Is ACES a 'Clean Energy' Bill or a 'Coal Energy' Bill?
by A Siegel - May 21st, 2009
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The House Energy and Commerce Committee looks poised to vote on the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act later today.
As this bill has developed, going from an already compromised draft through massive compromising to secure enough committee votes, it has reached the point where one has to wonder whether it is more appropriately called the "Assuring Coal Energy Subsidies Act."
This bill has moved away from core climate legislation principles. Rather than auctioning off all pollution permits, as candidate Obama promised and President Obama put into the submitted budget, some 85% of those permits will be given away.
Taking a look at a preliminary analysis, the allowances can be broken into these major categories:
* 25% directly to fossil-fuel companies and energy-intensive industries. (13% for energy-intensive trade-exposed industries, 5% for the fantasy of clean-coal, 5% for coal-plant operators, and 2% for oil refineries). This is direct subsidy for the continued use of polluting energy.
* 52% indirect subsidies to the burning of fossil fuels through: buffering commercial and residential customers from any cost increases due to carbon pricing (30%), providing funds to natural gas companies (6%), low-income rebates due to rising energy costs (15%), home-heating oil rebates (1%).
* 13% to energy efficiency and renewable energy, including clean tech R&D (1.5%), deployment (5.5%), electric vehicles (1%), state and local energy efficiency (4%), and subsidizing international clean energy (1%)
* Other, including reducing tropical deforestation (5%), international adaptation (1%), deficit reduction (2%), green jobs and transition training/assistance (.5%), domestic adaptation (2%)
Let us summarize, this is 7% for subsidizing directly and indirectly the burning of polluting fossil fuels and 13% for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
According to an analysis by Point Carbon, the first category is valued at $314 billion for 2012-2030, the second at $747 billion, the third at $127.4 billion. Thus, their fiscal estimate is $1.06 trillion in direct and indirect subsidies for fossil fuels against $127.4 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Can anyone logically explain how this continues to merit “Clean Energy” in the title?
(Originally published at Get Energy Smart! Now!!!)
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Coal=Liars
Again, our beloved politicians have sold the health and safety of the American people for a plate at the feast for the slobs bent on destroying the planet at any cost. They spent 414 million dollars getting congressman to change their votes to a clean coal vote. Lets see, the coal companies have had over 150 years to clean up their act and not once have they invested any skin in the game instead relying on tax subsidies and the consumer to pay for their complete destruction of the planet earth. This sickens me. How could Obama sell us out after promising that we could expect meaningful change to secure the lives of our children and their unborn children. There will be no humans left. We will go extinct as the planet continues to disintegrate around us. Let it be known that we have condemned our children to suffer as a direct result of these ruthless liars.
Put Yourself in the Shoes of the Coal Plant
Affordable electricity is an essential part of protecting consumers and American businesses. During the America’s Power Factuality Tour, our team traveled all over the country to document the places, people and technologies involved in producing cleaner electricity from domestic coal. Our travels brought us to Council Bluffs, Iowa, home of the Walter Scott Energy Center – one of the most efficient coal-based plants in America. This facility generates more than 1,600 megawatts of affordable electricity, which has a positive long-term economic impact on the region—one that includes a Google data facility.
Take a look at the plant in action and meet the people who keep it running
Last Time
Dear Monica from ACCCE
You visit us periodically and post your PR for the coal industry here without engaging in the substance of the discussion of what is posted. I will delete future comments entirely unless they are relevant. This space is not open to you or your organization to post your canned propaganda.
"Put yourself in the shoes of the coal plant," you tell us. You must be joking. Coal plants are not people. They don't wear shoes. They don't have feelings.
At least this time you have identified your affiliation openly as belonging to the coal industry front group.
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