Posts Tagged by Obama Administration
EPA Policies Will Devastate Economy if Obama Is Re-Elected
| September 12, 2012 | Posted by Beth Shaw under Issues |
The Obama Administration has made no secret of its intentions regarding the future of American resources. When Obama was campaigning for the presidency in 2008 he declared that he intended to bankrupt the coal industry and that electricity prices would necessarily skyrocket. Over the past three and a half years he has done just that. He has used his Environmental Protection Agency to aggressively wage war against any viable sources of energy in spite of having been shut down six times by U.S. courts, putting people out of work and causing increases in energy prices.
So what will happen if Obama is re-elected? The Daily Caller is running an article by James Valvo of Americans for Prosperity that gives us some insight into what we can expect from Obama’s EPA in a second Obama presidential term. Not surprisingly, it has to do with regulations that sniffle the production of energy.
Apply greenhouse gas regulations to existing power plants: In March 2012, EPA proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations for new power plants. EPA wrote its proposed rule in a way that ensures that the regulations will only apply to new plants and only combined-cycle natural gas plants will be able to meet the thresholds. While this rule effectively bans construction of new coal-fired power plants, it doesn’t affect the existing coal fleet.
However, EPA has no statutory basis for not applying the Section 111 rules to existing and modified sources too. Once the election is past and the GHG rules for new plants are finalized, environmental groups will likely use a sue-and-settle strategy to get the GHG rules applied to existing coal plants as well. As the Sierra Club’s chief climate counsel, David Bookbinder, wrote, after environmentalists get regulations for new plants in place, “they could start thinking about how to deal with existing power plants under Section 111(d) of the Act. But one thing at a time.” EPA admitted as much in its initial November 2011 draft of the GHG rule, indicating that “in a subsequent separate action, the EPA will issue … emission guidelines for … existing fossil-fuel-fired” power plants.
Finalize the Utility MACT rule: Following a yearlong fight to protect its ostensibly mercury-related climate regulations from congressional disapproval, the president’s EPA announced on July 20, 2012 that it would reconsider the emission limitations for new plants only until March 2013. Once the November election is in the rearview mirror, expect EPA to finalize these standards. The agency’s own estimates put the economic impact at $10 billion per year, while the health benefits from the mercury reductions are so small we won’t even be able to measure them. Of course, this rule isn’t about mercury at all; it’s designed to implement the administration’s climate agenda without legislative approval.
Resurrect proposed ozone regulations: In 2011, the Obama EPA pushed an out-of-cycle review of the nation’s ground-level ozone NAAQS. The agency is only supposed to review the levels every five years, but an overzealous Obama EPA just couldn’t wait. Following significant blowback — because the standards would’ve put almost the entire nation “out of attainment” and halted all permitting — EPA was forced to shelve the proposal. However, 2013 marks the correct time to review the levels, and we should expect EPA to pursue its previous proposal in earnest. A study by the National Association of Manufacturers found that EPA’s proposed ozone levels would erase 7.3 million jobs and cost $1 trillion by 2020.
The policies of the EPA will be devastating to the economy if Obama is re-elected. The regulations mentioned above as well as the use of of the Clean Water Act to pre-emptively deny permits will leave thousands of Americans without jobs and drive energy prices to a level that will be prohibitive. As President Obama said himself, energy cost will necessarily skyrocket.
You can take action by signing Resourceful Earth’s petition expressing your anger to Congress over the bureaucratic over-regulation policies of the Obama Administration’s EPA that are wrecking havoc with our economy.
Alaska Attorney General agrees EPA unlawfully expanding its powers
| May 3, 2012 | Posted by Admin under Issues, Mining |
Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty
Count Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty in the chorus of voices decrying the bullying tactics of the EPA in its efforts to shut down an important resource project before it’s even had the chance to apply for permits.
Geraghty wrote in a March letter to Dennis McLerran, Regional Administrator of EPA Region X, “We believe that EPA’s actions in using the Watershed assessment to address the pending petition are unlawfully preemptive, premature, arbitrary, capricious and vague.”
Legal Newsline reports:
EPA’s watershed assessment effort reaches well beyond any process or authority contemplated by the [Clean Water Act]…
…it conflicts with federal and state law, lacks scientific credibility and violates state and private mineral rights…
Various federal judges – including Supreme Court Justices – have described the EPA’s conduct as “outrageous” or “exceeding its authority.”
The Pebble Mine project continues to be under threat from this unconstitutional expansion of power by the EPA. You can take action via Resourceful Earth by sending a letter to your Representative and Senators telling them to stop the EPA and their bullying tactics here.
