A Blog Called Hope

Gov. Carcieri had the chance to sign a renewable energy bill that overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate and would have created good-paying, green-collar jobs in Rhode Island as well as reduce our dependency on pollution-causing fossil fuels. But once again, Gov. Carcieri let us down and vetoed the bill.

Just a few miles away in Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick today signed a bill that puts his state light years ahead of us and will make MA a real hub for the renewable industry. Here’s the video from NBC10’s story at 6:00.

Declining poll numbers and an unfavorable political disposition towards Republicans indicates John McCain has to do something more to better connect with the American people and maintain the Republican hold on key red states. And with record numbers of voters identifying themselves as Democratic nationally, McCain’s chances for the White House win are looking more and more dismal.

Senator John McCain’s energy plan focuses on off-shore drilling, a plan strongly reminiscent of Bush policies that benefit Big Oil. Such policies will further push the US behind countries such as Japan, Germany and Spain. Off-shore drilling would not contribute to a real change in gas prices instead only fooling consumers by providing what McCain called in an MSNBC article a “psychological impact.”

This new position goes against his previous stance form the 2000 election, when he opposed lifting the moratorium and campaigned against off-shore drilling.

Other energy ideas include McCain’s support of using Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a national dump site for both nuclear and radioactive waste. He also wants to create 45 new nuclear plants, which would only create more nuclear wasts. John McCain has a history of opposing incentives for renewable energy and green jobs.

Conversely, Senator Obama suggests a plan to create a new energy economy. He rejects McCain’s plans and denounces the Republican nominee’s claim of a psychological benefit as political posturing: “In case you’re wondering, in Washington-speak what that means is that it polls well. It’s an example of how Washington tries to convince you that they’ve done something to make your life better when they really didn’t,” the Senator said.

Polls indicate that Senator McCain has failed to break with the notion that he will uphold Bush policies, strengthening the already commonly held belief that his election will be nothing more than a third Bush term.

Top senior advisor to McCain, Charlie Black has only made matters worse for the presumptive Republican nominee by suggesting that another attack on American soil would help McCain’s campaign. On Monday, it was also reported that another top McCain advisor was quoted as saying Benazir Bhutto’s assassination earlier this year “helped us” in their campaign.

McCain also seems to be losing trust with voters as he repeatedly ignores and violates campaign rules; he violated multiple federal laws by taking a political trip to Canada, broke laws regarding the use of a corporate jet, and skirted around FEC regulations by withdrawing from the FEC’s matching funds program after using the program for financial gains for his campaign.

With more voters identifying themselves as democratic and with McCain’s inability to persuade the American people that his election will not result in a Bush third term, it seems as though McCain’s Bush-Rove tactics are finally catching up with him.

Despite Senator McCain’s recent efforts to paint himself as the energy-savvy candidate, a further look at his record exposes the truth of his environmental ineptitude

In recent weeks, Senator John McCain has shifted his campaign focus to energy; presumably a response to public concerns over rising gas prices and global warming.

One must agree that the Senator from Arizona has indeed put on a good show. Though, a series of entertaining rants is all Senator McCain has devolved into. He has thrown around a $300 million figure to possibly motivate inventors to help resolve our dependence on oil. He has discussed the development of nuclear energy facilities in Nevada (despite the fact 3/4 of Nevada voters oppose such a move).

The reality is that Senator McCain has repeatedly voted against legislation to create “green” jobs and in favor of increasing nuclear waste in the state of Nevada.

In 2002, John McCain voted to approve a site at Yucca Mountain as a repository for nuclear and radioactive waste. After the vote, McCain said that storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain would answer “one of the most important environmental, health and public safety issues for the American people.” In 2000, McCain voted to override the presidential veto of legislation that would establish a permanent nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. In 1997, McCain similarly voted to establish a repository at the Mountain. McCain voted yes on a similar bill in 1996. [2002 Senate Vote #167, 7/9/2002; The Arizona Republic, 7/10/2002; 2000 Senate Vote #88, 5/2/2000; 1998 Senate Vote #148, 6/2/1998; 1997 Senate Vote #42, 4/15/1997; 1996 Senate Vote #259, 7/31/1996; 1996 Senate Vote #256, 7/31/1996]

When coupled with the fact that Senator McCain has consistently voted against the creation of “green” jobs, it is easy to see the inherent contradiction of his policy on energy.

