William Yeatman

In the News

by William Yeatman on May 14, 2009

What If Global Warming Fears Are Overblown?
John Birger, Forbes, 14 May 2009

With Congress about to take up sweeping climate-change legislation, expect to hear more in coming weeks from John Christy, director of the Earth System Science Center at University of Alabama-Huntsville.

The Cap-and-Trade Racket
David Frum, The Week, 14 May 2009

Who says Democrats wish to take from the poor to give to the rich? In practice, they much prefer to take from everyone to give to their friends!

Give the Skeptics a Voice, Too
Dr. William Porter, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 14 May 2009

But the science is not settled. If it were, we would have great confidence in all these statements: 1. The world is getting warmer. 2. That’s more bad than good. 3. Humans are causing the warming. 4. We know how to fix the problem.

In the News

by William Yeatman on May 13, 2009

EPA U-Turn: “Endangerment” Might Not Mean Regulation
Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, 12 May 2009

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday a finding that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are a public health danger won’t necessarily lead to government regulation of emissions, an apparent about-face for the Obama administration.

The Deep Ecologists
Peter Hannaford, American Spectator, 13 May 2009

America’s “mainstream” media missed it, but April 17 was a red-letter day for its Deep Ecologists. Red letter because it was the day the Obama Administration declared that carbon dioxide and five other gases emitted by industry threaten “the health and welfare of current and future generations.” This opens the door to regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency to “cap” emissions. The Deep Ecologists see this as the path to their cherished dream of a less populous nation with greatly reduced industrial production. It will also lead to a poorer (they would call it “simpler”) standard of living.

Obama’s Anti-Energy Plan
Barry Russell, DC Examiner, 13 May 2009

There’s an old saying among America’s smaller, independent natural gas and oil producers — sometimes called “wildcatters” — that the best way to end up with a million dollars is to start off with a billion.

Government Green Schemes Never Work

by William Yeatman on May 13, 2009

in Politics

The DC Examiner yesterday reported on a “green” car sharing program in Montgomery County that is wasting taxpayer money hand over fist. Since January, the County has been paying Enterprise Rent-a-Car $1,100 a month per car for the use of 28 fuel efficient automobiles. As of April 24, the vehicles have been used a total of 83.5 hours, which means that Maryland taxpayers have paid more than $1,300 an hour to use the cars. For comparison, consider that a limo costs $60 an hour.

This is not the first lame brained green car scheme to go awry. A year ago, Bloomberg reported on a federal program to buy flex-fueled cars that can run on E-85, a fuel blend containing 85% ethanol. E-85 supposedly is less carbon-intensive than gasoline, so the program was meant to reduce greenhouse gases. However, there was one big problem: Federal employees found it more convenient to use gasoline than E-85, which isn’t availible in most fueling stations. As most flex-fueled cars are gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles, the program actually resulted in increased gasoline usage and higher greenhouse gas emissions. Whoops!

CEI Launches “Al Gore 1984”

by William Yeatman on May 13, 2009

in Features

Can Big Brother be green? Absolutely. If carbon dioxide were the planetary poison that global warming alarmists claim, then every aspect of our lives would be fair game for government control: the homes we build, the cars we drive, the light bulbs we use. Even the number of children we have-because lets face it; any reduction in CO2 that we achieve will be more than offset by the households our kids will create when they grow up.

There are already proposals in Congress and federal agencies to vastly increase taxes and regulations in order to address the so-called global warming crisis. But as a growing number of scientists are openly declaring, there is no crisis.

To let Washington know that you don’t want them controlling access to energy, visit cei.org/1984 and send a letter to your Congressman today.

In the News

by William Yeatman on May 12, 2009

in Blog

Sending Us Back to 1875
U.S. Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas), Washington Times, 10 May 2009

The war against global warming evidently starts at home, where President Obama says the price of electricity will “necessarily skyrocket” when the government caps carbon dioxide and issues emissions permits that utilities can buy and sell to one another.

Is Copenhagen Already Dead?
Terence Corcoran, National Post, 12 May 2009

The great global policy push for massive climate control laws and big fat taxes on carbon appear to be heading into a brick wall. From Australia to British Columbia, from Washington to Copenhagen, there are growing signs that the much anticipated replacement for the Kyoto Accord will be as dead as Kyoto before it arrives.

