Peabody: "Black is the new green"

Are you sick to death of Kentucky politicians telling you how coal doesn't hurt the environment and we can burn it for years and years and years without a care in the world?

Ok, then lets hear it from the horses mouth, the CEO of the company that buys them off, Gregory Boyce of Peabody

“It’s a good time to be Peabody,” says Boyce, an affable man who speaks in a confident baritone. “There’s not enough natural gas. There’s not enough renewables (such as wind and solar energy) to go around. So I’m not concerned that coal is going to disappear. For us not to use that resource, we are just shooting ourselves in the foot.” […]

“There’s a perception out there that coal is dirty, and we have to change that,” he adds, noting that coal plants already have cut emissions of some pollutants and boosted efficiency to slash CO2 discharges. “Black is the new green.“

Ignorance is the new Strength, as well...
.

Coal creates jobs, part 593

Indeed.

Since I'm a lowly blogger and don't get to access to Steve Beshear, I'd really love to ask him if he believes in global warming. I honestly don't know what I'd hear back from him.

Beshear to KFTC members: lay back and enjoy mountaintop removal

Governor Steve Behsear took his traveling road show to Shepherdsville last week, and was confronted with a few KFTC members who wanted to speak their minds about mountaintop removal mining.

Beshear told them what a big fan he is of it. Good times.

Beshear responded that yes, there were plans to enforce the law against coal companies, but defended MTR for providing flat lands to eastern Kentucky residents. KFTC member Margaret Stewart countered that eastern Kentucky has enough flattened mountains to build several cities and it was time for a change.

What say you Len Peters, secretary of Beshear's new Energy AND Environmental cabinet?

The meeting was followed up with interesting conversation between KFTC members and Len Peters, secretary of the new Energy and Environment Cabinet. Cherise and Margaret pushed the discussion about renewables and MTR. Peters commented on what the cabinet is possibly thinking in terms of a new energy plan. Peter stated that the best-case scenario is that Kentucky could generate maximum 25% of electricity needs from combination of renewables, efficiency, conservation, etc. over the next 20 years; therefore they are focused on more and more coal.

He shared that there is a test carbon sequestration well drilled in Hancock County and that carbon capture and storage/use will add $20 - $50 per ton of coal. He also expressed support for nuclear power. KFTC members reinforced the importance of improving significant investment in research on renewable energy and reducing our dependence on coal.

What Mark Twain said....

But let's all pat Steve Beshear on the back for going out into the community and looking our progressive citizens in the eye as he tells them to "fuck off and die you damned dirty hippies".

I Love Mountains

In light of all the mountaintop removal propaganda I heard being spewed by Democrats this weekend at Fancy Farm, I thought I'd just show this and invite you to add your name to the I Love Mountains widget in the bottom righthand column of B&P. Their site is here.

Dan Mongiardo: another worthless KY Democrat

(via Swishy Jake)

Dan Mongiardo, king of the gay-baiting repugnant Marriage Amendment of 2004, has stepped into the gutter once more.

He's now come out enthusiastically, 100% for... mountaintop removal.

The Appalachian News-Express reported on Thursday that Mongiardo told a group at a local hotel that mountaintop removal creates flat land that could be used for building businesses, hospitals and airports.

“A lot of people look at mountaintop removal as a negative, but I see it as a positive,” Mongiardo said.

The lieutenant governor went on to say that he wants to promote mountaintop removal.

What Mark Twain said...

I think it's fair to say that Dan Mongiardo has now ventured into the realm of Jim Gooch. Hope I get to run into him again a Fancy Farm this weekend just like I did on victory night. We all remember how that went, hehehehe....

Ben Chandler news

Ben Chandler's new campaign website has a little preview, and apparently Ben likes to shoot animals too, therefore he is a real American like Jack Conway. (and hang out with Denny Hastert?). Ben has an easy race this November against Jon "Snowman" Larson.

In other news, big kudos to Ben for taking Congressman Dicks on the tour of mountaintop removal sites in Eastern KY. Hopefully we can make this a national issue and get the new Democratic Congress and White House in 2009 to tackle this problem head on federally.... because I can absolutely ASSURE YOU that Steve Beshear won't do anything to fight MTR.

I did find it really odd that Chandler "was reluctant to say Friday what his feelings are about restricting mountaintop mining". Huh?

But at least he's helping shine a light on this barbarous act, and I give him some rare kudos. This has been a much better year for Chandler than his disastrous 2007. Hopefully that trend continues.

Sadly, I agree

As I've said many times, Bruce Lunsford is far from perfect. FAR. But at least with him, we'll have his ear. With Mitch McConnell, we'll only get his finger.

And with Bruce Lunsford's gastly "8 point energy plan" revealed last weak, we get a sneak peak of future disappointments once he retires Mitch McConnell (hopefully).

The LHL editorial today is right on, as was Taylor's critique last week.

As disappointed as we are with this Neanderthal view towards energy, we must remember that Mitch McConnell is 100 times worse than Lunsford, and we must not pass up this opportunity to get rid of him once and for all.

