News

Why we fight.

The video on this was awesome, despite the profound physical deficiencies of the interviewee. KXNews Bismark (8/14/12) reports: “You may have noticed an unfamiliar bus driving through the streets of Bismarck Tuesday. The bus is part of an American Energy Alliance bus tour. It’s stopping across the country raising awareness about the importance of Domestic energy production, manufacturing, and also how important refinery’s are.”

You know, he wasn’t any better in Billings. KULR8 Billings (8/14/12) reports: “A bus tour promoting domestic energy production made two stops in Billings on Monday. The American Energy Alliance’s “Products and Power” bus tour is going to 18 states over five weeks. The group says domestic energy production provided job and economic growth, and that simple, streamlined regulations make it easier to create new jobs.”

Governor Romney was right to come out against giving more taxpayer money to Obama’s cronies.  And Dan Kish is just the most solid person on the planet. USNews (8/14/12) reports: “But subsidies won’t sustain an industry that can’t stand on its own without the government. Just look at Europe, whose governments are now turning away from heavy subsidies for alternative energy production, says Dan Kish, senior vice president for policy at the Institute for Energy Research.”

“I laid off 239 last week.”  What else is there to say?  Except that the Obama Administration doesn’t seem to care about any of these people. WTRF (7/14/12) reports: “Governor Romney will be at Century Mines on Tuesday to speak to thousands of coal miners and their families… Local politicians will be speaking as well, including Josh Mandel for Senate, and Ohio Senator Rob Portman will introduce Governor Romney. Romney is scheduled to speak for half an hour, then plans to spend an hour talking with coal miners and their families.”

Let’s review.  More expensive cars ($3200 more expensive on average).  More deadly accidents (as many as 240 additional deaths every year).  No environmental benefit.  A corrupt federal government using its substantial leverage to keep private companies in line.  But other than that, this is a really good rule. American Products. American Power. (8/10/12) reports: “The Committee on Oversight’s report found that the administration “places ideology over science and politics over process” and that these extreme fuel economy mandates have “serious consequences for consumers in the choice, cost, and safety of vehicles.” One example of this is a report from the National Automobile Dealers Association which found that these regulations will increase the price of cars so much that 7 million drivers will no longer be able to afford to drive.”

Preach on, Brother Beauprez. Denver Post (8/12/12) reports: “As state and federal lawmakers debate the country’s energy policies and Colorado’s role in the ever-expanding energy economy, let’s hope they remember that unnecessary regulations stifle growth while doing nothing for public safety or health. They would also be wise to listen to voter dissatisfaction regarding overly-burdensome regulations.”

Hard to disagree with any of this.  So we won’t. Junk Science (8/10/12) reports: “The slow global take-up of EVs has been mirrored in Australia, with only 18 sold privately this year and 45 sold to government and business… While many blame high prices Mitsubishi i-MiEV retails at $48,800, Nissan Leaf at $51,500 and Holden Volt at $59,990 Australian industry figures point to a lack of government subsidies.”

If the carbon tax in Australia did not exist, we would have to invent it just to make people like Greg Mankiw, Arthur Brooks, Kevin Hassett, Bob Inglis, and the remainder of the surrender monkeys look even more ridiculous than they already do. Sydney Morning Herald (8/10/12) reports: “Liberal state health ministers have banded together to attack the carbon tax, which they say will add millions of dollars a year to their health care bill.”

How do you think the President’s crew would respond if we suggested that they should allow oil and gas exploration on military bases?  Wouldn’t more of those resources improve national security? Environmental News Service (8/8/12) reports: “The Obama Administration is moving quickly to harness solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy resources on or near military bases across the United States and on public lands.”

“’I was a climate negotiator, and no one had this in mind,’ said David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council.”  Except, obviously, for the Chinese and Indian businessmen, who are clearly smarter than environmentalists in the United States and Europe.  Seriously, read the entire article and see if you can get through it without laughing.  But also remember that guys like Doniger really think they are smarter than the rest of us. NYTimes (8/8/12) reports: “They quickly figured out that they could earn one carbon credit by eliminating one ton of carbon dioxide, but could earn more than 11,000 credits by simply destroying a ton of an obscure waste gas normally released in the manufacturing of a widely used coolant gas. That is because that byproduct has a huge global warming effect. The credits could be sold on international markets, earning tens of millions of dollars a year.”

Smuckers should have responded that they planned to start producing HCFC-22. Business Wire (8/7/12) reports: “In recognition of Smucker’s [NYSE: SJM] positive first steps to respond to climate-related risks, Trillium Asset Management, LLC (Trillium) and Calvert Investment Management, Inc. (Calvert) announced today that they have formally withdrawn a shareholder proposal which called on the company to disclose climate-related risks to the Folgers™ Coffee and other brands. These brands currently represent over 40 percent of Smucker’s overall revenues and a significant portion of the company’s recent growth.”

Tell me again how this Administration favors production from the shale formations. Free Beacon (8/9/12) reports: “The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) in June re-interpreted a 50-year-old rule limiting the amount of time trucks delivering water and sand to drilling sites can stay on-site… The change drew immediate criticism when it was discovered and prompted Rep. Jeff Landry (R., Louis.) to join 63 other congressmen in penning a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood demanding it be rescinded.”

