Obama Energy Future

[camryman]

Yesterday when Obama announced his pic for the EPA and Energy Dept he stated that our National economic recovery will be related to our energy future and that california has been a role model leading the way in energy.

I imagine with this statement he is going to enact some energy infrastructure projects and forece the auto industry into alt fuels. And probably raise the tax on gasoline when they switch fuels.

Hydrogen at the pump would make lots of infrastructure const jobs.
with New Fuel cell cars

Wind farms and new transmission lines across the states.
The Nuke power plants are probably comming and another uranium mining gold rush.

The gov keeps putting billions into amtrak why not build a high speed rail across the USA since were upgrading infrastructure.

[jetboatjohnny]

Letter from Pickens

From the desk of T. Boone Pickens

Hey Army,

Some big pieces of the puzzle got put in place this afternoon. President-elect Obama named his Energy Team, including Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy and Carol Browner to lead the White House Council on Energy and the Environment.

Dr. Chu is a great choice - a Nobel Prize winner and big proponent of alternative fuels and energy efficiency. You already know how much I think of Carol Browner. I had an hour-long meeting with her earlier this month in Washington where she’s been heading up the Energy Transition Team for the President-elect.

I’ve met the President-elect. I know key members of his team. And they’re as serious about ending America’s dependence on foreign oil as you and I are. They’ve heard me loud and clear. Now they need to hear from you.

Click here to join your Pickens Plan District Group (and sign up to be the leader if there isn't one already) so you can help bring in 500 more members to the New Energy Army in your Congressional District before Inauguration Day. Those first 100 days are right around the corner, and we need to hit the ground running!

-Boone

[Beej]

Re: Obama Energy Future

The Nuke power plants are probably comming and another uranium mining gold rush.

Don't know about this though. This is one area where he has been very clear - he won't be moving us in this direction very quickly. He doesn't like the long term consequences of the waste. His energy plan says he's for it but in the same document he states that the federal govt will "look for safe, long-term disposal solutions based on objective, scientific analysis" which is govt speak for "this is way down on our list of priorities and we'll see if we can get around to it".

[Curtis]

Re: Obama Energy Future

Here's an energy update from Jeff Viohl (Viohl & Assoc.)


In the States
Nationwide – States have begun to deliver “wish lists” or lists of projects that could be started immediately upon funding to President-elect Obama. For example, construction on a high-speed rail line and a new medical research tower could be started within months in Wisconsin, with Governor Jim Doyle also proposing $993 million for energy-related projects, while the Maine Department of Transportation has proposed 87 projects costing
$335 million. State lobs wish list to Obama – Bangor Daily News and Doyle gives Obama team list of projects for economic stimulus package – Wisconsin State Journal

CA – The California Air Resources Board has decided on an outline of a plan to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 through emissions controls on autos, increased energy efficiency, and more renewable energy. The plan includes a decision to auction all of the states carbon credits in the upcoming Western Climate Initiative cap-and-trade system rather than giving some credits away and selling the rest.
The board also recommends investing more in solar energy and high speed rail, as well as reducing emissions from trucks and ships docked in California’s ports. California approves a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – EERE News and California adopts a plan on emissions – New York Times

KY – ConocoPhillips and Peabody have decided on a location to build a coal-to-gas plant expected to cost several billion dollars. The companies said that the plant will produce less than 5% of the emissions of a regular coal-fired power plant and that the new facility (named Kentucky NewGas) will create 500 new jobs and enough energy for 750,000 homes. Coal-to-gas plant site chosen in Western Kentucky – Lexington Herald-Leader

TN – During the eighth – and what was supposed to be the last – meeting of Governor Bredesen’s Energy Policy Task Force, the Governor asked the panel to continue its meetings to produce more concrete recommendations for attracting “green” jobs to Tennessee. The Governor also suggested he was uncertain about the effectiveness of a federal stimulus package since it would likely include a “potpourri of a lot stuff – some good and some very political.” Governor wants more clean energy jobs – The Tennessean

WY – Governor Dave Freudenthal offered his thoughts on climate change and global energy production at a speech and question-and-answer period in Wyoming last week. The governor said that something must be done about global warming so that Wyoming can be “a great place for our grandchildren”; otherwise, he said, “it’s going to be difficult.” He said that the state could help solve global warming and create jobs by developing clean coal technology and selling it to developing countries like China and India where energy use is expected to skyrocket. The Governor also noted that the potential for wind power generation is great in Wyoming though a large obstacle is getting transmission lines set up, and that he expects the coal industry to expand, at least in the short-term.
Wyoming to transition to greener energy – Wyoming Business Report

Transition News
President-elect Barack Obama recently announced his choices for Cabinet and Executive Office positions related to energy and the environment. The following is a brief introduction to the persons chosen to fill those roles.