John McCain supported the filibuster of the 2007 energy bill that included an extension of the production tax credit to 2011. While McCain missed the vote to on the bill, according to his staff he did, in fact, support the continuing the filibuster, which eventually killed the bill. In its place, Congress passed another version of the legislation that did not include an extension of the tax credit. A 2008 economic study by Navigant Consulting found that “over 116,000 U.S. jobs and nearly $19 billion in U.S. investment could be lost in just one year if renewable energy tax credits are not renewed by Congress… The study concluded that over 76,000 jobs are put at risk in the wind industry, and approximately 40,000 jobs in the solar industry.” [HR 6, Vote 425, 12/13/07, Failed 59-40: R 9-39 D 48-1 I 2-0; Forbes, 12/13/07; U.S. News & World Report, 12/14/07; American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association press release, 2/4/08]

For a man who claims he has taken up the cause of trying to find alternative energy resources in order to salvage Americans from swelling gas prices, it has become clear that McCain has been wholly inconsistent when it comes to energy. The only constant on energy when it comes to McCain is that he talks a good game to appease the American public but makes decisions behind closed doors that push us further from resolving the energy crisis.

John McCain is expected to call for more offshore drilling today. His campaign recently released an ad meant to champion him as a supporter of renewable energy. The same day that ad was released, McCain left for Texas to meet with his friends at Big Oil.

During his last run for the presidential nomination, McCain supported a moratorium on drilling. He will also reverse his stance on the need for a windfall profit tax for oil companies. Just six weeks ago McCain said he was open to a tax on excessive oil company profits; tonight, he will take the opposite position when he rejects the tax.

His new ad claims to eliminate the US’s dependence on foreign oil by supporting renewable energy although he has repeatedly voted against such green jobs and technologies.

Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney attacks McCain’s new ad as “universally misleading”:

“How can we trust John McCain to confront soaring gas prices or break America’s dependence on foreign oil when he caved in to Big Oil on drilling and tax breaks when of his top economic advisors helped create the problem in the first place, and he has repeatedly opposed incentives for green jobs and renewable energy?”

McCain has not voted to promote renewable energy
John McCain has repeatedly voted against efforts to promote renewable energy, as with his vote against an amendment mandating renewable energy sources to produce a minimum of 10 percent of the electricity sold by electric utilities by 2020. Many bills failed to pass by only a few votes.

In 2007 alone, McCain missed numerous votes on the passage of energy policy legislation, including a missed vote on a bill that would increase the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Other missed votes included bills for tax credits for renewable energy production, for renewable energy R&D, and for energy related tax incentives worth $18 billion. [2007 Senate Vote #98, 3/22/2007; 2007 Senate Vote #223, 6/21/2007; 2007 Senate Vote #416, 12/7/2007; 2008 Senate Vote #8, 2/6/2008 2006 Senate Vote #42, 3/14/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #158, 6/28/2005; 2001 Senate Vote #125, 5/21/2001]

McCain blocked tax credits for green jobs
A 2008 economic study by Navigant Consulting found that “over 116,000 US jobs and nearly $19 billion in US investment could be lost in just one year if renewable energy tax credits are not renewed by Congress.” The study shows that over 76,000 jobs are put at risk in the wind industry and 40,000 more are put at risk in the solar industry.

The Enron Loophole
Years after the Enron scandal, the loophole that helped bring Enron to its demise still lives on. McCain Campaign Co-Chair Phil Gramm tucked the Commodities Future Modernization Act into a separate piece of legislation which would later be known as the Enron Loophold. Evidence shows that investors looking to make an easy gain are causing prices in oil to rise faster than ordinary market forces could. The loophole allows unregulated trading on energy futures markets where investors can essentially “bet” on oil prices at a given point in the future.

With renewable energy sources and plans for a greener America receiving more attention from presidential hopefuls Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, the hunt for more energy efficient solutions is on the rise. Recent bills by Senator Montalbano and Representatives Segal and Fox and scheduled to be voted on by both the Rhode Island House and Senate today at 4 pm, address the growing energy concern and will help launch the state into the national renewable energy economy.

The bills initiate a dramatic augmentation in overall limits and grant an increase from 1 megawatt to 1.65 MW in all projects.

Further increases in limits, through “Virtual Net Metering,” allows cities and towns to finance projects on city or town owned land up to 2.25 MW and then buy power directly from the developer. Cities or towns can then “virtually” apply excess energy to future bills or apply it to different city or town accounts, or “meters.” Overall, the state’s aggregate net metering has seen an increase from 5 MW to 2% of the peak load.

Residential customers can also apply excess generation to future bills. If excess credits still remain after 12 months, the credits will be applied to the Renewable Energy Low Income Fund.

Net metering will further benefit residential customers primarily with small solar installations and benefit cities and towns with small onshore wind farms.