Try to remember that the LCV is nothing more than Greg Mankiw and Arthur Brooks with a bit less refinement.  If you favor a new energy tax, you really oppose economic growth, and, by extension, the working people who would benefit from that growth. Free Beacon (8/6/2012) reports: “The League of Conservation Voters, one of the nation’s most prominent environmental advocacy groups, is dedicating more than $1 million to unseating five House Republicans it accuses of being global warming deniers.”

Well, the Canadians can’t always be wrong. Environmentalism is Fascism reports: “The USA has around 12,000 enviro-non-profit societies, most with only a few paid staff. On the other hand, the USA Green Chamber of Commerce has 35,000 for-profit members and is currently seeking to triple that number (supported by Toyota, Union Bank, etc.)… Green businesspeople know their survival depends on state preferences and on the enviro-zeitgeist. A green business is a movement organization.”

Not all news is bad news. American Products. American Power. (8/9/12) reports: “After the parade, the AEA team sat down with Congresswomen Heather Wilson and Senator Gay Kernan for ice cream and sodas at the Main Street Cafe to cool down. The Honorable Heather Wilson, currently running for U.S. Senate, noted that today it takes 120 days to get permit approval to drill on BLM land in New Mexico, whereas in 2006 businesses only needed 60 days to work through the permitting process. Now more than ever, the bus tour and the American Energy Alliance’s fight to push back against costly regulations and red tape is crucial to reigniting the American economy and maintaining the strength of the local economy in New Mexico.”

If not us, then who? If not now, then when? And seriously, follow us on twitter @productspower. E&ENews (8/8/12) reports: “At an event in Dallas, activists were joined by Michael Reagan, son of the late President Ronald Reagan, to kick off the “American Products and Power” multi-state bus tour from the city’s Flag Pole Hill Park. The tour is being promoted by the American Energy Alliance and will cover at least 16 states, including the energy-rich potential swing states of New Mexico, Colorado and Ohio.”

It might take decades for the jobs to come?  And Romney is on the wrong side of this issue?  There is no nice way to say this: these people are morons. Denver Post (8/7/12) reports: “Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign has been savaging what it calls President Barack Obama’s “unhealthy” obsession with “green jobs.” The Republican challenger criticizes the government program that propped up solar manufacturer Solyndra, and he mocks Obama’s vision of a boom in employment, citing a European study to argue that new solar or wind-energy positions would destroy jobs elsewhere.”

Even if we were going to be alive, it wouldn’t be that satisfying to say, “I told you so.” Consumer Report (8/6/12) reports: “At the rate the WT6500 [off-grid wind turbine] is delivering power at our test site, it would take several millennia for the product to pay for itself in savings—not the 56 years it would take even with the 1,155 kWh quote we received.”

This story seems to suggest that the costs of an energy tax flow through the economy.  But that can’t be right.  I mean, who uses energy? ABC (8/8/12) reports: “But the co-op’s chief executive, Simon Stahl, says he expects power costs to rise dramatically… “All the flow-on costs… the power stations obviously have direct emissions and they will pass those charges on and they have notified us that our power prices will be going up as a direct result of the carbon tax by about half a million dollars a year,” he said.”

We hope that Senator Reid brings an energy tax bill to the Senate floor as well.  It will require a tough vote from a lot of people, and it will be fun to watch everyone squirm.  But mostly, it will educate voters about how their Senators really think about them and their lives. Greenwire (8/8/12) reports: “Asked whether the Senate would return to climate legislation aimed at adding a price to carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping emissions, Reid said, “I hope so.””

Apparently, it’s really easy to upset your friends and your enemies when you start making boldfaced lies. Politico (8/8/12) reports: “The Obama campaign is taking heat from progressive and green allies over its attempt to cozy up to coal in some battleground states.”

This is the worst idea ever. Washington Post (8/6/12) reports: “The 18-year loans will be funded out of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the government’s vehicle for promoting U.S. export sales by providing low-interest loans for services and goods produced by American industries. The funding could be applied to a variety of projects, including wind, solar and thermal power, said Fred Hochberg, the bank president and chairman.”

I don’t understand why everyone is surprised that Jim Rogers weaseled.  I mean, it is what he does. E&ENews (8/7/12) reports: “As organizers of the Democratic National Convention race to raise millions of dollars in the remaining few weeks before the event in Charlotte, N.C., they are doing so without the help of lead fundraiser Duke Energy Corp. CEO Jim Rogers.”

What?  You mean that an energy tax raises energy costs?  Are you sure? International Business Times (8/7/12) reports: “The high cost of electricity in Australia was mainly due to state governments’ move of generating revenues from power generators, which according to Prime Minister Julia Gillard were operating burdens eventually shouldered by consumers.”

The best part?  Describing Congress as a “structural hurdle.”  How can you not laugh? InsideEPA (8/7/12) reports: “”Most of the discussion here is what you called the 20 percent,” or voluntary programs that give EPA and industry flexibility, said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center and a member of NACEPT. “But 80 percent of what you do is the implementation of statutory programs, and most of them aren’t very flexible.”… The agency needs to figure out how to get over that “structural hurdle,” Learner said.”

Meanwhile, Keystone XL remains unexpedited. Politico (8/7/12) reports: “President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that seven renewable energy projects on public lands across four Western states would be “expedited.””