Expose Cap-and-Trade Costs
Jason Chaffetz, Washington Times, 12 May 2009

Government gets more of our money, and utility companies get the blame when they pass on the tax increase to consumers.

In the News

by William Yeatman on May 11, 2009

in Blog

On Guns and Climate, Elites Are Out of Touch
Michael Barone, RealClearPolitics.com, 11 May 2009

Many years ago, political scientists came up with a theory that elites lead public opinion. And on some issues, they clearly do. But on some issues, they don’t. Two examples of the latter phenomenon are conspicuous at a time when Barack Obama enjoys the approval of more than 60 percent of Americans and Democrats have won thumping majorities in two elections in a row. One is global warming. The other is gun control. On both issues, the elites of academe, the media and big business have been solidly on one side for years. But on both, the American public has been moving in the other direction.

Climate Controls Too Costly Down Under
Wall Street Journal, 11 May 2009

It’s turning out that the biggest problem with carbon taxes is political reality. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has just announced he will delay implementing his trademark cap-and-trade emissions trading proposal until at least 2011. Mr. Rudd’s March proposal would have imposed total carbon permit costs (taxes) of 11.5 billion Australian dollars (US$8.5 billion) in the first two years, starting in 2010. This would have increased consumer prices by about 1.1% and shaved 0.1% off annual GDP growth until at least 2050, according to Australia’s Treasury. Support has fallen among business groups and individuals who earlier professed enthusiasm for Aussie cap and trade. Green gains were negligible; Australia accounts for only 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Spin Doctors Try To Rescue Energy Rationing Bill
Peter Nicholas & Jim Tankersley, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2009

In the debate over his top environmental goals, President Obama is backing away from “cap and trade.”

Cooler Heads Digest 8 May 2009

by William Yeatman on May 11, 2009

Announcements

More than 100 lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels have signed Americans for Prosperity’s No Climate Tax Pledge. This week, the National Taxpayers Union, Institute for Liberty and Competitive Enterprise Institute joined AFP as co-sponsors. Learn more at NoClimateTax.com.

In the News

Just What Is Waxman-Markey for?
Iain Murray, DC Examiner, 8 May 2009

Stunningly Trivial Emission Reductions from the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
Marlo Lewis, MasterResource.org, 8 May 2009

Climate Tax Will Pollute Your Prosperity
Grover Norquist, Washington Times, 6 May 2009

EPA: Small Business Exposed to Climate Litigation
Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, 6 May 2009

Award Winning Boat Anchors
Paul Chesser, American Spectator, 6 May 2009

Lobbyists Help Dems Draft Climate Bill
Tom LoBianco, Washington Times, 4 May 2009

GM Troubles Repeat British Auto Mistakes of the 1970s
Iain Murray, DC Examiner, 4 May 2009

Greenbacks for Green Energy Come from Taxpayer Pockets
Fred L Smith Jr. & William Yeatman, DC Examiner, 4 May 2009

Australia Postpones Climate Plan
Reuters, 4 May 2009

Green Jobs Debunked
William Yeatman, Townhall Magazine, 1 May 2009

News You Can Use

It Could Happen Here

According to the Daily Mail, laws aimed at tackling global warming could cost every family in Britain a staggering $30,000.

Waxman-Markey Climate Bill Is All Pain, No Gain

Using the same emissions scenarios employed by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, environmental scientist Chip Knappenberger calculates that the American Clean Energy and Security Act, if enacted, would reduce global warming by nine hundredths of one degree Fahrenheit.

Gallup: Al Gore “Is Losing”

“Any measure that we look at shows Al Gore’s losing at the moment. The public is just not that concerned,” Gallup editor Frank Newport told U.S. News and World Report this week.

Inside the Beltway

Myron Ebell

President Lobbies for Expensive Energy Bill

President Barack Obama met with Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday. He reportedly urged them to make a deal on the Waxman-Markey energy-rationing bill that would take account of regional economic differences, but did not wade into the details of the negotiations. Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) told reporters that talks between committee members were continuing and expressed confidence that a bill would be voted out of committee before Memorial Day.

