Posts Tagged ‘Congress’
Rep. Morgan Griffith Proudly Accomplishes Nothing
Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced a new bill this week titled the “EPA Maximum Achievable Contraction of Technocrats Act,” or “EPA MACT Act.” The bill would require the EPA to layoff 15 percent of its employees. The title of the bill is a play on words, referring to EPA’s Utility MACT rule, which would drastically…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 5 in a 5 part series Lie 5: Mountaintop removal mining is necessary for our nation’s energy security. While coal is in perpetual decline, more than one-third of America’s electricity still comes from the fossil fuel. It is on this premise that supporters of mountaintop removal stand when arguing that the practice is necessary…
Read MoreTenn Tuesday! Spotlight on Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings Act
Making 120 Energy Efficiency Amendments SEXY… We’re going to do something a little different today by focusing on a specific piece of federal legislation currently before the U.S. Senate called the “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act” (S 1392). This bipartisan bill, sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) is the first…
Read MoreKentucky Congressman John Yarmuth Joins Influential Energy and Commerce Committee
Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth joined the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce this week, putting him in the middle of debates concerning environmental and energy policy. The committee will also oversee the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Yarmuth voted for Obamacare, and has been its lone defender in Kentucky’s federal delegation. Yarmuth is…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 4 in a 5 part series Lie 4: More mountaintop removal coal mining will provide much needed flat, reclaimed land for economic development. Central Appalachia has been mired in a mono-economy for the greater part of a century. In many counties, coal mining has been the only source of good paying jobs. Mining jobs…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 3 in a 5 part series 3. A candidate opposed to mountaintop removal cannot win a U.S. Senate race in Kentucky or West Virginia. Despite what political supporters of the coal industry would have us believe, a candidate opposed to mountaintop removal coal mining can, and likely will, represent Kentucky or West Virginia in…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 2 in a 5 part series LIE 2: ECONOMY Proponents of mountaintop removal mining use a very simple and straightforward logic to justify the practice: jobs are good for the economy, and mountaintop removal mining provides jobs, therefore mountaintop removal mining is good for the economy. The argument is logical, but only if you…
Read MoreHow Far Can Touting “Sustainable Coal” Get You?
A few weeks ago, we heard of a new coal lobbying group (I know, just the thing the world needs) that aims to support something we have not heard of, something called “sustainable coal.” Formed by current and former Democratic members of the U.S House of Representatives, along with several coal lobbyists, CoalBlue aims to…
Read MoreThe 5 Worst Political Lies in Support of Mountaintop Removal
Part 1 in a 5 part series LIE 1: BALANCE After spending a month back in their home states, Congress is back in session. Between the budget, the debt ceiling, Syria, energy efficiency bills, and the farm bill, they have plenty of work to do in a short period of time but rest assured the…
Read MoreEnergy Efficiency’s Role in Growing Rural Economies
Over the summer we watched closely and shared our take on the importance of energy programs in the 2013 Farm Bill. You may remember that the Senate ultimately passed a version that included budget cuts but was in line with previous bills and budget constraints. Not one to be outdone, the House went on to…
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