From the Energy Front for Tuesday 011910
Hey folks,
This is getting to be good news. Now we have another Democrat that gets it. Remember last week I told you about Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Gov. Schweitzer and other members of the State Land Board, all Democrats, voted 4 to 1 on December 21 to open up Otter Creek, an approximately 10,000-acre checkerboard of public lands, to coal development in Montana's region of the Powder River Basin. An estimated 572 million tons in all will be auctioned off to coal companies for 25 cents a ton, with a small percentage of the money to be funneled to public schools.
Well, today we see that another Democrat is jumping into the mix here. Here is a letter that Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., sent to the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
“Dear Mr. Secretary:
I am writing in response to your announcement of new policies for oil and natural gas leasing on federal lands in 2010. I am deeply disturbed by this administration's continued hypocrisy with regards to American energy policy. Your policy changes not only violate federal law, a law which you and President Obama both voted for in the Senate, but they are also inconsistent with the administration's stated goals for an American energy policy that provides more jobs and strengthens national security.
These policies will only serve to restrict access to energy resources on federal lands, which an overwhelming majority of Americans would like to see utilized. In 2008, we witnessed an emotional response from the American people in their desire to see more domestic energy production, less dependence on enemy nations, and lower energy prices.
There has already been a dramatic reduction in leases issued by the Department of the Interior, 40 percent fewer in the western states. We have also seen over a 90 percent reduction in revenue from oil and gas lease sales in 2009 compared with the previous year. Efforts to create additional hurdles such as limiting the use of categorical exclusions, which Congress specifically mandated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, will significantly undermine the ability of independent producers to utilize these important, common-sense tools.
Within the House Natural Resources Committee, I am constantly reminded why decisions relating to the development of natural resources are always best made at the local level. Developing a master leasing plan under the stewardship of yet another disassociated, Washington-based regulatory team will only create potential for litigation and protest on every oil and gas lease issued by the agency. This top-down approach will add greater bureaucracy and costly delays to an industry so critical to our nation and our future.
Natural gas is without question the cleanest, most affordable American fuel we have. Thanks to new technologies, we can produce it in abundance if provided the access, but the benefits reach far beyond the tangible commodity. Its greatest contribution undoubtedly comes in the form of jobs -- high-paying, stable, American jobs. Currently, millions of Americans are employed by the oil and gas industry, earning, on average, $45 an hour – over $93,000 a year – or double the national average estimate of jobs created by so-called "green investment." Moreover, the revenue you are impeding from oil and gas leasing is the largest contributor to the national treasury after income tax. To stifle the growth of this industry in the midst of record-setting national deficit and unemployment levels is not only outrageous, but irresponsible.
It is impossible to stand by silently while these job-killing proposals further hinder our efforts toward energy independence and have devastating effects on families and small businesses across the nation. It is also naive for anyone, including the industry's critics, to argue that oil and natural gas will not be the integral bridge that connects our current energy economy to the future.
Why do policy-makers within the administration deny the connection between your so-called American energy "kings of the world" and the millions of American jobs they provide? The companies affected by these reforms are not global corporate conglomerates. Rather, they are smaller, independent producers that drill 90 percent of the wells in the U.S. struggling to stay alive in this dwindling economy. To these companies, and the people behind them whose blood, sweat, and tears have helped to build this country, statements such as your "kings of the world" comment are a profound affront.
I respectfully request that you reconsider these policy initiatives and reevaluate the harmful rhetoric you continue to use when discussing our nation's energy industry and the millions of hard-working Americans it employs. Instead, respect the legacy of those who laid the foundation of our nation's prosperity and work with the American energy industry on policies that will complement our national objectives, while preserving these critical jobs.”
Office of Congressman Dan Boren
United States Congress
House of Representatives
I have nothing to add. I've been telling you all these things for the past few years. It is a good sign that we NOW and FINNALLY have some Democrats, breaking with the Party lines to actually acknowledge the TRUTH. Drill here, Drill Now, create Jobs, HELP the Economy, and Reduce the cost of energy for ALL Americans.
We really can do both. Increase our own use of our own resources, at the same time, work on Alternatives. But to block what the Economy runs on, what the World Runs on, while we still have NO Alternatives is both ignorant and insane. It's good to see some Sane Democrats waking up to this reality.
Peter
Hey folks,
This is getting to be good news. Now we have another Democrat that gets it. Remember last week I told you about Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Gov. Schweitzer and other members of the State Land Board, all Democrats, voted 4 to 1 on December 21 to open up Otter Creek, an approximately 10,000-acre checkerboard of public lands, to coal development in Montana's region of the Powder River Basin. An estimated 572 million tons in all will be auctioned off to coal companies for 25 cents a ton, with a small percentage of the money to be funneled to public schools.Well, today we see that another Democrat is jumping into the mix here. Here is a letter that Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla., sent to the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
“Dear Mr. Secretary:I am writing in response to your announcement of new policies for oil and natural gas leasing on federal lands in 2010. I am deeply disturbed by this administration's continued hypocrisy with regards to American energy policy. Your policy changes not only violate federal law, a law which you and President Obama both voted for in the Senate, but they are also inconsistent with the administration's stated goals for an American energy policy that provides more jobs and strengthens national security.
These policies will only serve to restrict access to energy resources on federal lands, which an overwhelming majority of Americans would like to see utilized. In 2008, we witnessed an emotional response from the American people in their desire to see more domestic energy production, less dependence on enemy nations, and lower energy prices.