Expensive Energy Bill Worries Moderate Democrats

As it happens, I am writing this while in Rep. Waxman’s incredibly wealthy district. I have talked to a number of well-informed Californians over the past few days and have found that they are aware that the state government’s energy and global warming policies are contributing to the economic downturn, which is severe and shows few signs of bottoming out. If even some of Waxman’s constituents are growing anxious about the costs of green energy, it should not be surprising if voters in districts that produce oil or coal or depend upon coal-fired electricity to produce energy-intensive goods are starting to become really worried by the Waxman-Markey bill. In a long and thorough analysis published in Thursday’s Environment and Energy Daily (subscription required), Alex Kaplun and Darren Samuelsohn consider the political prospects of the moderate and Blue Dog Democrats who represent many of these districts. They write:

“At first glance, the 15 or so moderate Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats who hold the fate of the climate change bill in their hands have little to fear as far as political repercussions in their home state. Virtually all of them won their last election by large margins and for most it has been several years since they saw a serious political challenge. But a closer examination of each moderate’s political situation also shows that a closely contested election may not be as far off as it may seem. And in many instances a vote on climate change legislation — depending on which side ultimately wins the public relations battle on the issue — could play a key role in their political futures.”

The votes of twelve of the nineteen undecided Members that they identify will be necessary to pass the bill out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. My guess is that public opinion in these districts is turning against cap-and-trade as people start to pay attention to the fact that it would have significant costs for them. That could make it difficult for these Members to vote for Waxman-Markey no matter how much it is watered down.

EPA Makes a Powerful Enemy

EPA on Tuesday released its proposed rulemaking to implement the Renewable Fuels Standard. The document is a monster–500 pages with 800 more in supporting documents. There will be a sixty-day comment period. I hope those who intend to comment can read faster than I can. EPA’s analysis of corn-based ethanol is that it will increase greenhouse gas emissions by 5 to 34 percent (depending on whether natural gas or coal is used to power the ethanol distillery) over a thirty-year payback period above gasoline derived entirely from petroleum. EPA’s estimate includes the indirect effects of land-use changes.

One powerful moderate Democrat reacted by blowing his top. Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) announced at a hearing that the EPA finding that corn ethanol increases greenhouse gas emissions would kill the biofuel industry. He then stunned the hearing audience and probably some members of his committee: “I want this message sent back down the street (that is, down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House). I will not support any climate change bill. I don’t trust anybody anymore.”

Crisis Averted

Julie Walsh

How many times have you heard it breathlessly declared that a warming Arctic will melt the permafrost and release methane, a greenhouse gas twenty-five times more potent than carbon dioxide? Well, unnoticed by the regular press, a six-year study has determined that the vast store of planet-warming methane appears to be more stable than thought, easing fears of a rapid rise in temperatures. Crisis averted.

Across the States

New Kansas Gov Says Yes to Coal

Before she was confirmed in late April as Secretary of Human Health and Services, Kathleen Sebelius served as the governor of Kansas, and one of her last acts in that capacity was to veto a bill passed by the State Legislature that would have allowed for the construction of two coal-fired power plants in the southwestern part of the State. Sebelius already had vetoed 4 similar bills. In a stunning reversal, her successor, Gov. Mark Parkinson, this week decided to allow the construction of one 895 megawatt plant.

Even Berkeley Liberals Don’t Want to Pay for Green Energy

Tracy Seipal of the San Jose Mercury News this week reported that, “After two years of public outreach and debate on an ambitious and controversial plan to curb global warming, Berkeley’s city council this week was forced to water down the proposal…after angry homeowners complained the plan could cost them tens of thousands of dollars.”

Durango Ditches Green Power

Durango (Colorado) City will save more than $45,000 by using coal power instead of wind energy to generate electricity for government buildings. Manager Ron LeBlanc told the USA Today, “It’s very hard for us to lay off an employee to justify green power.”

