Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Inside Obama climate change plan

Saturday, June 29, 2013
New Hampshire, USA-Today President Obama spoke at Georgetown University about his plans, and large addressing climate change. Before his actual speech the key published in the White House what he would suggest.
The EPO, the cooperation with the Member States, industry and other stakeholders, sets new standards in CO2 pollution. "Strict new rules" are similarly rebuilt, for toxins such as mercury and arsenic present. These new regulations are expected existing power plants, as well as new target. The Federal Government will provide up to $8 billion in loan guarantees for "Advanced fossil energy" and energy efficiency projects – and large define upgrades, improving energy efficiency system, CO2 capture and system availability; Examples are enhanced "clean coal" synthesis gas, better high-temperature materials and designs of the turbine. The Department of the Interior (DOI) will be pressed to allow enough renewable energy projects (such as wind and solar) makes up to 2020 to 6 million homes on public land. The DOI also renames the first hydroelectric project for priority in Nice and create a new target of 100 MW of renewable energy at the State-funded apartments until 2020 (while maintaining a commitment to renewable energy on military installations provide).

The DOI has already became the front of renewable energy on public land ahead. Last summer it largely set 285,000 hectares of public land for solar development in six States, potentially houses more than development - makes enough to 7 million American households 23 GW. And three weeks ago, it approved three projects with renewable energy in the southwest of the United States: the 350-megawatt Midland-solar energy project and New York Canyon Geothermie 70-MW project in Nevada and the 100-MW Quartzsite of concentrated solar power (CSP) project in Arizona, collective, up to 520 MW enough makes nearly 200,000 homes.

(Note, however, that this budget delivery figures are not easily interpreted--it is unclear whether it supply the generation of Summit by represents solar and/or wind combined (or both), or whether and how the combination what other generation is required with the, to connect them.) Pre-release versions of the Obama statement not clarify when or how other energy sources be included in the directive.)

Other guidelines on Obama's German agenda include apartment buildings, today up to at least 20 percent by 2020 to make more efficient commercial and industrial buildings; and the reduction of CO2 pollution by at least 3 billion tons cumulatively up to 2030 — more than half of the annual carbon burden from the US energy - efficiency standards for appliances & Federal dwellings.

That is one-third of the Obama climate action plan. Another part relates more to the infrastructure as energy and deals with climate change instead of prevention: directing agencies to better support investments strengthen local climate-resilient communities against future extreme weather and climate affect (with Hurricane Sandy impact as a touchstone), create sustainable and resilient hospitals better educate to minimize partnership to the hazard of catastrophic farmers, ranchers and landowners "agricultural productivity" and a national drought resistance.

Sees yet another portion of Obama's plan beyond our borders: write to extend new and existing international initiatives, including the bilateral initiatives with China, India and other major emitting countries; a call for an end of US Government support for public financing of new powers coal-fired plants overseas (with a few exceptions for efficiency in poor countries and facilities with CO2 capture and sequestration); and capacity expand Government and local community planning and response capabilities.

We will be updating this story throughout the day (and days in advance) with analysis the President plan and in particular what next happens - how will it eventually translate into action and legislation, and what could put this trip.

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Obama Congress over $2 billion to clean energy of Research Fund press

Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Obama will challenge the Congress today to the Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois, a post the Energy Ministry largest laboratories for scientific and technical research. The so-called energy security trust would be financed over 10 years of State fees on offshore oil and gas drilling, according to the Feds, not identified before the President's speech.The trust reliable resources for the research would offer concentrated on transportation alternatives, said an official yesterday in a briefing with reporters.
The plan last month in the State of the Union address described the Obama, would not need to drill offshore areas open. Revenue for the trust would come from accelerating the approval permits for oil and gas producers to increase production and the increase of income from royalties, lease sales and bonus offers.

Congress has considered similar proposals in the past. In 2009, now House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio's Republicans led an energy that rent money would have directed to the oil business and gas sales pay for clean energy programs Bill was counter to a climate change legislation Democrats push.
Murkowski plan

Another plan by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, top Republican on the Committee revenue energy would be offered by holes on countries that are now banned, such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The White House official said that Obama's proposal would open the refuge to study do not.
The energy fund basic research would be dedicated to, which is to assume a permanent job to the private sector, the official said. Laid the groundwork for hydraulic fracturing, a hole was revolutionized technology, the gas and oil production, decades ago by Government-funded research, the officials said.