The Amendment also allows cash-strapped communities to seek private-sector financing. For example, a the cost of a 1.5 MW wind turbine is approximately $3.5 million, not taking into consideration the cost of maintenance, legal and permitting fees that under previous legislation would be costs entirely assumed by the city or town. Under the new plan, cities and towns can benefit from developing renewable projects on municipal-owned land without the threat of liability or the constraints of the cost of ownership.

By promoting and facilitating long-term contracts between electric distribution companies and renewable energy developers and sponsors, the goals of “stabilizing long-term energy prices, enhancing environmental quality, creating new jobs in Rhode Island in the renewable energy sector, and facilitating the financing of renewable energy generation” are set to be met.

For more information on Rhode Island renewable energy bills, visit the bill status webpage of the Rhode Island General Assembly at http://dirac.rilin.state.ri.us/BillStatus/webclass1.asp.

In commemoration of Earth Day, and to advance knowledge among those concerned with the effects of climate change, is the following list of the top 10 “green” scholarships. The list was composed by Chris Diehl.

BLADE Your Ride Scholarship

If reducing emissions and your carbon footprint is something that gets your engine revving, the BLADE Your Ride Scholarship was made for you. The award is available to undergraduate students with a passion for finding solutions to the global climate crisis who have at least a 3.0 GPA.
Deadline: June 30, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.

Brower Youth Award

The folks at the Brower Youth Award think that recycling aluminum cans is just wonderful. But if you want to win their money, they want to see a little more. This scholarship is available to students who have demonstrated outstanding environmental leadership in the areas of conservation, preservation and restoration. And yes, a qualifying activity includes clean-up of toxic waste.
Deadline: May 15, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.

Common Knowledge Think Green Scholarship - An Inconvenient Truth

You saw the movie. Now it’s time to put those lessons to the test. To be eligible for this award, you must register at the Common Knowledge site and participate in a quiz based on your knowledge of the movie, An Inconvenient Truth. No, Al Gore won’t be able to help you.
Deadline/Last quiz: April 20, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.

NPG Scholarship Essay Contest

The environment is going down the tubes. The reason? You, me and the other six billion people sucking the earth dry. Agree? Then this scholarship is for you. To apply, you must submit an essay of 500 to 750 words addressing the possible link between overpopulation and scarce natural resources.
Deadline: April 18, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.

Apprentice Ecologist Initiative Scholarship

The sponsors of this scholarship are looking for students who have an original idea about cleaning up the environment and who want to be the leader when it’s time to take action. A $500 scholarship will be awarded to the author of the top Apprentice Ecologist essay.
Deadline: December 31, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.

Park Espenschade Memorial Scholarship

Park Espenschade was a member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST). Upon his death in 1976, this scholarship was created “to honor his enthusiasm, energy, devotion and commitment to the education and training of young people in the environmental sciences,” according to the IEST Web site. You must be pursuing a major or minor in science or engineering and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify.
Deadline: January 15, 2009
Learn more about this scholarship.

Windstar Environmental Studies Scholarship

If your country roads can’t take you home anymore because they’ve been torn down to build condos, you might want to consider applying for this scholarship. Windstar, founded in part by John Denver, is sponsoring this scholarship for students who are majoring in environmental studies or environmental engineering at an accredited college or university. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify.
Deadline: June 1, 2009
Learn more about this scholarship.

Environmental Law Institute Research Internship

Aggressively saving the environment doesn’t always mean having to chain yourself to a tree. You can save the world by defending the law as well! The Environmental Law Institute Research Internship is open to students who have a strong desire to gain knowledge of the environmental field. Interns will work directly with staff attorneys, scientists and economists and will cover areas such as land use policy, environmental regulation and biodiversity.
Deadline: Varies
Learn more about this scholarship.

EPOC Environmental Scholarship (Connecticut Residents Only)

If there’s one thing Connecticut needs more of, it’s Licensed Environmental Professionals. If you want to become one yourself, Environmental Professionals’ Organization of Connecticut (EPOC) has a scholarship opportunity for you. You must be enrolled in an environmental-related program to be eligible (click the link to find a list of qualifying programs).
Deadline: Varies
Learn more about this scholarship.

Environmental Scholarship Program (Alabama Residents Only)

The state of Alabama is beautiful (especially in the springtime) and the citizens of that state want to keep it that way. To ensure that end, the Legacy, Inc., is sponsoring their Environmental Scholarship Program for students who plan to pursue an environmentally-related career. Open to Alabama residents enrolled at Alabama universities only.
Deadline: May 2, 2008
Learn more about this scholarship.