Shorter Al Gore: "Steve Beshear is insane"

Gore spoke at Netroots Nation, blasting Mountaintop Removal and calling coal-to-liquid "insane".

Good thing we have our "quiet warrior" Steve Beshear here in KY to set him straight.

Here's the video (and nice that his very mention of mountaintop removal brought immediate cheers from the crowd... the message is getting out there to the rest of the country from Eastern KY. Now if our elected "leaders" in Kentucky would only start caring about them.)



(h/t Taylor)

Electric cars = more partisanship

cross-posted @ GreenKY:

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the seemingly bipartisan efforts by state legislators to push for electric cars in Kentucky. Most of the coverage by the H-L, C-J and other blogs focused on the back and forth between state party leaders over who had the idea for electric cars first. In alot of ways, the consensus was that state legislators Dan Seum and Gary Tapp (both Republicans) were ahead of the curve, having already pre-filed legislation for next year that would allow electric cars on Kentucky highways. Simultaneously, Seum and Tapp have been lobbying Governor Beshear to pass an executive order that would essentially eliminate the need for their bill. Beshear expressed his interest in including electric cars in his oh-so-brilliant energy plan. But for the most part, people (including myself) just seemed to be content that both sides could agree on something, even if they were arguing over who had the idea first.

h/t to commenter Concerned Citizen, for pointing out that there has been an unreported story in all of this. That story being the blatant (but commonplace) partisanship on the part of Kentucky Republicans, especially state senator Gary Tapp. Tapp and Seum's bill isn't the first of its kind - in fact, Democratic state representatives Robin Webb and Richard Henderson filed a nearly identical bill in the 2008 general assembly. House Bill 349 would have changed the definition of a 'motor vehicle' to include low-speed electric cars, so as to allow them on Kentucky roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less. HB 349 was well-received this year, passing the House unanimously, 95-0. It was sent on to the Senate transportation committee, where it was tabled and never acted upon. Not surprisingly, Tapp is a member of the Senate transportation committee. So if Tapp cares that much about electric cars, why didn't he support Webb and Henderson's bipartisanly-supported bill in his Senate committee?

All of the merits of ZAP cars (or electric cars in general) aside, it appears that electric cars and the potential to do something good for the environment has again become an example of Kentucky's overt partisanship and general indifference towards doing anything worthwhile.

Beshear hearts Mountaintop Removal

This is truly disgusting.

Let's recap the situation:

Beshear: Mountaintop Removal is good.

Beshear: Coal to liquid is good.

Beshear: Nuclear plants in Kentucky is good.

These are truly dark, dark, dark days in Kentucky. The KDP needs an enema.

28 tons of fun!

So, last night I went to Louisville (partially to mourn the loss of formerly great Lexington social scene) and check out this "Waterfront Wednesday" that my friends told me about... WELL, on my way there, I notice a HUGE Bush-Legacy-Bus.

My first reaction was 'Great, more Bush/Rove/McConnell/McCain propaganda... '. Then, as I got closer, I saw that it was an Americans United For Change project (those were the folks that busted their tails to save Social Security entitlements from being privatized by the gops). My frown immediately turned downside-up real fast!

As soon as I walked up, I was greeted by a very knowledgeable staffer who explained to me that Louisville was only their third stop of what will be 4 1/2 months of national touring on their biodiesel-powered-museum-on-wheels (check out their schedule here). They, rightfully so, recognize Senator Mitch McConnell as the chief enabler of this disastrous President and thus wanted to make sure they stopped in Kentucky right off the Louisville Slugger. Luckily for us, they will swing through Bowling Green (and MAYBE Lexington?!?!) on September 17th... so mark your calendars!

I will post some more about the McConnell atrocities in the coming days... in the meantime, I can not get my mind off the impressive nature of this bus!

I walked onto the bus, and as soon as my eyes adjusted to the lighting, I was awe-struck! Shocked I was! I was... yes readers, it is true... I was shocked & awed... by the creativity, the ingenuity, the conceptuality, by the totality... and more than anything, I was shocked and awed by the complete failure of leadership that we have endured over the last 7+ years. How did we, the public, let our leaders abuse their power to such an extent?!?!?

They figured out a way to utilize every square inch of this bus. There were all kinds of really thought provoking exhibits on the various Bush/McConnell legacies. I am SURE that it was hard to decide what to highlight, with so much material to cover. But they honed their message to educate the citizenry on:
Iraq War: Misled into Tragedy
Economy: American dream turned nightmare
Healthcare: Premiums rise, coverage fails
Environment: Our future for sale
Workers: Working harder, falling behind
Katrina: Epic failure of leadership
(while the other exhibits filled me with rage, the Katrina exhibit brought tears... even to these very macho eyes)
Education: Promises broken
and perhaps arguably the best exhibit (only because of the premise) was Progressive Vision: Time for change
!
LONG, LONG story short... I was VERY impressed. Impressed with the educational outreach, impressed with the staffers, impressed with the bus itself... and once again, extremely impressed with Americans United for Change!