While trust will focus on traffic, it is supporting research in a wide variety of fuels and technologies, the officials said.
After posting mixed results of what some critics said energized environmental groups with a promise were for environmental issues in his first term of the President in his inaugural speech this year "Response to the threat of climate change." The energy fund management services would use, which have reduced oil imports and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the White House official said.

Development of energy and mineral mining lands on United States and off the coast raised about $12 billion for State and Federal Government in the fiscal year 2012, according to Office of natural resources one revenue Division of the Interior Department. That was about $1 billion, more than to be progress in the previous year because more access hydraulic Division of oil and gas producers are found in shale rock formations.
Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Obama seven fast tracks renewable energy infrastructure projects

Wednesday, August 29, 2012
These infrastructure projects would produce almost 5,000 MW of clean energy. As part of an executive order, issued in March 2012 the Office of management and budget pays with a government-wide effort to make, in the approval and review process for infrastructure projects of more efficient and more effective, time saving during the journey better for the environment and the local communities. Additional accelerated infrastructure projects will be announced in the coming weeks.

Thanks to a coordinated and focused review process in the last three years, the Department of the Interior, more utility-scale renewable energy projects on public land as combined in the past two decades - approved a total of 31 new projects.

Mohave wind energy (BP wind)

State: Arizona

Co-ordinating authority: Department of the Interior, Bureau of land management, Bureau of reclamation

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and to review decisions: January 2013

The proposed Mohave County wind farm is a wind-powered electrical generation, managed by the Bureau of reclamation in Mohave County, Arizona would managed to about 38.099 hectares of public land by the Bureau of land management and 8,960 acres of land. If adopted, it would produce up to 425 MW wind energy and help the state its objectives for renewable energies meet Arizona.

Quartzsite, Arizona solar energy (solar reserve)

Coordinating agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of land management

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and review of decisions: December 2012

The proposed concentrating solar power plant would land by the Bureau of land management is managed on 1.675 hectares. There is an estimated 100 MW of clean energy - enough, makes about 30,000 apartments - and help in the State of Arizona hit his targets for renewable energy.

Desert harvest solar energy (EnXco)

Coordinating agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of land management

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and review of decisions: December 2012

The proposed project desert harvest would use solar power on about 1,200 acres in Riverside County, California photovoltaic technology. The project would produce an estimated 150 MW solar energy, enough, makes about 45,000 apartments.

Coordinating agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of land management

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and to review decisions: December 2012

This proposed solar photovoltaic system would be 4,893 acres in Riverside County, California. There is an estimated 750 MW solar power – enough clean energy to 225,000 homes makes - with the help its targets for renewable energy in the State of California to achieve.

Moapa solar energy Center (RES Americas)

State: Nevada

Coordinating agency: Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and to review decisions: December 2013

This solar project is in collaboration with the Moapa band of Paiute Indians on a 2,000-acre site of the Moapa River Indian reservation, land managed by the Bureau of land management in Clark County, Nevada developed. If approved, the deal with 200 MW project would 100 MW photovoltaic technology and 100 MW concentrated solar power technology. Once has constructed, the proposed project would be the first large-scale solar projects on tribal lands in the United States one

Silver State South (first solar)
Coordinating agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of land management

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and to review decisions: March 2013

The silver of South solar energy project is a solar power generation plans public lands on proposed 13,043 hectares. If approved, it is an estimated 350 MW of clean energy with photovoltaic technology - enough, makes approximately 105,000 apartments - and help of Nevada meet its renewable energy targets. Construction for the 50 MW Silver State North project is complete, so that it will deliver the first solar project on public land of electricity to the grid.

Chokecherry/Sierra Madre wind energy (power company of Wyoming)

State: Wyoming

Coordinating agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of land management

Enable target date for the conclusion of the Federal Republic and to review decisions: October 2014

The proposed project is Chokecherry and County, Wyoming Sierra Madre is about 230,000 hectares in carbon, produce could be up to 3,000 MW wind power – enough to more than 1 million homes makes. The Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind farm project is the largest proposed wind farm in North America. The project, as it is currently configured, Habitat as "Sage Grouse core areas." avoids critical Sage Grouse Chokecherry is a multi-tiered decision-making process, of a land use plan in October 2012 decision, followed by reviewing a series of right of way applications expected by 2014.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Obama spars with Romney energy in the swing state sites

Friday, August 24, 2012
Romney appeared on a coal Beallsville, Ohio, where he promised, at the end to reach a second term and criticized Obama for regulations, which he said stifling coal production were energy independence for America.
The two candidates made their cases in swing States in the election campaign plays out against the backdrop of sluggish US economic growth and an unemployment rate of 8.3 percent. Since Obama of the first full month the unemployment rate over 8 percent has been firmly in the Office.

