Obama Doubles Down on Dirty Energy, Continues to Call Nukes ‘Clean,’ Ignores Clean Air Act

[Better Believe It]

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
For Immediate Release

Contact:

Nick Berning, 202-222-0748, [email protected]; Kelly Trout, 202-222-0722, [email protected]

Obama Doubles Down on Dirty Energy, Continues to Call Nukes ‘Clean,’ Ignores Clean Air Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to President Obama’s speech today on the subject of energy security, as well as supporting documentation released by the White House, Friends of the Earth Climate and Energy Director Damon Moglen had the following statement:

“This speech was more about polluting the future than winning it. President Obama today doubled down on his support for dirty energy sources including the nuclear, corn ethanol, oil, natural gas, and coal industries, while going AWOL on a crucial fight over the Clean Air Act.

“Given the escalating radiation disaster in Japan, it’s dumbfounding that President Obama believes it’s justifiable to call nuclear energy ‘clean.’ After such misguided nuclear boosterism, in addition to the multibillion dollar bailout guarantees for the nuclear industry that the President supports, it’s easy to see why Duke Energy was willing to offer the President’s party a $10 million line of credit for the 2012 Democratic convention.

“Moreover, it is unacceptable that in a speech billed as being about ‘energy security,’ the President failed to recommit his administration to defending the Clean Air Act against rollbacks. The Clean Air Act is the most potent tool against climate change that Congress has created, and climate change is the biggest energy-related threat to our security. If the President is truly serious about energy security, he must be much more vocal in his support of this crucial law.”

###

http://www.foe.org/obama-doubles-down-dirty-energy-speech

[northoftheborder]

1. Good speechmaker; poor at governing.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. It would be a stretch to call this governance.

There isn't even a hint of a coherent plan to get anything done anymore much less a grand energy strategy. Ever since the "shellacking" Obama has been in a daze, like a fighter who has been in the ring too long after the opponent has landed a fewtoo many jabs to the forehead.

[sasha031]

6. he recently approved several off the Gulf

http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2011/03/23/the-obama-administration-is-slowly-reissuing-offshore-drilling-permits/

[QC]

8. That depends on who he's governing for. n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Also a push to pump more oil out of completely depleted domestic wells &

presumably offshore.

[Zorra]

3. The prez is turning into a real life Darth Vader. nt

[Wilms]

5. That's a stretch. And I'm pretty disappointed in his performance. n/t

[midnight]

7. I truly believe science is too hard for these lawyers to work with..

There seems to be a wide gap between law and science... you would think that there would be greater respect for science, but I guess it is not as financial lucrative as it is to keep these dirty old energy guys in business..

[Autumn]

9. An offer of a $10 million line of credit for the 2012 Democratic

convention from Duke Energy. WTF he's not too terribly cheap, so I guess that's a good thing. God this shit is making me sick.

[Better Believe It]

10. Duke Energy CEO is leading the fundraising for the 2012 Democratic National Convention!

Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an energy company with assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. It is "the biggest nuclear power company in America."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Energy


Duke guaranteeing $10 million line of credit for DNC
Energy firm says it protects against cash shortfall; critics say it's like a contribution.
By Jim Morrill
charlotteobserver.com
March 12, 2011

Duke Energy Corp., whose CEO is leading the fundraising for the Democratic National Convention, is guaranteeing a $10 million line of credit for the event.

Duke CEO Jim Rogers is leading fundraising efforts for the convention. As for the loan guarantee, spokesman Tom Williams said, "The DNC asked, and we were able to provide it."

Duke faces increasingly heavy costs from federal environmental rules, and will shutter some of its old coal-fired power plants rather than upgrade them. The utility also plans to build an $11 billion nuclear plant in South Carolina that has to be approved by state and federal regulators.

UNC Charlotte public policy expert David Swindell has said Rogers' involvement can only help Duke in seeking energy subsidies from the Obama administration. Others say the company could at least expect goodwill from the party that controls the White House.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/12/2133391/duke-guaranteeing-10m-line-of.html#

[freshwest]

11. OH, CRAP!

[Better Believe It]

12. Did you mean HOLY CRAP?