Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits for wind or solar

by An American in London Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 05:39:10 AM EST

Please link to this column by Raymond Learsey and would be interested if anyone has an update on the bill and why it hasnt been more widely reported.

Huffington Post

Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits for wind or solar | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits f (4.00 / 3)

The Huffington Post: Battle Stations, Battle Stations. Sneak Attack By Democratic Energy Benedict Arnolds by Raymond J. Learsy

So much for a brave new Congress, so much for a brave new vision. That the oil lobby has the administration in its claws is a given. With a new Congress we were hoping for a new dawn. Fuhghetaboutit America! The oil industry has bought them too. Special interests are raping this nation. So turn off the lights, pull down the shades, close your eyes, and enjoy the best you can.

The Democrats not only need to grow a spine but get a clue.

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 06:33:15 AM EST

Re: Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits f (4.00 / 3)

Linked to in Learsy's piece:

The Huffington Post: News Alert: If You Love Renewable Energy, It's Time to Freak Out by Toby Barlow

Just as every single magazine in the country is giving the energy crisis more press than Paris Hilton, and just as renewable energy is becoming the entrepreneurial equivalent of the internet revolution and just as the news about climate change is getting weirder and scarier every time we open the freakin' paper, our crazy-assed Democratic leaders are completely dropping the ball, and you gotta call Capitol Hill right now and tell them to get their head's straight fast.
As Adam Browning of Vote Solar put it "Thursday morning, Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi decided to drop the renewable energy standard out of the energy bill and drop the tax title. No tax title means no extension of the investment tax credit for solar, and no extention of the production tax credit for wind. Let's see...nothing for solar, plus nothing for wind, hmmm, add no renewable energy standard, carry the zero...yep, that adds up to precisely nothing for renewable energy.
Got that? Congressional leadership is moving an energy bill with nothing in it for renewable energy. Dropping the biggest pro-solar provision this country has ever seen, just when the industry is gaining momentum and making an impact."

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 06:35:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits f (none / 1)

The problem is the Democratic leadership has outlived its usefulness. Time for Rahm, Reid, Schumer and Nancy to go. We got the majority back, and we'll have a bigger one in January of 2009, so I think it's fair to say that these idiots need to be removed from their posts.

Pelosi has truly been a joke of a Speaker, but, given their track record, I shouldn't have expected anything better from the chickenshits in the California Wing of the Democratic Party.

Why is it that the only Democrats with any balls are the ones from the Red States? you know, the ones who actually have to worry about getting reelected.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 11:00:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits f (4.00 / 5)

Because, by the nature of it, they're more likely to be interested in something other than just power: if power was all they were interested in they'd run as Republican in those states. If you want power in California, running as a Democrat isn't a dumb idea. In some of the redder states, it isn't as clever.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 11:05:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits f (4.00 / 3)

I think there's a good bit of truth to that. We all know Webb is interested in getting his kid out of Iraq. I believe he's still there, but I could be wrong. Economic inequality figured into it, too. (Somehow he was able to play on the South's economic populism without being railroaded by abortion and same-sex marriage.) And Tester was all about the Patriot Act, which was a huge issue in Montana for reasons that I still don't fully understand but am happy to embrace.

I don't know what McCaskill and the other newbies have been up to. But, yes, that makes sense.

The real answer is to start running primary challengers against the leadership. It's not as though we're in danger of losing New York to the Reps, so I don't see why this is being tolerated. It's somehow kosher to hunt Lieberman for his warmongering but not Schumer for being in bed with the hedge funds.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 11:12:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Possible New Wrinkle? (4.00 / 7)

Having just returned from a two week tour of some of the US's biggest wind companies, i can report that indeed the US energy policy is in flames because both it is under the control of the majors, and because the political system itsself is broken. (for example, utility subsidiaries which control synfuel development are also buying renewables projects so they can look good in their fight for new nukes.)

That said, there may be another version to this story. Reid and Pelosi, knowing that there will be a knockdown dragout fight on the Energy Bill, may actually be unbundling the renewables from the fight, in order to allow easier passage befitting renewables bipartisan support.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 08:33:43 AM EST

Re: Possible New Wrinkle? (4.00 / 2)

Interesting if that uis indeed the reason. Maybe that is why the alternative energy advocates are indeed keeping quiet. I hope you are right but your description of the US energy implosion doesn't make one optimistic. Especially if the nuke energy subsidiaries end up bundling windmills with nuclear. Windmills in this case being the real triple AAA isuue and nuke being the sub prime.

by An American in London on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 09:28:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Possible New Wrinkle? (none / 1)

Gosh I hope your interpretation about unbundling is correct.

With respect, is this speculation on your part, or do you have additional reason to believe that renewable support will be introduced as a separate bill?

by chapter1 (chapterPLEASEREMOVETHISwon .. at .. gmail.com) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 09:30:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Possible New Wrinkle? (4.00 / 7)

At the AWEA Symposium ten days ago, there was already talk about unbundling, and whether it was the right strategy or not. Many, myself included, held the belief that renewables would be better served getting separated from the dogfight. Though i'm not claiming insider knowledge here, as i'm not sure what's happening. I have spoken at length with Pelosi about the political and economic benefits of windpower, however, and know that she is a strong backer of the technology, and can't imagine her stabbing us in the back.

But then this trip was my first visit to the US in many years, and the landscape is completely changed. Still, remember that windpower has bipartisan support. I would recommend contacting Congressman McNerney's office, as he is windpower's direct voice in Congress.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 10:35:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

In any event, a storm of outrage ... (none / 1)

... over the idea hitting Senate and Congresscritter offices is a benefit.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Mon Nov 12th, 2007 at 02:11:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits for wind or solar | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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Dems Back US energy Bill without tax credits for wind or solar

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