Their running mates were also with Ryan speak in Colorado and fund-raising in Nevada during Vice President Joe Biden in Virginia was appealing in battleground States to vote.

Wind jobs

Obama in his speech cited the 75,000 jobs in the United States bound to the wind energy industry and its support for the extension of a wind energy production tax credit with Romney of the opposition faced.

If Romney "knew what you have done, would he know that 20% of Iowa's electricity from wind, now supply our homes and factories and our companies," Obama said.

Romney of spokesman Ryan Williams said that the Republican nominee supports wind energy. Instead of Obama approach Romney would promote "free enterprise and free-market competition and reward support technological innovation rules, the legal obstacles," Williams said in an E-mail.
Obama cracked a joke at the expense of Romney after determining that his rival said in a March 5 speech, "you can drive a car with a windmill on it not."

"Now I don't know whether he actually tried the," the President said. You have transported an indirect reference to Romney, which once strapped the dog of the families in a support on the roof of a car, he added: "I know, has he had other things on his car."

Iowa power

Iowa, the Obama won in 2008 and where polls show that this year's race is to win the second highest performance in the United States and the industry has directly and indirectly supports 4,000 to 5,000 jobs are, according to the American Wind Energy Association wind.

Possible end of which is tax credit at the end of the year already affect the industry. Vestas Wind systems a/S, the world's largest supplier of turbines and sound, plans to cut 1,600 jobs at its plants in Colorado this year, because the tax credit expires December 31, unless Congress to extend.

Broadwind Energy Inc., a manufacturer of steel towers for wind turbines located in Naperville, Illinois, operations, to shift from the wind industry is restructuring, CEO Peter DuPrey said.
"The harassment of the wind industry on economic incentives to grow and prosper no good thing, especially in times of a dysfunctional political leadership," Duprey said at a second quarter conference call last week.

Coal country

Romney is on the last day of his four day bus tour of electoral Battleground States travel through Ohio's coal country. The former Governor of Massachusetts claimed that the Obama has loaded the mining administration and it led directly to the job cuts in Ohio.

Before dozens of hard hat, miners wear and next to a bucket, loaded with coal in Beallsville, Ohio, Romney Obama said policies have caused increases in energy prices and made it more difficult for the coal industry to profitable.
He said that a Obama campaign advertising claim that the President industry would create jobs plans coal an attempt, deceive voters was about his real goals.

"How in the world can you go out and people say things that are not true?" Romney, said at the American Energy Corp.'s century mine. "If you don't believe in coal, if you don't believe in energy independence for the United States, then it say."
Ohio, which has gained Obama in 2008, is the 10 largest coal-producing state of United States, accounting for 2.5 percent of the production in the year administration 2010, according to the energy information. The industry has 2.829 employees in underground and surface mines, a drop of six percent from 2009.

Energy independence

Romney, said to make its commitment of energy independence for the United States if he can complete two White House terms, which would free the country from dependence on Venezuela and the Middle East. Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Venezuela were imported the top four sources U.S. crude oil in 2010, according to the EIA.

Ryan against the Romney remarks at a rally in Colorado, a State which is rich in oil shale and natural gas.
"President Obama has done what he can to make to make it more difficult for us, our own energy," he told the cheering crowd in the gym of Lakewood high school.

Ryan long offers the clean energy agenda, critical Obama proposals in Congress for oil and gas drilling, limit environmental federal regulations, and eliminates a clean energy loan program to expand.

Domestic deliveries

By increased oil and natural gas production and conservation of U.S. Department of energy has increased from domestic sources in the last six years to an estimated 81 percent through the first 10 months of 2011, according to data from Bloomberg from the the proportion who met demand the United States.

Biden stirred a war of words between the campaigns with his remarks to a crowd in Danville, Virginia. To laugh and boos said of his audience, Biden Romney would "let the big banks once again write their own rules - unchain Wall Street." "It will set back in chains."

That drew a quick response from the Romney campaign.
"Whether it raises Mitt Romney of being an offender for a woman, been responsible for the tragic death of or now want to put people in chains, there is no question, that because of the President does not record, which he on a desperate campaign has been reduced on the basis of Division and demonization,", said Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for Romney said in a written statement.

