Month: February 2011

What is a 'Clean Energy Standard'?

Although cap-and-trade is dead, its subsidy-seeking corporate advocates have not gone away. They have simply re-branded their cause as “clean energy” and are now lobbying for a so-called “clean energy standard” (CES). Continue reading What is a 'Clean Energy Standard'?

‘Carbon Nation’ to seduce right with Van Jones?

America’s wanna-be communists and their clean energy useful-idiots have a new documentary aimed at convincing the right that climate change is a problem and that clean energy is the solution. Continue reading ‘Carbon Nation’ to seduce right with Van Jones?

Wimp & Sellout Watch — No. 6

While we have high hopes that the newly empowered Republican Members of Congress will make every effort to fight the socialization of America, we are also aware that the GOP has an ignominious history of wimping- and/or selling-out, especially on environmental issues. Wimp & Sellout Watch is GreenHellBlog’s effort to spotlight the GOP’s weak links because:

In the 112th Congress, it should take more courage for GOP-ers to retreat than to advance.

Today’s update on potential wimps and sellouts to watch:

Rep. Mike Simpson. Environment & Energy News PM reported last Friday that:

A key House appropriator said today that he does not expect a disagreement over pre-emption of U.S. EPA’s greenhouse gas emissions rules to lead to a shutdown of the federal government.

A new law must be enacted by March 4 to continue funding federal programs. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), who heads the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, said that while House Republicans feel strongly that EPA regulation of carbon dioxide should be prevented, he does not believe his colleagues will refuse to pass spending legislation if it does not include language to do that.

“I doubt it,” he told reporters, when asked about the conflict.

Simpson stressed that Republican leaders had no interest in the kind of standoff that resulted in a shutdown of the federal government in 1995.

“Nobody’s talking about a government shutdown,” he said. “Nobody wants a government shutdown. Leadership does not want a government shutdown.”

But Simpson did not rule out the possibility.

“Could it ultimately, in negotiations between the House and the Senate, end up there? Sure, anything’s possible,” he added.

Hey Rep. Wimpson, if there’s not a credible threat of a shutdown, then the  Democrats will not rein in the EPA — you can bank on that, buddy.

Don’t forget to check out previous editions of Wimp & Sellout Watch:

  • No. 5 — Spotlighting Rep. Fred Upton.
  • No. 4 — Spotlighting Rep. Fred Upton.
  • No. 3 — Spotlighting Rep. Mike Simpson.
  • No. 2 — Spotlighting Sens. Lindsey Graham and Rob Portman.
  • No. 1 — Spotlighting Sens. Chuck Grassley, Rob Portman, Lindsey Graham and Scott Brown, and Rep. Fred Upton.

Defund the EPA

By Steve Milloy
February 9, 2011, Washington Times

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has hit the ground running with its greenhouse-gas regulations. But congressional Republicans are just getting around to introducing well-intended, but futile legislation to stop the agency. Continue reading Defund the EPA

EPA takes hardline in first GHG permit

The first permit to emit greenhouse gases under the EPA’s new climate rules has been issued by Louisiana for a Nucor steel facility. While that’s the good news, the Obama administration may be planning to take this opportunity to make cap-and-trade look like it would have been a walk in the park compared to EPA regulation. Continue reading EPA takes hardline in first GHG permit

Sen. Mark Kirk: Back from ignominy?

In June 2009, then-Rep. Mark Kirk (IL) was one of eight Republicans who shamefully voted for the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill. But Kirk’s days of sucking up to the greens seem to be over.

Faced with the prospect of being attacked by the greens in their campaign to scare Congress away from taking action against the EPA, Environment and Energy Daily reported today,

Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, said he is “not terribly concerned” about taking heat from green groups for his criticism of EPA action on carbon emissions. “The consensus behind the climate change bill collapsed and then further deteriorated with the personal and political collapse of Vice President [Al] Gore,” Kirk said in a brief interview last week.

Let’s hope Kirk’s votes match his Al Gore-trashing rhetoric.