CEI Co-Sponsors Anti-Climate Tax Pledge

by William Yeatman on May 7, 2009

in Features

Americans for Prosperity recently announced it has been joined by three key allies in its call for the nation’s elected officials to commit – in writing – to oppose anti-global warming legislation that results in a net increase in revenue to the federal government.  This comes as House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats meet today with President Obama, who is pressuring them to accept a plan that hides a massive tax hike.

Through the NoClimateTax.com Web site, thousands of activists from across America have asked members of Congress and state legislators to sign a written pledge committing them to oppose any efforts to use anti-global warming legislation as a vehicle to raise taxes.

“We’re excited to have CEI, NTU, and IFL on board this important effort,” said AFP Policy Director Phil Kerpen.  “With these key allies helping promote the pledge to their members and directly with elected officials, we hope that a majority in Congress will commit in writing to take tax hikes off the table during discussion of what is supposed to be an environmental bill.”

“The Competitive Enterprise Institute joins Americans for Prosperity in urging Members of Congress to sign the NoClimateTax.com pledge,” said Myron Ebell, CEI’s director of energy and global warming policy.  “Cap and trade would be a huge indirect tax on the American people and probably the biggest tax increase in history.  As President Obama rightly said, ‘electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.'”

“President Obama may be sincere in his desire to make the planet a healthier place to live,” said Institute for Liberty President Andrew Langer, “but his proposed budget is dishonest in that it uses popular fears about global climate change to drive the biggest tax increase in American history through the Congress. In fact, his proposed Cap and Trade system will actually make the world a less healthy place.”

“Cap-and-traders are peddling their plan as if they were in a fiscal vacuum, but taxpayers can’t ignore the giant sucking sound near their wallets,” National Taxpayers Union Vice President for Policy and Communications, Pete Sepp, said.  “In addition to threats of punitive tax hikes on domestic energy production, payrolls, and small businesses, more burdens are on the way if President Obama’s health care scheme is enacted. Policymakers must pledge to switch off this money-grabbing machine now, beginning with cap-and-trade.”

The full text of the pledge is:
“I, ___________________________, pledge to the taxpayers of the State of _________________ and to the American people that I will oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in federal government revenue.”

AFP has already sent the pledge to every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat.  Signatories thus far include House Republican Leader John Boehner, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence, Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price, and Rep. Joe Barton, the ranking member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.  No Congressional Democrats have yet signed the pledge.  In addition, over 100 state legislators, on a bi-partisan basis, have signed similar pledges and are moving resolutions through state legislative chambers urging Congress to forgo the tax increases that are part of the “Cap and Trade” scheme included in the President’s budget.

A regularly updated list of signers, including scans of the signed pledges and local press releases, is available on the web at www.NoClimateTax.com.

In the News

by William Yeatman on May 7, 2009

in Blog

Climate Tax Will Pollute Your Prosperity
Grover Norquist, Washington Times, 6 May 2009

The leaders of the Democratic Party, President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are already trying to shift the blame for the sledgehammer blow they have aimed at Americans who work in manufacturing and those who use energy in heating or air conditioning their homes.

Blue Dogs Press Pelosi To Shelve Cap-and-Trade
Mike Soraghan, The Hill, 6 May 2009

Democratic centrists are pressing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to set aside a flagging climate change bill to focus on what they think is a more achievable goal: overhauling the nation’s healthcare system.

In the News

by William Yeatman on May 6, 2009

in Blog

Gallup: Al Gore Is Failing
Paul Bedard, U.S. News and World Report, 5 May 2009

He admits that “it’s counterintuitive,” but Gallup Poll Editor Frank Newport says he sees no evidence that Al Gore’s campaign against global warming is winning. “It’s just not caught on,” says Newport. “They have failed.” Or, more bluntly: “Any measure that we look at shows Al Gore’s losing at the moment. The public is just not that concerned.” What the public is worried about: the economy. Newport says the economy trumps the environment right now, a strong indicator that President Obama’s bid to put a cap-and-trade pollution regime into operation isn’t likely to be politically popular.

Award Winning Boat Anchors
Paul Chesser, American Spectator, 6 May 2009

Irony is so much sweeter when its victims have slathered their false assertions with syrupy  arrogance and  mocking mix-ins.

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