Stephanie cutter, Deputy Campaign Manager for Obama, defended Vice President remarks, to say that Ryan and House Speaker John Boehner, both Republicans, "who have been calling 'matches' the private sector of regulations."

Copyright 2012 Bloomberg

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Sunday, July 08, 2012

Obama administration announces investment in biofuels

Sunday, July 08, 2012
The Energy Department is increasing support for biofuels. The biorefinery pilot makes such cellulosic ethanol from corn on the cob.
Credit card: Poet

$30 Announced the Department of energy, the U.S. Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Navy on July 2 millions in promoting private investment in commercial advanced drop-in bio-fuels adapted. Drop-in biofuels are fuels, direct serve can substitute or supplement to existing gasoline, diesel and Jet fuels, without changes and existing distribution networks or engine fuel pump - and have the potential to us significantly to reduce dependence on oil imports. DOE offers $32 million in new investments also for earlier research, continue to drive for technological breakthroughs and other costs in the industry.

In his design for a secure energy future in March 2011 President Obama published objective of reducing oil imports by a third by the year energy efficiency and accelerate the development of biofuels and other alternatives set by 2025. As part of this effort led the blueprint DOE work Navy and the USDA to support commercialization of drop in biofuel substitutes for diesel and jet fuel, that the current funding announcement (FOA) lead opportunity. This FOA has a two-phased approach to share with Government and industry in the cost. In phase 1 applicants will submit a package of design and comprehensive business plan for a commercial biorefinery, identify and project sites to secure and further necessary steps set out in the notice. Selected winners still in phase 2 will present additional information for the construction or the upgrading of a biorefinery. Applications are due by August 13, 2012. The funding opportunity announcement and the blueprint for a secure energy future, see.

In addition, research that complement the commercial efforts of the Navy and USDA announced bot DOE new investments in earlier stage of biofuels. The last steps in the Obama Government are this early, pre-commercial systems to reduce efforts for the further development of biofuel technologies, improve performance, and to identify new effective and non-food feedstocks and technologies. Find the full funding request. Applications are due to the 13 August 2012.

DOE funding innovative pilot-scale and demo-scale biorefineries that could produce renewable bio-fuels, announced $20 million to support today covers to meet the military specifications for kerosene and ship diesel with a variety of non-food biomass raw materials, waste-based materials and algae. These projects support may be new plant construction, retrofit on existing U.S. bio-refineries or operations plant to begin production on the pilot or pre commercial scale. This investment will help made collect also federal and local governments, private developers and accurate data on the costs of the production of fuels from biomass and waste raw materials industry.

In addition, DOE announced $12 million to up to eight projects focused fuels on the exploration of possibilities for the development of organic transport and products with synthetic biological processing support. Synthetic biological processing provides innovative technology to efficiently, to enable low-cost conversion of nonfood biomass to biofuels. These projects will develop novel biological systems, which improve the breakdown of raw biomass raw materials and in the conversion of raw materials into transportation fuels.

Projects - carried by small businesses, universities, national laboratories and industry - will endeavour to overcome barriers to scientific maritime trade competitive advanced biofuels and bioproducts. Applications are due to the 10 July 2012. See the full funding opportunity announcement and the DOE press release.

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Saturday, April 07, 2012

Obama Administration Announces Great Lakes Wind Projects Agreement

Saturday, April 07, 2012

The Obama Administration joined the governors of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania on March 30 to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) streamlining offshore wind development in the Great Lakes. DOE, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Energy Consortium are among the signatories.

The MOU will enhance collaboration between federal and state agencies to speed review of proposed offshore wind projects. Specifically, the agencies will develop an action plan that sets priorities and recommends steps for achieving efficient and responsible evaluation of proposed offshore wind power projects in the Great Lakes region. The area has the potential to produce more than 700 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind, about one fifth of the total U.S. offshore wind potential. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that each gigawatt of offshore wind installed could produce enough electricity to power 300,000 homes.

To safely and responsibly develop offshore wind resources, federal and state agencies—which share jurisdiction in the Great Lakes—must fully evaluate the potential social, environmental, safety, and security impacts of projects. See the DOE press release, a fact sheetPDF, and the complete MOUPDF.


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Friday, March 30, 2012

Obama administration provides $ 35 million for biomass research

Friday, March 30, 2012

The biomass research and development initiative will help, economically and environmentally sustainable sources of energy develop renewable biomass.
Credit card: Todd Johnson


The White House on 22 March announced an offer of up to $35 million products over three years to support research and development in advanced biofuels, bioenergy and high-value Biobased. The projects are financed by the biomass research and development initiative (BRDI), a joint programme of DOE and the U.S. Agriculture (USDA). The programs help economically and ecologically sustainable energy sources develop renewable biomass. Increasing the availability of renewable fuels and bio-based products that will help the need for petrol and diesel to replace can.


