Comments on: SOTU: Switch Grass and Clean Coal http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/ The Understory is the official blog of Rainforest Action Network. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:33:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Gregory http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-525 Gregory Thu, 02 Feb 2006 22:51:51 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-525 Of course now the White House is backing off of the statement. Energy Secretary Bodman says that when the prez pledged to "move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past," he really didn't mean it. "This was purely an example," the Secretary is reported as saying. The broad goal was to displace foreign oil imports, from anywhere, with domestic alternatives, which sounds like another pushing to open up ANWR is in the works. Asked why the president used the words "the Middle East" when he didn't really mean them, one administration official said Bush wanted to dramatize the issue in a way that "every American sitting out there listening to the speech understands." The official spoke only on condition of anonymity because he feared that his remarks might get him in trouble. Hmmmm ... Of course now the White House is backing off of the statement. Energy Secretary Bodman says that when the prez pledged to “move beyond a petroleum-based economy and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past,” he really didn’t mean it. “This was purely an example,” the Secretary is reported as saying. The broad goal was to displace foreign oil imports, from anywhere, with domestic alternatives, which sounds like another pushing to open up ANWR is in the works.

Asked why the president used the words “the Middle East” when he didn’t really mean them, one administration official said Bush wanted to dramatize the issue in a way that “every American sitting out there listening to the speech understands.” The official spoke only on condition of anonymity because he feared that his remarks might get him in trouble. Hmmmm …

]]> By: Sarah http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-524 Sarah Thu, 02 Feb 2006 15:57:30 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-524 Does the title of this blog really say "switch grass and CLEAN COAL"? Even though the technology exists to burn coal more efficiently and without emitting all the nasty pollutants, you still have to cut mountains in half to get to it. I have a feeling Montana will look very very different in 20 years. I realize we need fuel, cellulosic ethanol is the way to go at this stage in the game. Coal is not "clean" and not sustainable. Does the title of this blog really say “switch grass and CLEAN COAL”? Even though the technology exists to burn coal more efficiently and without emitting all the nasty pollutants, you still have to cut mountains in half to get to it. I have a feeling Montana will look very very different in 20 years. I realize we need fuel, cellulosic ethanol is the way to go at this stage in the game. Coal is not “clean” and not sustainable.

]]> By: Tom C http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-523 Tom C Thu, 02 Feb 2006 06:52:47 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-523 Ignore his words, watch his actions. Bush thrives on lies and deception. Don't be fooled by yet another of his feel good speeches designed to serve as nothing more than an attempt to restore his deteriorated approval ratings. He, his administration and the majority of republican members of the US congress will say or do anything to perpetuate or increase their power. The only certainty is that Bush will continue to operate for the next three years as he has for the last five. Is anyone really so naive as to expect him to change? The key to understanding Bush's messages is to realize that his words are merely "grand promises" to borrow Japhet's phrase. But his promises have no substance, and meanwhile all life on our planet suffers and the downward spiral of our ecosystem continues to accelerate. It doesn't have to be that way though. A good first step would be to remove Bush and his administration from their position of lethal power. For a start, have a look at www.ImpeachBush.org which I just learned of two days ago on CSPAN. Don't wait until we reach the point of no return. Act while we still have a choice. Ignore his words, watch his actions. Bush thrives on lies and deception. Don’t be fooled by yet another of his feel good speeches designed to serve as nothing more than an attempt to restore his deteriorated approval ratings. He, his administration and the majority of republican members of the US congress will say or do anything to perpetuate or increase their power.

The only certainty is that Bush will continue to operate for the next three years as he has for the last five. Is anyone really so naive as to expect him to change? The key to understanding Bush’s messages is to realize that his words are merely “grand promises” to borrow Japhet’s phrase. But his promises have no substance, and meanwhile all life on our planet suffers and the downward spiral of our ecosystem continues to accelerate.

It doesn’t have to be that way though. A good first step would be to remove Bush and his administration from their position of lethal power. For a start, have a look at http://www.ImpeachBush.org which I just learned of two days ago on CSPAN.

Don’t wait until we reach the point of no return. Act while we still have a choice.

]]> By: eileen barry http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-522 eileen barry Thu, 02 Feb 2006 02:40:12 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-522 Talk is easy...generating intelligent actiions takes commitment. Mr. Bush has indicated no plan of action, requested no consideration from the Replican majority in Congress,. In order to elect a Democratic majority, our Democratic representatives and senators must voice their plans and raise their voices in unison and with energy and insight! Talk is easy…generating intelligent actiions takes commitment. Mr. Bush has indicated no plan of action, requested no consideration from the Replican majority in Congress,. In order to elect a Democratic majority, our Democratic representatives and senators must voice their plans and raise their voices in unison and with energy and insight!

]]> By: Somer http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-521 Somer Thu, 02 Feb 2006 01:30:38 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-521 We all know that the first step in addiction is admitting we have a problem, and finally George Bush has done that. But I find it interesting that Bush is talking about being addicted to oil considering he is making more money off of this addiction than any other politician out there and Exxon just reported profits of over 10 billion dollars, yes that’s billion. In addition when you talk about breaking an addiction, we're not just talking about one drop, we're talking about the whole barrel. Bush said: <i> Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. </i> The truth is that Persian Gulf oil is currently only a little over 10% of total US consumption, meaning he's talking about replacing only 8% of US oil supply with other sources. Currently we are getting most of our oil from Canada, Mexico, Nigeria and Venezuela. <a href="http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.htmlSource" rel="nofollow"> Which means that, surprise, Bush is just making another empty promise. It sounds to me that Bush needs a 12-Step program to break his addiction to oil so we can get all get off the whole barrel.</a> We all know that the first step in addiction is admitting we have a problem, and finally George Bush has done that. But I find it interesting that Bush is talking about being addicted to oil considering he is making more money off of this addiction than any other politician out there and Exxon just reported profits of over 10 billion dollars, yes that’s billion. In addition when you talk about breaking an addiction, we’re not just talking about one drop, we’re talking about the whole barrel. Bush said:

Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

The truth is that Persian Gulf oil is currently only a little over 10% of total US consumption, meaning he’s talking about replacing only 8% of US oil supply with other sources. Currently we are getting most of our oil from Canada, Mexico, Nigeria and Venezuela.