BTW, the concert was pretty good, but the bus was certainly the highlight of my trip to the waterfront!

There is LOTS more I could say about this museum-on-wheels, but I would rather leave you yearning for more...

Visit the Bush Legacy Homepage and Take the Virtual Bus Tour:

www.BushLegacyTour.com

Gore: I love the Earth soooooo much I'm not going to campaign

For those of you who were getting your hopes up for former vice-president Al Gore to be hitting the campaign trail over the next few months for Barack Obama, it seems you may have your hopes dashed. It seems Gore doesn't want to taint his environmental agenda with the dirtiness that political campaigning brings.

In considering this though, I was reminded of the following clip from the film The War Room in which Gore reminds us of the fury of his campaigning in days of yore:

Coal creates jobs

Indeed.

Dramatic evidence of the break-up of the Arctic ice-cap has emerged from research during an expedition by the Canadian military.

Scientists travelling with the troops found major new fractures during an assessment of the state of giant ice shelves in Canada's far north.

The team found a network of cracks that stretched for more than 10 miles (16km) on Ward Hunt, the area's largest shelf.

But don't worry kids. The Gooch says there's nothing to see here.

McConnell's goal? "Making Political Points"

We all know Mitch McConnell. No principles. No true ideology. No loyalty to anyone but himself. And 100% committed to political tricks, masked by faux outrage or concern.

So when Mitch McConnell held his breath and pouted like a little WATB yesterday, we could all see past it.

And today, we see their strategy in black and white. Think Progress has the GOP strategy memo on blocking the Warner-LIEberman Climate Security Act, and surprise, surprise, this was merely political theater.

The anonymous memo, provided to Reid “by a lobbyist involved in Republican strategy meetings” and obtained by the subscription-only E&E News, admits that the only goal of the Republican caucus is obstruction and grandstanding:

The goal is for a theme (e.g. climate bill - higher gas prices) each day, and the focus is much more on making political points than in amending the bill, changing the baseline text for any future debate, or affecting policy.

Here's the whole memo:


Think Progress has the video of Reid shredding McConnell and Co.

Keep those memos a little closer to the vest, Mitch.
.

Big Oil Mitch intent on accelerating climate change

Mitch really needs to get a cat that he can stroke in press conferences and on the Senate floor. The League of Conservation Voters:

WASHINGTON, DC – Nobel Prize-winning scientists, religious leaders, business executives, the leaders of both political parties and the overwhelming majority of Americans know that the time to fight global warming is now. With a 250% increase in gas prices under the Bush administration, it is time to find real alternatives to foreign oil.

Too bad Senator Mitch McConnell is too afraid to even talk about solutions. No wonder he was named one of LCV’s 2008 Dirty Dozen.*

Yesterday, McConnell voted against even debating the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which marks an important step toward achieving necessary comprehensive global warming pollution reductions and energy independence. What is he afraid of?

“While 74 Senators have the courage to debate the issues surrounding a bill that will create millions of green jobs and a new energy economy,” LCV President Gene Karpinski said, “McConnell and his cronies cower behind President Bush, Big Oil, and the outdated policies of the past. He was one of only 14 Senators who are so far outside the mainstream that they think that no action is needed on global warming and that our current dependence on dirty fossil fuels is working for Americans.”

At a time when the oil industry is getting fat on $120+ per barrel oil and record profits, McConnell sought to block debate on a bill that is good for jobs, good for the economy, good for national security and good for the planet. His vote against cloture signifies his acceptance of the worst effects of global warming – crippling droughts, oppressive heat waves, destruction of threatened species and more - that we face if we fail to pass a strong climate bill.

“It’s time for America to move forward with a solution that reduces global warming pollution while creating jobs and saving money for working families,” Karpinski continued. “If Mitch McConnell is so scared of a clean energy future that he won’t even discuss solutions, he should trade his Senate seat for a safe spot hiding under the bed.”

Senators McConnell, Cornyn, Allard and Inhofe: the Exxon Delegation Stalls the United States Senate

Washington, DC – Senators Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Wayne Allard, and Jim Inhofe and their friends in the oil industry don’t want to talk about the Climate Security Act. Not only did McConnell, Allard and Inhofe vote against the Cloture motion to open debate on the bill, at this moment, the four Senators are forcing the Clerk of the Senate to read all 491 pages of the bill aloud. The bitter irony of wasting hours reading the bill aloud is that this bill addresses the urgent need for action on global warming and for viable alternatives to skyrocketing gas prices.

“Doing Big Oil’s bidding does nothing to address global warming or America’s energy crisis.” LCV President Gene Karpinski said. “McConnell, Cornyn, and Inhofe are running for reelection and American voters want action, not political stall tactics from the Exxon delegation.”

Senator McConnell has accepted $580,311 from oil and gas interests. Senator Allard has accepted $405,156; Senator Inhofe has accepted $999,023; and Senator Cornyn has accepted $1,197,305. (opensecrets.org)