For the fiscal year 2012, applicant BRDI must propose funding, projects, the integration of science and research in three areas of technical engineering: feedstock, bio-fuels and organic products development, and biofuels development analysis. These technical areas are crucial to the continued success of the alternative bio-fuel production. Grants Awards and national program leadership for the BRDI program are managed by the USDA National Institute of food and Agriculture and the DOE Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Applications are by 24 April 2012, and must be submitted electronically. You will find on the DOE press release and the funding opportunity announcement FedConnect.


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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

President Obama State of the Union address promotes clean energy

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

President Obama calls for clean energy tax credits and a clean energy standard January 24 in his annual State of the Union address.
IMG credit: Pete Souza, White House


President Obama calls for clean energy tax credits and a clean energy standard January 24 in his annual State of the Union address. Said: "I go not away from the promise of clean energy", the President surrounded the issue of international competition, pledging not to "cede the wind or solar or battery industry after China or Germany because we refuse to the same commitment here." He announced also on two initiatives promote the deployment of clean energy technologies.


"I am directing my Government permit the development of clean energy on enough public land to 3 million households, making", President Obama said. "And I am proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us which energy in history make the world of's largest consumer of energy, one of the greatest obligations to clean - with the Navy enough capacity by a quarter of a million makes buying apartments a year."


President Obama stresses also the need for more energy efficiency, waste of energy proposes incentives to may update their homes to manufacturers in their factories to eliminate, and the company cut its energy costs by $100 billion over the next ten years. The President referred in addition series tax incentives, the domestic manufacturing clean energy technologies, including an extension of the advanced energy manufacturing tax credit would help. Find data sheets to the President on the website of the White House and the White House proposals on energy and production under the president's State of the Union address.


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Monday, January 09, 2012

Not satisfied with the oil companies

Monday, January 09, 2012
Jack Gerard, President of American Petroleum Institute, one on Wednesday during remarks the oil given warning lowered but unmistakable for President Obama and event in Washington issued gas industry State of American energy.

"Clearly the keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest," Gerard said in remarks. "A determination to decide something less than I believe will have great political consequences." Such statements by observers in Greenpeace wonders if Gerard be anointed prefer "the President of the United States of energy" and not just an another oil lobbyist.

The ultimate "national interest" provision, in fact, the Obama in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is done by repeatedly has said that it needs more time to determine the environmental impact of the planned gas pipeline, the tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada by the Heartland U.S. - will also have the Oglalla aquifer - refineries on the Gulf Coast.

The oil industry event was a launch pad for the API new PR campaign - Vote4Energy. Although Gerard was that the campaign it was "No campaign, but a conversation", it would, by definition, act as the mouthpiece for the oil and gas industry as it tries to educate"" politicians and the public. "Information State distributed over our networks through grass roots reach to millions of voters and through discussions" would search the campaign politicians and candidates in 2012 to pressure.

Even though Gerard's claim was that the industry would be "an electorate that is educated on energy" environmental groups support were quickly, against the kind of "Education" to push back the industry has long been known for.

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Monday, November 07, 2011

How to buy a pipeline? Buy Congress.

Monday, November 07, 2011
As the White House tomorrow to President Obama the keystone XL pipeline gathers thousands rejection, let us look at one minute to some of the ways, political support has so far accumulated the project.

Because at the end, this is a political decision. A Yes shows support for big oil and the dirty energy status quo and a no. supports the clean energy future, which we so urgently to need quickly track.

The first card, it is the energy security is national security, always a good out of the hat to card. It gives the air of patriotic righteousness to your project, which could give a family with generations of military service. It is as if you must just in it for the most of the nation and someone do it.

The fallacy in this argument is not better exposed than when genuine military brass go the issue of the publication of a report that argues, the real energy security only is achieved by a reduction of oil demand no continuation of the business as usual. Or if one while coming top General Petraeus helpers in the Iraq directly against the project, that States that it would be our enemies "Comfort". Trust given the choice, would you have on security, big oil?

As soon as the security card energy the next card is dealt so the job card. You hire some little-known outfit in Texas to write an economic analysis of the project with a proprietary model, which can penetrate any other economist, which makes your jobs numbers look great, and I mean great Texas.

