Mainstream Media: Energy Policy Needs More Prominence

September 5, 2010

I got a high-quality rowing machine (Concept2) on Craig’s list yesterday, and have committed to daily use. It’s really the perfect tool for strength building and cardio simultaneously. But the reason I bring this up is that it will essentially force me to watch a bit of television, enabling me to keep up better with the coverage that the mainstream media affords various subjects of national and international importance.

Cooling down after my workout just now, I ask myself what I learned from 20 minutes or so in front of the Chris Matthews Show. Essentially, it’s that Obama has not done a good job in explaining himself and the actions he’s taken. While he was waiting for the stimulus package to take effect, he spent the majority of his political capital pushing through healthcare reform – a bill of dubious priority. The majority of Americans are angry with government, and the last think they want to see is more of it – in healthcare – or anyplace else. With the mid-term elections now only two months away, the Democrats are floundering to regain the trust of the electorate.

What does this mean in terms of renewable energy in the US? To me, it means this: don’t hold your breath. There are so many obvious actions related to energy policy that you or I would do if we were in charge, not one of which is anywhere close to happening.  Anyone of conscience acting independent of corruptive influence would start, I think, with these three:

1) Create a level playing field, removing the imbalance of subsidies that favors fossil fuels by a factor of 12:1, and accounting for externalities

2) Develop some version of federal renewable portfolio standard (RPS), probably looking at the country by region, and targeting specific adoption of solar, wind, geothermal, hydrokinetics, etc. accordingly

3) Be fair and honest in the allocation of stimulus money and other grants to businesses that actually can make a difference, vs. corporate behemoths that make huge campaign contributions

But let’s be realistic. The world of “what is right” and the world of political reality are galaxies apart. What can I infer from the fact that 20 minutes of analysis came and went in front of me – without a mention of the word “energy” even once? I think it’s pretty clear. If you’re looking for reform here, we have a lot of work in front of us if we’re going to elevate this issue to the position of prominence it needs to be.

By Craig Shields | Posted in Renewables - Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Gulf Oil Spill — Sadness and Disgust

June 16, 2010

We all share a deep sadness and disgust over the Gulf oil spill. Of course, the pragmatists among us are less interested in affixing blame than we are in resolving the issue, and ultimately containing and cleaning up the mess. To this end, I have to say that I find a few aspects of this particularly troubling:

We seem to have little interest in reaching out to other countries (Norway, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, etc.) that have extensive experience in dealing with crises like this.

We are wrapped tight in red tape from the Army Corps of Engineers and OSHA, hobbling our efforts to stop the disaster.

President Obama: I know you’re trying your best to demonstrate leadership in this terrible moment in human history; we all recognize and appreciate that. But I urge you to understand that this is not business as usual, and take bold steps based on the points above. Bypass the deeply entrenched jingoistic and bureaucratic jungle in the federal government, and get the job done.

By Craig Shields | Posted in Renewables - Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Comment (1)

Obama Opening up East and Gulf Coasts to Offshore Drilling — by Bill Paul

April 1, 2010

PhotobucketYesterday’s announcement by Obama that he’s opening up East and Gulf coasts to offshore drilling is very good news, insofar as it will drive increased visibility of the imperatives for renewable energy.  Coming on the heels of Obama’s announcement of federal loan guarantees for new nuclear power units, this now sets the stage for a strong administration push for climate change legislation by the fall — not that it will be called that, given how politically-charged that phrase has become. Obama is giving more moderate Republicans, especially SC Sen. Lindsey Graham, what they want and need to support a bill that is expected to include, for the first time ever, some sort of cap on carbon dioxide emissions. Exactly what that cap will look like and which companies and industries it will impact most will be the source of a lot of political haggling in the weeks and months to come.

In short, what everyone thought was dead, at least for this year, now seems very much alive. With healthcare out of the way, climate change legislation (which they’ll probably call energy legislation) should become the new buzz in Washington. On Wall Street, everyone’s going to wonder how this will affect different companies and industries, which is where we come in.

Separately, take a look at this recent Reuters story, specifically in the 3rd paragraph the mention of growing “institutional interest” in alternative energy. This too is good news.

By BillPaul | Posted in Renewables - Business | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Obama’s State of the Union Address and Energy Policy

January 28, 2010

PhotobucketHere’s a post I wrote on Renewable Energy World on president Obama’s State of the Union address the other night.

I like to support Obama for his efforts along a number of lines, especially a progressive energy policy. But to me, all the pandering to the masses in that address served more to confuse people than to enlighten and motivate them.

By Craig Shields | Posted in Renewables - Politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Obama in Copenhagen

November 27, 2009

PhotobucketWith the Copenhagen summit occupying so much attention on the international stage, I may as well weigh in with my own viewpoint. In brief:

Obama’s commitment to a 17 percent emissions cut from 2005 levels by 2020 is virtually meaningless – even if it actually occurs. It’s a small fraction of what climate scientists have called for in their peer-reviewed studies on global warming. This carefully contrived, last-minute decision to send Obama was made with the proviso that it needed to appear to be a success. The commitment to this meager cut in emissions may be construed as a victory for the White House, but it most certainly is not for the rest of the people who live on this planet.

Having said that, as I’ve written many times before, Obama’s hands are tied. Here’s a man who won a landslide election a year ago, who has no more power than I do to move forward a progressive agenda and make real change. The lobbyists who work for the big energy corporations have an utter stranglehold over him and the entire the legislative process.

If you think I’m exaggerating, look at the healthcare logjam. The vast majority of Americans – and 57% of the physicians who treat them – favor single-payor – and we can’t even get that on the table. Here, the lobbies for the big money in healthcare are so powerful that our representatives are forbidden to even discuss an idea that represents a potential threat.

I honestly wish I could find I way to be optimistic and less cynical about the way in which we govern ourselves — but I can’t.

By Craig Shields | Posted in Renewables - Politics | Tagged , , | Comments (0)