For further reading:
Alaska AG says EPA’s actions ‘unlawful’ (Legal Newsline)
Obama’s “None Of The Above” Energy Policy (Wizbang Blog)
Big Green pushes for EPA power grab to stop Pebble Mine (Washington Examiner)
Resourceful Earth asks Congress to stop the bullying tactics of the EPA
| May 1, 2012 | Posted by Admin under Issues, Mining |
In the past, we have covered stories about government attempts to shut down resource projects without a fair chance for review, including President Obama and the Keystone XL pipeline and Sen. Maria Cantwell’s [D-WA] efforts against the Pebble project in Alaska. Now, it turns out that despite being “roundly smacked down by the Supreme Court for their fine first, investigate later use of the Clean Water Act,” the EPA is moving forward with plans to try to shut down the Pebble Mine project—before it has even applied for permits or been formally proposed!
In other words, an unelected department full of government bureaucrats is trying to shut down an important resource project before it’s even had the chance to apply for permits. No matter that the mine would provide thousands of area jobs or that the partnership running the potential mine “has invested [millions] to make Pebble… the most environmentally friendly mine in history.”
As is described in this article from the Washington Examiner:
“This unprecedented power grab from the EPA would eliminate local and state authorities from having any say in the permitting process and gut the process established under the National Environmental Policy Act—passed by the environmentalists themselves.”
Apparently the EPA hasn’t gotten the memo from the White House that we’re supposed to be ending bullying, not participating in it.
According to a recent post from the WizBang blog:
“The Pebble project, like Keystone before it, is just one large example of the trend under this president. While publically saying that they are pursuing an ‘all of the above’ energy and resource strategy, down in the trenches (out of public view for the most part) what is really happening is that administratively and bureaucratically they are ensuring that “none of the above” ever see the light of day.”
You can take action via Resourceful Earth by sending a letter to your Representative and Senators telling them to stop the EPA and their bullying tactics here.
For further reading:
Big Green pushes for EPA power grab to stop Pebble Mine (Washington Examiner)
Obama’s “None Of The Above” Energy Policy (Wizbang Blog)
Washington Senator Maria Cantwell Interferes With Alaskan Environmental Affairs (Resourceful Earth News)
A123 Systems Going Bankrupt: Another Green Energy Dud!
| March 30, 2012 | Posted by Beth Shaw under Energy, Issues |
A123 Systems
Today’s failed environmentally friendly stimulus program is A123 Systems, hailed by former Democratic Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as a federal stimulus ‘success story. Nancy Pelosi called it a ‘great example of how Recovery Act funding is helping American companies.’ Nearly $300 million of Obama Recovery Act Funds and $135 million in tax credits and subsides used to keep jobs and money in Pelosi’s state.
So how’s this Obama tax-payer funded money working out for us? Well, it’s on the verge of bankruptcy. Another Solyndra? Is there any end to the Obama funded eco-friendly businesses that just aren’t working? At what point do we learn that utilizing the resources that are abundantly available to us in this country are not only the answer to our energy problems but also the answer to our economic and employment problems?
From Michelle Malkin:
How’s the return on government investment? This green dud will have taxpayers seeing red. A123′s official company motto is “Power. Safety. Life.” But the firm’s reality is “Out of power. Endangering safety. Clinging to life.”
Earlier this week, the company announced a recall of malfunctioning battery packs manufactured in Livonia, Mich. A123 makes the products for Fisker, Chevrolet and BMW electric cars. Consumer Reports flagged the potentially hazardous defect caused by faulty calibration earlier this month. The recall will cost upward of $55 million.
A Deutsche Bank analyst wrote: “We no longer have enough confidence that (A123) can raise sufficient capital (without massive equity dilution) and/or continue to augment their book to future business. Recent quality issues may lead to concerns over (A123′s) ability to manufacture with quality at high volumes, potentially leading to customer defections or at least difficulty in procuring new contracts.”
When it rains, it pours. The dead battery debacle follows news of 125 layoffs in November due to diminished vehicle production by top client Fisker Auto. That troubled company (which A123 has itself dumped $20.5 million of stock equity and cash into) admitted faulty wiring problems with its electric cars.
While Michigan workers lost their jobs, Massachusetts executives burned through $155 million in cash this year and the company stock plummeted to just over $1. A123 lost a net $172 million over the first three quarters of 2011 and has yet to see a profit. Like Solyndra’s top brass, A123 managers have been living high on the hog and partying it up with Democratic Party bigwigs.