Which means that, surprise, Bush is just making another empty promise. It sounds to me that Bush needs a 12-Step program to break his addiction to oil so we can get all get off the whole barrel.

]]> By: Felix Kramer http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-519 Felix Kramer Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:05:07 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-519 It turns out that while Bush didn't mention plug-in hybrids in his speech, the Advanced Energy Initiative does include a substantial focus on PHEVs, which we at CalCars consider a major buzz breakthrough. We're not under any illusions that much more than a call for more research when we actually need steps to bring products to market using already developed technology, but it does add important legitimacy to the strategy of using electric PHEVs for local travel, E85 for long trips. So we're encouraged....Find links at calcars.org to the White House documents and further comments and discussion. It turns out that while Bush didn’t mention plug-in hybrids in his speech, the Advanced Energy Initiative does include a substantial focus on PHEVs, which we at CalCars consider a major buzz breakthrough. We’re not under any illusions that much more than a call for more research when we actually need steps to bring products to market using already developed technology, but it does add important legitimacy to the strategy of using electric PHEVs for local travel, E85 for long trips. So we’re encouraged….Find links at calcars.org to the White House documents and further comments and discussion.

]]> By: G. Martin http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-518 G. Martin Wed, 01 Feb 2006 21:36:19 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-518 It's nice to hear Bush throwing this into his State of the Union. At the very least, it may help reframe the debate. Holding him to his promises will probably be next-to-impossible, but at least this might make it easier to discuss energy solutions without being cast as a crazy radical. We should all take advantage of it. It’s nice to hear Bush throwing this into his State of the Union. At the very least, it may help reframe the debate. Holding him to his promises will probably be next-to-impossible, but at least this might make it easier to discuss energy solutions without being cast as a crazy radical. We should all take advantage of it.

]]> By: Lynn http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-517 Lynn Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:12:04 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-517 Theresa asks if there's anything wrong with running on country on oil - my answer is a resounding YES! If it isn't the middle east, it's africa. And if it isn't foreign oil, it's our federal lands, coastlines and the arctic national wildlife refuge. I for one do not want an oil pipeline or refinery in my backyard; in this country we do have fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our oil addiction is already denying these rights to people who suffer from asthma and the health effects of pollution, or to the military families living with the nightmare of a war for oil. So if nobody should have to live with the consequences of oil, then it's time to end our dependence on oil, plain and simple. And that means action plans, not promises from our oil-friendly president. Theresa asks if there’s anything wrong with running on country on oil – my answer is a resounding YES! If it isn’t the middle east, it’s africa. And if it isn’t foreign oil, it’s our federal lands, coastlines and the arctic national wildlife refuge. I for one do not want an oil pipeline or refinery in my backyard; in this country we do have fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our oil addiction is already denying these rights to people who suffer from asthma and the health effects of pollution, or to the military families living with the nightmare of a war for oil.

So if nobody should have to live with the consequences of oil, then it’s time to end our dependence on oil, plain and simple. And that means action plans, not promises from our oil-friendly president.

]]> By: Stan http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-516 Stan Wed, 01 Feb 2006 19:22:19 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-516 I for one am just glad to hear him say it. I don't have huge expectations for this administration to actually tackle the looming ecologic/economic crisis of the end of oil, but to acknowledge it at all feels like a big win. Even from Big Oil, there's consensus that we're running out. With California's recent $2.9B solar plan, and reports that the green energy boom will actually jumpstart the economy, I do believe we are turning the corner on this issue. I for one am just glad to hear him say it. I don’t have huge expectations for this administration to actually tackle the looming ecologic/economic crisis of the end of oil, but to acknowledge it at all feels like a big win. Even from Big Oil, there’s consensus that we’re running out. With California’s recent $2.9B solar plan, and reports that the green energy boom will actually jumpstart the economy, I do believe we are turning the corner on this issue.

]]> By: spark http://understory.ran.org/2006/01/31/sotu-switch-grass-and-clean-coal/comment-page-1/#comment-515 spark Wed, 01 Feb 2006 17:53:00 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=79#comment-515 Pretty interesting that Bush declares we need to be liberation from oil as Exxon posted a 40% increase in profits and Halliburton, an oil services company, posted their most profitable year in their 86 year history. Of course, he didn't mention how his corporate cronies are making bank off the backs of American consumers and Iraqi blood. It also sucks what they did to Cindy Sheehan as she tried to go in.. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0201-01.htm Pretty interesting that Bush declares we need to be liberation from oil as Exxon posted a 40% increase in profits and Halliburton, an oil services company, posted their most profitable year in their 86 year history. Of course, he didn’t mention how his corporate cronies are making bank off the backs of American consumers and Iraqi blood.

It also sucks what they did to Cindy Sheehan as she tried to go in..
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0201-01.htm

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