It's a shame, and bubbles in your analysis but when some economists at Cornell University, who really know what they're talking about, go the size, good Texas holes.

So, if it goes all West in a cart, your credibility is wasted, and citizens begin to really a stench elevation, it always a case back are you guaranteed, can results to achieve.

Get passed a Bill in the House of representatives. A slam dunk, if you most of them himself.

This is what happens when a law (279-147) directed by the President approval of the keystone XL pipeline to speed up the House, in late July.

According to the figures that we have compiled to the DirtyEnergyMoney.org, the representatives were money from the oil, gas and coal industry, for the invoice received from nine times as much campaign during the Congress as those who voted against it.

She had received more than $ 5 million from companies in these sectors in the past, less than two years. The average 'yay' voters get 3.8 times more of this dirty energy money than the average "voters.

The law passed the House, but it not in the Senate.

This is promised the President Obama exactly the kind of Washington politics, that would be a thing of the past in his presidency. It is now time for him to live up to that promise by the rejection of the keystone XL pipeline.

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Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Obama Fundraiser Linked To Loan Program That Aided Solyndra

Tuesday, October 04, 2011
AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Solyndra President Barack Obama lifts a solar panel with Solyndra Chief Executive Officer Chris Gronet during a tour of the company in May 2010. (Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images)

Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles— The White House faced mounting political complications as a second top fundraiser for President Obama was linked to a federal loan guarantee program that backed a now-bankrupt Silicon Valley solar energy company, and as two California lawmakers called for investigations of a state tax break granted to the firm.

Steve Spinner, who helped monitor the Energy Department's issuance of $25 billion in government loan guarantees to renewable energy projects, was one of Obama's top fundraisers in 2008 and is raising money for the president's 2012 reelection campaign.

Spinner did not have any role in the selection of applicants for the loan program and, in fact, was recused from the decision to grant a $535-million loan guarantee to Solyndra Inc. because his wife's law firm represented the company, administration officials said Friday.

But Spinner's role as a top official in the Energy Department program, which had not been previously revealed, is likely to spur new inquiries into whether political influence played a role in the handling of the "green" energy fund. Solyndra faces a congressional probe, a criminal investigation and separate internal inquiries at the Energy and Treasury departments.

"This will fuel more questions, and now you've got real people involved at the inspector-general level who will be turning over chairs and cabinets, asking questions," said Stanley Brand, a criminal defense and ethics lawyer in Washington who has served as general counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives.

He noted that none of the details that had emerged suggested any laws had been broken. "It's embarrassing, it's ham-handed, it looks bad, but so far all we have is the White House trying to advantage itself in a political way with a loan," he said.

The largest investments in Solyndra were funds operated on behalf of the family foundation of billionaire George Kaiser, another major fundraiser for Obama in 2008. Kaiser has denied personally investing in the solar energy company or talking to White House officials about the loan.

Some Republicans in Congress charge that the White House pushed to get the loan approved for political reasons, which the White House denies.

Before its collapse, Solyndra was a showcase of the White House initiative to develop clean-energy alternatives. Obama visited the factory in May and praised Solyndra as a green technology company that would create jobs and help lead the country's economic recovery.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Sept. 6. Two days later, agents with the FBI and Energy Department's inspector general served a search warrant at Solyndra headquarters in an inquiry focusing on whether the company misled the government in applying for the loans.

In announcing its closure, Solyndra cited an unexpected reduction in demand for its products and intense competition from Chinese companies that drove down the price of solar panels it could sell.

Spinner, who raised at least $500,000 for Obama in 2008, is leading efforts to raise money from the technology industry for the president's reelection campaign. He did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

Last week, he invited Obama fundraisers who were in Chicago for a national finance committee meeting to the launch of the Technology for Obama fundraising program. In July, the Obama campaign credited Spinner with raising between $200,000 and $500,000 so far this year.

Spinner was a Silicon Valley investor who founded a sports and wellness company before he joined the administration in April 2009 after serving on Obama's transition team. He was named an advisor to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and was charged with helping oversee a loan guarantee program authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus program.

"Steve Spinner acted as a liaison between the Recovery Act Office and the Loan Programs Office," Energy Department spokesman Damien LaVera said in a statement Friday. "In that capacity, he played no role in the decision-making or evaluation of the Solyndra loan application."

During his tenure, the program approved 20 loan guarantees totaling $25 billion for energy storage, wind power and solar generation, according to Spinner's resume on LinkedIn. Among them was final approval for Solyndra, which planned to manufacture thin solar modules for flat rooftops.

