In the Pipeline: 8/6/12

We include this not to make fun of Brent Erickson or his band of rent-seekers.  We include it because we love the headline, “Ethanol groups form coalition to save federal support for biofuels.”  We were under the impression that the federal government does not “support” ethanol use (“Go Corn Growers!”).  It mandates ethanol use.  If you need the difference explained, you probably are already a shill for the corn growers. The Hill (8/5/12) reports: “Eight biofuels groups are forming a coalition to coordinate messaging to combat calls to limit a federal mandate for renewable fuels because of the drought.”

Only a guy living in an 11,000 square foot house in the suburbs could offer something as ridiculous as it would be tragic if natural gas “undermined” “investments” in wind, solar, and other expensive, unreliable forms of energy.  I have no clue why mainstream media outlets are dying.  I really don’t.  If you any idea, send them to us. NYTimes (8/5/12) reports: “But, as the energy and climate expert Hal Harvey puts it, there is just one big, hugely important question to be asked about this natural gas bounty: “Will it be a transition to a clean energy future, or does it defer a clean energy future?””

Remember this next time someone says we can move beyond, phase out, work around, transition away from, create a bridge, replace, switch, end our use of conventional fuels. WSJ (8/5/12) reports: “Slogans like “beyond coal” may appeal to Sierra Clubbers and to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who gave the environmental group $50 million to help “end the coal era.” But with 1.3 billion people on the planet still lacking access to electricity, the priority for leaders in places like New Delhi isn’t carbon-dioxide emissions or “clean energy.” Their primary aim is to bring their people out of the dark.”

So we missed this last week.  But it is odd that the story itself does not mention that Sierra has filed an appeal on this (shocker).  When was the last time the Sierra Club was bashful?  I’ll help:  never.  We think they would rather people not focus on Keystone during the election. Edmond Sun (7/14/12) reports: “Oklahoma environmental activists and an east Texas governmental body have filed a complaint seeking an injunction against the TransCanada Cushing-to-Gulf pipeline.”

I’m glad Bill Magwood is the ethically challenged one.  Why does this guy keep getting a free pass? Las Vegas Review Journal (8/3/12) reports: “There’s another factor, however, one more personal to Reid: His son, Rory Reid, is one of the attorneys for the ENN Mojave Energy project. A Reid spokeswoman said the senator did not suggest Reid’s firm – Lionel, Sawyer & Collins – to ENN, nor has the elder Reid spoken to this son about the deal. (Reid imposed a strict ban on family members lobbying his office in 2003 after the Los Angeles Times asked him about lobbying by three of his four sons.)… But success for ENN in finding customers helps Rory Reid, and its failure could cost him a client. It’s an undeniable conflict that Harry Reid should keep in mind as he twists arms at the PUC and NV Energy, lest he earn himself an ethics complaint.””