to overseas markets.”

One area of the bill that needs to be modified, Gibson said, relates to recognizing the challenges of energy intensive industries.

“With this bill, all forms of energy - coal, natural gas, biomass and electricity - have the potential to suffer a dramatic cost increase due to fuel switching, deployment of waste gas capture/regeneration technology, carbon capture and sequestration technology, and wind, solar and other clean energy technologies. Energy intensive industries should be rebated allowances to recover consequential cost increases resulting from this legislation, and not just emissions costs,” he said.

“Currently, the bill does not contain a meaningful border adjustment mechanism and has a significant lag before any assessment of comparable action by our trading partners is made,” Gibson said. “The legislation would clearly be inadequate to ensure that the new costs placed on steel and other trade-sensitive manufacturers would also be borne by imports,” he said. “As currently written, the border mechanism would be wholly ineffective and would simply lead to the substitution of imported products (from countries with no or far lesser environmental standards) for domestic production - undermining both the environmental objective of the bill and the competitiveness of U.S. products.”

Another area of concern in the House bill, Gibson said, is the arbitrary formula used to lower the emissions allowance schedule to energy-intensive manufacturers below 15 percent after beginning in 2015. This deprives energy-intensive manufacturers of nearly one billion allowances over the life of the program, he said. Energy-intensive manufacturers should receive the same emissions allowance schedule that is applied to every other recipient of emission allowances, he noted.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the material of choice. AISI plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI’s member companies represent over 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s Web site at www.steel.org.

SOURCE American Iron and Steel Institute