Energy Secretary: Steven Chu – Dr. Chu, a world-renowned, Nobel-winning physicist has been a vocal advocate for and done much research on the creation of new energy sources. He has professed his belief that climate change is a global concern and that immediate measures must be taken to resolve the problem. Currently the director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he has steered the lab toward more research on biofuels and solar energy, Dr. Chu left the private sector hoping to change the
way energy is created and used. He has been described as a good match for Obama’s sense of urgency on energy, and as someone with the knowledge to manage the science of alternative energy and determine which ideas are most practical for widespread use. Concern for climate change defines Energy Dept. nominee – Washington Post and Obama
team set on environment – New York Times

Director of White House Energy and Environment Council (Climate Czar): Carol Browner – Ms. Browner was head of the Environmental Protection Agency under Bill Clinton and currently specializes in energy and environment issues as a principal for the Albright Group and Albright Capital Management. While at the EPA, Ms. Browner fought for tough federal regulations, saying that innovation would quickly lower the cost of
pollution controls. She was also a legislative director for then-Senator Al Gore and served as head of the Florida department of environmental regulation under the late Governor Lawton Chiles. She supports a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions and California’s attempts to more strictly control pollution. Since the position she will hold in the new administration is new, Ms. Browner’s role in shaping Administration policies has yet to be clearly determined. Title, but unclear power, for a new c limate czar – New York Times and Obama team set on environment – New York Times and Browner: strong environmental resume – Washington Post

Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency: Lisa Jackson – Ms. Jackson is a veteran of environmental protection, serving for 20 years at agencies at the federal and state level. Most recently she has headed up New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, where she helped to get mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (80% by 2050) enacted into law and created a panel of scientists who weigh in on agency
decisions. Environmental groups have a mixed reaction to her nomination; with some suggesting she has not proven herself to be a true environmental advocate while others feel she is fit for the job. Lisa Jackson in line to be first black EPA chief – Washington Post and The New Team: Lisa P. Jackson – Washington Post

Director, White House Council on Environmental Quality: Nancy Sutley – Currently serving as Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment for the City of Los Angeles, Nancy Sutley, has a long history of actively promoting environmental protection in California and Washington, DC. In his speech announcing her addition to his administration, Presidentelect Barack Obama suggested that Ms. Sutley would bring lessons learned at the state level to the White House to help implement innovative environmental policies. Obama’s energy and environment team announcement – New York Times and Obama taps LA official as environment council head – Washington Post

Secretary of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack – Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has been a public servant for two decades, and made a bid to become President of the United States before exiting the race in early 2007. Mr. Vilsack has been a strong supporter of biofuels – especially ethanol – though he has expressed support for phasing out subsidies on cornbased
ethanol and some other biofuels. The former governor has called for a revitalization of “rural America” by investing in new energy technologies and industries that would offer more employment opportunities for rural populations and provide more energy and food security. The former Governor enjoys the support of both environmentalists and farmers.
Iowa ex-governor picked for agriculture secretary – New York Times and Obama to pick Tom Vilsack to lead USDA – Washington Post

Secretary of Transportation: Ray LaHood – Retiring Representative Ray LaHood will have an extensive role in the new administration as he will oversee Mr. Obama ‘s proposed massive investment in road repairs and transit expansions. Although little is known about Mr. LaHood’s stances on transportation issues, as a moderate Republican member of Congress, he is known for being both fiscally conservative and politically independent, having been one of the few Republican members of Congress to refuse to
sign former Speaker Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with American,” then presiding over impeachment hearings for former President Bill Clinton, and later openly criticizing a number of the current Administration’s policies. Obama to add GOP’s LaHood to cabinet – Washington Post and Obama to name LaHood, R-Ill, transportation head – Washington Post

Secretary of the Interior: Ken Salazar – Mr. Salazar, currently a Senator from Colorado, is known as a moderate: a conservationist who is not unfriendly to oil and gas companies. He has opposed the development of oil shale resources and drilling in ANWR, but sought to allow gas, oil, and mining companies greater access to environmentally sensitive land and ocean waters. Mr. Salazar’s appointment was met with mixed reactions from
environmental groups and mostly positive reviews from oil and mining groups. Obama names Salazar as Secretary of Interior – Washington Post and Environmentalists wary of Obama’s Interior pick – New York Times

[jetboatjohnny]

Obama's new limo

NEW PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINE ENTERS SECRET SERVICE FLEET-
Read article

Not exactly energy efficient...

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/mcb...02-09_Limo.pdf

[Curtis]

Re: Obama Energy Future-What can green business expect?