The company applied for a loan guarantee in December 2006, filing under a program created by George W. Bush's administration. It received a conditional commitment for $535 million in March 2009, shortly before Spinner arrived.

In the months that followed, department staffers negotiated the final terms and provided the Office of Management and Budget with data as it assessed the risks of the deal.

In August 2009, while that risk assessment was underway, White House officials began expressing interest in having Vice President Joe Biden announce the deal during a trip to California the following month, according to emails released to House investigators this week. That spurred exchanges between officials


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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Obama: Oil and gas subsidies no sense

Thursday, May 26, 2011

(WASHINGTON, May 14, UPI) - US - President Barack Obama demanded Saturday an end that $4 billion in annual subsidies to the oil industry, said they are not fair and not make sense.

"In the last months the largest oil companies made $4 billion in profits every week." And yet, they have $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies every year. 4 Billion dollars at a time when Americans to fill their tanks hardly. "Four billion dollars at a time when we try to reduce our deficit, said Obama in his weekly radio and Internet address, outlining steps that takes place his Government curb the rising cost of gasoline."

"It is not fair, it makes no sense." Before I was President, the CEOs of these companies also acknowledged that the tax subsidies made no sense. Now, next week, it a vote in Congress this oil company of giveaways a for once stop. And I hope that Democrats and Republicans come together and get this done.

"The American people should be not oil companies subsidies at a time when she make profits in the next record." As a nation, we should be in the clean, invested in renewable energy sources, which are the ultimate solution for high gas prices. The is why we are investing in clean energy technology, help companies, the production of solar cells and wind turbines, and to ensure that our cars and trucks on a container of Gases--a step further can, the families could save as much as $3,000 at the gas pump. "

The President announced the formation of a task force, led by Attorney General Eric holder, with the express purpose rooting out fraud and market manipulation. He led also to the "safe and responsible" domestic oil production, including leasing annual sales in Alaska National Petroleum Reserve, the acceleration of the offshore oil and gas exploration in the Central and Southern Atlantic Ocean and the extension of all leases in the Gulf of Mexico of last year's deepwater horizon oil spill affected.

A senior administration of official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday the plans of the Government to speed up the environmental assessment in the Gulf of Mexico lease to facilitate sales in the Western and Central Gulf by mid 2012. The official said leases in Alaska Orlik for potential activity that happened in the last year "to ensure companies not by, that are corrupted", add the Government is "tailor-made" lease conditions and the introduction of fee structures to early development to promote and further incentives already rented lands access to Castle.


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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Obama announces new oil drilling

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

WASHINGTON committed Barack Obama, under pressure over high gasoline prices, (AFP) President Saturday, annual oil and gas lease sales in Alaska National Petroleum Reserve and to speed up the production in other areas.

In his weekly radio and Internet address of the U.S. leader admitted that one of the biggest burdens for U.S. consumers in the last months the high price of gasoline-been, is more than four dollars per gallon in some areas.

"The spikes in gas prices are often temporary, and while there are no quick fixes for the problem, there are a few steps we should take, the good sense", Obama said.

The President praised safe and responsible oil production by us to increase resources, at the same time as improving the safety and environmental standards.

"To do this, I am the Department of the Interior, sale of petroleum lease in Alaska national reserve, be carried out taking into account sensitive areas, directed by", Obama said.

Previously, oil and gas, the leases taken had petroleum placed reserve, but not on an annual basis at regular intervals in the Alaska national.

Obama also offered to speed up, to lease the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the Centre and south Atlantic, and new areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

He also promised to unveil new incentives for the oil industry unused leases develop, already acquired.

In many cases, oil and gas giant say that rented prohibitively expensive fully explores the costs in the areas of the Government costs and would have exploited.

The Inland Alaska National Petroleum Reserve is located in the West of the famous Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), which open Republicans and oil companies on Obama have called for the drilling.

A senior administration of official told reporters, however, "drilling in the Arctic Refuge is off the table and development it is not supported."

In March 2010 Obama announced a plan to expand Alaska drilling along the Atlantic coast, in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and in the North.

But he reversed the decision this year, beyond 2017 banned fallout in the middle of the environment of the BP deepwater horizon oil disaster in the Gulf region and drilling in some areas.

Saturday's move would extend drilling leases in some areas of the Gulf of last year's temporary moratorium affected and it will establish a new Interagency Working Group to ensure that environmental standards meet Arctic leases.