There has already been a dramatic reduction in leases issued by the Department of the Interior, 40 percent fewer in the western states. We have also seen over a 90 percent reduction in revenue from oil and gas lease sales in 2009 compared with the previous year. Efforts to create additional hurdles such as limiting the use of categorical exclusions, which Congress specifically mandated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, will significantly undermine the ability of independent producers to utilize these important, common-sense tools.
Within the House Natural Resources Committee, I am constantly reminded why decisions relating to the development of natural resources are always best made at the local level. Developing a master leasing plan under the stewardship of yet another disassociated, Washington-based regulatory team will only create potential for litigation and protest on every oil and gas lease issued by the agency. This top-down approach will add greater bureaucracy and costly delays to an industry so critical to our nation and our future.
Natural gas is without question the cleanest, most affordable American fuel we have. Thanks to new technologies, we can produce it in abundance if provided the access, but the benefits reach far beyond the tangible commodity. Its greatest contribution undoubtedly comes in the form of jobs -- high-paying, stable, American jobs. Currently, millions of Americans are employed by the oil and gas industry, earning, on average, $45 an hour – over $93,000 a year – or double the national average estimate of jobs created by so-called "green investment." Moreover, the revenue you are impeding from oil and gas leasing is the largest contributor to the national treasury after income tax. To stifle the growth of this industry in the midst of record-setting national deficit and unemployment levels is not only outrageous, but irresponsible.
It is impossible to stand by silently while these job-killing proposals further hinder our efforts toward energy independence and have devastating effects on families and small businesses across the nation. It is also naive for anyone, including the industry's critics, to argue that oil and natural gas will not be the integral bridge that connects our current energy economy to the future.
Why do policy-makers within the administration deny the connection between your so-called American energy "kings of the world" and the millions of American jobs they provide? The companies affected by these reforms are not global corporate conglomerates. Rather, they are smaller, independent producers that drill 90 percent of the wells in the U.S. struggling to stay alive in this dwindling economy. To these companies, and the people behind them whose blood, sweat, and tears have helped to build this country, statements such as your "kings of the world" comment are a profound affront.
I respectfully request that you reconsider these policy initiatives and reevaluate the harmful rhetoric you continue to use when discussing our nation's energy industry and the millions of hard-working Americans it employs. Instead, respect the legacy of those who laid the foundation of our nation's prosperity and work with the American energy industry on policies that will complement our national objectives, while preserving these critical jobs.”
Office of Congressman Dan Boren
United States Congress
House of Representatives
I have nothing to add. I've been telling you all these things for the past few years. It is a good sign that we NOW and FINNALLY have some Democrats, breaking with the Party lines to actually acknowledge the TRUTH. Drill here, Drill Now, create Jobs, HELP the Economy, and Reduce the cost of energy for ALL Americans.
We really can do both. Increase our own use of our own resources, at the same time, work on Alternatives. But to block what the Economy runs on, what the World Runs on, while we still have NO Alternatives is both ignorant and insane. It's good to see some Sane Democrats waking up to this reality.
Peter
4 comments:
Again. Just because Schweitzer and the land board voted to open this area doesn't mean it will ever happen. There's been no public comment (which must happen here when the environment will be affected), there's been no environmental impact statement (EIS), there's been no legal challanges (yet). The people of this state will never let this happen and there will be a political price to pay for this (even, hopefully, for the governor).
We are (thank God) not Oklahoma. (Though I'm all for total destruction of OK. Ever drive thru there? Between the cattle and the oil fields you can't really do much more to f*#@ up that state.)
This pertains to an older post that I can't find, but also ties nicely to this post. I'm referring to the Supreme Court's ruling to roll back campaign finance reform. In the old post I pointed out how corporations and big money tend to be responsible for the election of politicians and the agendas those politicians pursue. Now, with the Court's ruling allowing limitless contributions by corporations the balance of advertising and information output has undeniably created an unfair disadvantage for average Americans.
Now big coal and oil can be sure to influence elections to get the politician they want (need) to be in office so their agenda will be fulfilled.
This Supreme Court ruling is such a shame. And the ghost of W. lives on.
"With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics," said President Obama in a statement. "It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans..."
My sentiments exactly, Mr. President.
After several major coal ash disasters, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appears ready protect human health and water resources by classifying coal ash as "hazardous" and set, for the first time, enforceable disposal standards for it - unless coal industry lobbyists get their way.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is delaying the release of EPA's proposal. Determined to derail this important EPA action, at least 21 coal industry lobbyists have met with OMB.
You may not be able to meet with OMB staff, but you can do something about it today.
Tell OMB to release the EPA coal ash rule to the public.
Coal ash contains a smorgasbord of toxic material - arsenic, mercury and lead to name a few. And we've seen what can happen when coal ash waste is not disposed of safely.
* In 2008, a holding pond spilled coal ash waste across the Tennessee countryside in area 100 times larger than the Exxon Valdez spill.
* An improperly lined coal ash pond in Colstrip, Montana leaked toxins and contaminated the aquifer. Residents were advised to not drink the water or to use it for irrigation or livestock.
Consistent, enforceable standards would prevent coal ash spills and protect water resources and human health.
Gee. Another - ANOTHER - extract CORPORATION screwing local Montanans? That is soooo surprising. But, hey, 30 jobs, half of which are probably people from Wyoming and North Dakota, are 30 jobs. Too bad the locals can't drink water from their wells or feed their cattle. Who the hell cares about them as long as the CORPORATION prospers? Right?
AGAIN. These continuous episodes that harm Montanans and our land is the reason the Tongue River rape will never happen.
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