The Obama White House – what can green business expect?
By James Murray;
Courtesy of BusinessGreen
Originally published Nov. 2008
Now the really hard work begins. The party might still be going on and my ex-pat US colleagues might have not yet made it into the office this morning after a rather late night. But as the world soaks in the historic implications of Barack Obama's landslide victory, it will also be asking itself what an Obama White House actually means. For the green and cleantech sectors the question has a certain urgency. In just 13 months time, the world's leaders will gather in Copenhagen to try and agree a successor to the Kyoto Treaty. If you believe the climate scientists, it is no exaggeration to suggest the future of the planet is at stake and all eyes will be on the new resident of the White House to take a lead and break the deadlock that has dominated talks to date.
Beyond this central question, countless other US domestic green issues ranging from nuclear to renewables, carbon trading to offshore drilling will jostle for attention, and given the US's position as the dominant player in the global cleantech sector, almost all of them will have significant repercussions for green businesses worldwide.
So what precisely can we expect? BusinessGreen.com casts an eye over Obama's policy environmental and energy commitments and offers its predictions for the new Democrat administration.
Post-Kyoto
This is the big one.
Obama has refused to make himself a hostage to fortune, by pledging outright to sign up to a deal that is still being negotiated. But everything about his multilateral foreign policy philosophy and willingness to make climate change and energy security a central plank of his campaign suggests that the chances of a workable deal being agreed have just got a whole lot better.
The commitment to deliver an 80 per cent cut in US carbon emissions by 2050 as part of a cap-and-trade scheme indicates that he will be led by climate science and not shorter term economic concerns. Bringing China and other emerging economies on board will remain a challenge, but there is little doubt the obfuscation and delays that dogged the UN negotiating process throughout the Bush years have ended.
Carbon cap-and-trade
In many ways as significant as Obama's victory is the fact that Democrats appear on track to take control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There will be no excuse not to deliver on central manifesto commitments and as such, a US-wide carbon cap-and-trade scheme committed to delivering an 80 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2050 and a return to 1990 emission levels by 2020 looks inevitable.
With the EU scheme now well established, Japan, South Korea and Australia all planning schemes and a US scheme on the cards the future of the global carbon market looks assured.
For US firms, Obama has admitted that a cap-and-trade scheme would result in higher costs for heavy emitters as they are forced to buy in carbon credits and it is likely to also lead to higher energy prices as those costs are passed on to customers.
The move will face opposition from some business groups, but it also makes investments in clean coal technologies and energy efficiency look like a good bet.
Renewables
The renewables sector will undoubtedly prove one of the biggest winners from an Obama administration.
Article continues at http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/analysis/2229791/obama-white-house-green

[Curtis]

Re: Obama Energy Future-Obama remarks today on energy, environment

Obama Administration starts defining climate policy

Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Published Jan. 27, 2009

Just days after taking office, US President Barack Obama has appointed a climate envoy and cleared the way for new rules to force automakers to produce cleaner cars. The President signed papers aimed to prod the struggling US auto industry to design new fuel-efficient vehicles. His Administration is also considering whether to allow California to regulate car emissions, which are blamed for contributing to global warming. The move could prompt 18 states to put in place tougher emission limits than federal standards over coming months.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton appointed Todd Stern as the Administration's Special Envoy on climate change.
'With the appointment today of a special envoy, we are sending an unequivocal message that the United States will be energetic, focused, strategic and serious about addressing global climate change and the corollary issue of clean energy,' Clinton said as she announced Stern's appointment.
Stern - who was a senior White House official under Bill Clinton - will be the administration's chief climate negotiator, leading talks at the United Nations climate conferences and smaller sessions.
'Containing climate change will require nothing less than transforming the global economy from a high-carbon to a low-carbon energy base,' Stern said as his appointment was announced.
'But done right, this can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and become a driver for economic growth in the 21st century. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have left no doubt that a new day is dawning in the U.S. approach to climate change and clean energy.'
'The time for denial, delay and dispute is over,' he added. 'The time for the United States to take up its rightful place at the negotiating table is here. We can only meet the climate challenge with a response that is genuinely global. We will need to engage in vigorous, dramatic diplomacy.'
Stern coordinated the Clinton administration's Initiative on Global Climate Change from 1997 to 1999, acting as the senior White House negotiator in the Kyoto and Buenos Aires talks on climate change. More recently, he has worked as a senior fellow at Center for American Progress think tank, where he focused on climate change and environmental issues.

I've attached a transcript of:
Obama's Jan 26th comments on Energy, environment

[Curtis]

With Bush gone, Schwarzenegger leads new car emissions push

With Bush gone, Schwarzenegger leads new car emissions push

Source: BusinessGreen
Published Jan. 22, 2009

California is first in line to push the new Obama administration to undo some of the environmental harm caused by the president's predecessor. Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, has already written to the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency requesting that last year's decision to stop the state enacting stricter motor vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards is overturned. To score some publicity points, that official request was backed up by a personal letter from California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to president Obama asking him to direct the EPA to: 'act promptly and favourably on California's reconsideration request so that we may continue our critical work of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global climate change.' In March last year, the Bush administration rejected a request by California and several other states for waivers to the Clean Air Act that would allow them to enact tougher standards than the law prescribed for vehicle emissions.
To continue reading, click here

[Curtis]

Re: Obama Energy Future-DOE Announces More Key Administration Posts

DOE Announces More Key Administration Posts

March 30, 2009

On March 27, 2009, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Cathy Zoi as the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Ms. Zoi is the founding CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection and a former Group Executive Director at the Bayard Group. From 1993-95 Ms. Zoi was Chief of Staff in the White House Office on Environmental Policy in the Clinton-Gore administration, where she managed the team working on environmental and energy issues. She was also a manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where she pioneered the Energy Star Program. Ms. Zoi earned a B.S. in Geology from Duke University and an M.S. in Engineering from Dartmouth College.
For more information, see the DOE press release.