Obama has previously vowed, cut U.S. oil imports, come often from volatile regions of the world by a third in just over a decade, and has also heavily invested in the development of alternative energy sources.

But Republicans have charged that his reluctance to open U.S. undermines energy fields to full advantage its policy.

The President also has oil for the huge rant against industry giants profits while Americans suffer from rising pump prices and to withdraw $4 billion in government subsidies for the industry has called for.

"Four billion dollars at a time when Americans to fill their tanks hardly." 4 Billion dollars at a time when we try to reduce our deficit. It is not fair, it makes no sense, "Obama said in the address."


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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Obama Announces steps to accelerate us oil production

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) - With a view to further public unhappiness about gas prices, President Barack Obama directs his Government gaming playback profile to US oil production by extending existing leases in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Alaska and keep more lease sales in one federal petroleum reserve in the Alaska.


Obama said on Saturday, that the measures "makes sense" helps you reduce U.S. consumption of imported oil in the long run. But he confirmed again that they will not help to immediately gas prices topping $4 a gallon in many parts of the country bring.His announcement followed passage in the Republican controlled House of the three invoices - including two this week expanded and would accelerate offshore oil and gas drilling. Republicans say the Bills are aimed at easing gasoline costs, but they also recognize that his is not immediately.


The White House had announced against all three bills, it is unlikely that the democratically controlled Senate, reviews say the measures undermine security and open you ecologically sensitive areas to new drilling would pass.


But Obama is the Bills Annahme.Beantwortung of the call to the Republicans and Democrats of Gulf Coast States, Obama, said provisions in his weekly radio and Internet address that he would extend all golf leases by a temporary moratorium on drilling affected were imposed after the last year's BP oil spill response plan. That would give companies are starting to drill additional time.The Administration had to extensions of case case has been granted, but senior officials said management, Department one interior ceiling one-year extension would Institute.


New safety requirements introduced as the BP spill also have drilling in Alaska delayed it, he said Obama leasing terms for one year as also would extend. An oil lease is typically 10 Jahre.Lease sales in the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico, which were postponed last year are to middle of next year, the same time period required by the House take place.


A sale off the Virginia Coast would not done no earlier than 2017. But he said Obama speed up environmental reviews can start seismic studies to determine how much is oil and gas off the Atlantic coast.To further speed up drilling off the Alaskan coast, where such plans approval have been moved from Shell Oil Co. of an air pollution, Obama said that he would create an interagency task force to coordinate the necessary permits. He is also the annual turnover lease on the north slope of Alaska in the great national petroleum reserve keep.


Officials said recent sales in the last year but was that they had been held not on any fixed schedule.Republicans sold off by the lack of progress in shell drilling legislation have created other than drilling in Alaska by air pollution laws."House natural resources Committee Chairman doc Hastings of Washington, sponsor of the legislation, said it was"ironic"Obama"has now taken steps baby in our direction"after the White House and Congress, Democrats criticized the Bills."


The President finally is what Republican, knew that expansion of American energy to help lower prices and "said generating jobs, Hastings.Obama calls billions in taxpayers to eliminate subsidies for oil and gas companies Democrats and Republican votes."In the weekly Republican news Alabama Republic Martha Roby said it is seriously time for Washington, the challenges facing the country, including its finances and fight against the gas price issue straighten out to get. She praised the House for passing measures for domestic energy "because if we are talking about energy, we are talking about jobs." "" The greatest threat to our economy, create jobs, and our children's future, nothing to do", said Roby."We must act. "It is what we were sent to Washington, to do."


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Friday, May 06, 2011

Obama gets oil tax breaks for end

Friday, May 06, 2011

WASHINGTON, April 26 UPI) - US - President Barack Obama Congress asked Tuesday to end tax breaks for oil and gas companies, current high prices tell them enough incentive given.

The President for "Emergency measures", reported the Washington Post. He cited a comment by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, news should be interview Monday, this Congress in an ABC "look at the tax subsidies".

The President said there is no "silver bullet" reduce gas prices, but he said "almost $4 billion in unwarranted tax breaks" is money that could be spent to develop alternative energy sources.

Gas sold for an average of $3.87 Tuesday, up about $1 per gallon in the last year, AAA said.

Boehner's Office released a statement that Obama the proposals for the riders would increase the cost of gas.

"The speaker wants to increase the supply of American energy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and he is only interested in reforms that lower energy costs and create American jobs," said his spokesman, Brendan buck.


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