The Michigan-based Mackinac Center reports that in February, “A123′s Compensation Committee approved a $30,000 raise for (Chief Financial Officer David) Prystash just days after (its primary customer) Fisker Automotive announced the U.S. Energy Department had cut off what was left of its $528.7 million loan it had previously received.”
Prystash’s hike was 8.5 percent, taking his base salary from $350,000 to $380,000. One A123 vice president, Robert Johnson, received a 20.7 percent pay increase that saw his salary grow from $331,250 to $400,000. Another vice president, Jason Forcier, vice president of the automotive solutions group, climbed from a $331,250 base salary to $350,000.
Analyst Paul Chesser of the D.C.-based National Legal and Policy Center raises pointed questions about the timing of the pay raises: “Were their actions intended as greater protection for their executives in the case of a sale or bankruptcy of the company?” Inquiring House GOP investigators looking into the Obama Department of Energy’s big green boondoggles should want to know.
And taxpayers should want to know more about the cozy ties between A123 and the White House and Democratic politicians. A123 Systems CEO David Vieau showered Barack Obama, the Democratic National Committee and key Democrats on Capitol Hill with nearly $17,000 before receiving the stimulus injection. A123 enviro-boodle also flowed to Mass. Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Ed Markey. Betting on “smart grid” cronyism has been a bonanza for the well-connected — and a big, bad bet for taxpayers.
CPAC 2012: The Obama EPA’s Green Assault on American Jobs
| February 8, 2012 | Posted by Beth Shaw under Issues |
There has been a lot of outrage and grumbling since the Obama Administration denied permits for the Keystone XL pipeline leaving Canada with little choice but to look to China for partnership on that project which would have otherwise brought jobs and energy independence to the United States. Unfortunately, grumbling and outrage don’t do a lot of good unless it’s accompanied by determined action.
There is one (only one!) panel presenting at CPAC this weekend in Washington, D.C. that is addressing ‘The Obama EPA’s Green Assault on American Jobs’. You are invited to attend and to offer your signature to help stop the radical green agenda that is killing America’s security, energy independence and American jobs. Read about it below.
Conservative activists are meeting this weekend at the yearly CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) and one of the issues that will be addressed, at least at one panel (PDF), is the ‘green’ agenda to destroy American jobs. That issue will be addressed in a panel titled ‘the Obama EPA’s Green Assault on American Jobs’ on Thursday, February 9th at 4:15 p.m. Panelists will include Competitive Enterprise Institute’s (CEI’s) Myron Ebell (also representing Resourceful Earth!), Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), who sits as the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO), from the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
We hope you will attend and spread the word to your readers, friends and other attendees. As a friend of mine says, the time for talk is over. Its time to take action while there is still time to prevent the lost of the opportunities the Keystone XL pipeline will offer the United States. In other words, put your action (and signature) where your mouth is. Stand up and stand with us. Time is running out.
The radicals at Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are using regulations to prevent the harvesting of America’s resources from obtaining natural gas, drilling for oil to mining for coal and copper (essential elements for modern living!). They are killing American jobs, threatening our economic and national security while boosting the fortunes for foreign THUGS and TYRANTS that hate us. It is beyond any rational comprehension. No lasting society undermines its own existence in this way. We must stop this insanity!
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and Resourceful Earth are taking the fight to the radical environmentalists in the Obama Administration. It would be hard to over state what is at stake here and the ways in which these over-regulations are undermining American jobs and America’s national security.
- Radicals in the EPA are using regulations to slam the door on everything from natural gas and oil drilling to coal and copper mining, killing American jobs, threatening our economic and national security, and boosting the fortunes of foreign thugs and tyrants that hate us.
- The Keystone XL pipeline will create thousands of American jobs, provide us with energy from a responsible and reliable source, and should NOT be politicized as it has been throughout the Obama Administration
- There are vast national security implications for American resources development, it takes mined minerals and metals to build our modern military machine yet radical environmentalists are killing domestic mining and forcing a growing reliance on China for the very materials necessary to keep our nation secure.
We hope to see you at ‘The Obama EPA’s Green Assault on American Jobs’ panel on Thursday, February 9th at 4:15 p.m.
Also, you will have the opportunity to put your signature where your outrage is. Resourceful Earth will be canvasing the halls of CPAC for signature aimed at stopping the radical ‘green’ agenda undermining American jobs. I hope you will take this opportunity to support the Keystone XL pipeline.
Keystone XL Pipeline Forum from CEI Video on Vimeo.
