Elections

Politics

Bill Clinton to make case for Obama

By Michael Oreskes on September 5, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Every political party has had leaders it would like to exalt and leaders it would like to forget. Bill Clinton has managed to be both. He is the closest thing American politics has to a rock star, and he has sometimes behaved like one.

Luckily for President Barack Obama, Clinton today is about as popular as a political figure can be. And he is popular with exactly the voters that Obama and the rest of the Democratic Party have a hard time reaching — which is to say, white people.

That is why even though they haven't always been close, Obama invited Clinton to nominate him in prime time Wednesday evening, the first former president to do that.

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Politics

Democratic platform pushes natural gas, dilutes climate change issue

Source:

FuelFix

The new Democratic Party platform advocates natural gas development and is light on climate issues, FuelFix reports.

Politics

New ad bashes Michigan lawmaker's environmental record

Source:

The Hill

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters has launched a new TV ad campaign against Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Mich, criticizing his environmental record as well as his ties to Big Oil, The Hill reports.

Politics

House Democrat says Romney is abandoning green energy record

Source:

FuelFix

Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said Tuesday that Romney has turned his back on his previous concern for global warming and green energy in order to gain the support of the Republican base, FuelFix reports.

Politics

Montana governor defends Obama on rising gas prices

Source:

The Hill

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer defended President Obama on Tuesday against GOP attacks that Obama doubled the price of gas, arguing that Obama has expanded domestic oil production over the last four years, The Hill reports.

Politics

Romney: Human activity 'contributes' to global warming

Source:

The Hill

During a questionnaire Tuesday, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney acknowledged that human activity contributed to global warming, but that U.S. regulatory actions alone would not solve it, The Hill reports.

Renewable Energy

Obama uses Toledo solar plant to counter 'imaginary' gains in renewables

By John Solomon on September 4, 2012

President Barack Obama used a Labor Day stop at a solar manufacturing plant in Toledo, Ohio, to portray Mitt Romney's energy policies as backwards leaning and to counter GOP arguments that recent renewable energy gains are "imaginary."

Ohio, a key battleground state, is in the midst of an economic revival fueled by new energy technologies and the natural gas fracking boom, while its coal industry struggles.

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Politics

Duke chief: American energy sector is 'better off today'

Source:

The Hill

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers argued Monday that we are better off today than we were four years ago as a result of President Obama's all-of-the-above strategy, The Hill reports.

Obama campaign photo

Politics

Analysis: Walking the fine energy line

By John Solomon on September 4, 2012

Unlike Republicans who left Tampa nearly unanimously behind a fossil fuel agenda, the Democrats gathering in Charlotte this week have a more complex mission in selling Barack Obama’s ambitious but incomplete energy and climate platform.

For sure, the president will offer some impressive bragging points: On his watch, renewable energy production has doubled, oil drilling has increased, natural gas production has exploded and some of the most sweeping environmental protections in a generation have been cemented.

But beneath each headline simmers a certain unrest within his own ranks, and some difficult political realities.

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Politics

Romney makes clear energy will be front and center this fall

By John Solomon on August 31, 2012

Mitt Romney made clear in accepting the Republican presidential nomination that his strategy for the fall will boil down to a single, four-letter word: jobs.

"Lots of jobs," as Romney said for emphasis Thursday night in the finale of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

And he cemented energy policy and environmental regulation as a cornerstone of his efforts this fall to differentiate his approach from that of President Barack Obama. “President Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise is to help you and your family," the Massachusetts Republican said in a line that captured some of the biggest cheers and jeers of the night.

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News from Around the World

Politics

Senate Energy approves Federal Helium Reserve overhaul

Source:

Roll Call

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that would alter the sale of helium from the Federal Helium Reserve, Roll Call reports.

Policy

Groups sue EPA for smog rule delay

Source:

The Hill

A number of environmental and health groups filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency to force a review of the agency's smog pollution standards, The Hill reports.

Electricity

EIA: Coal exports at record high in March

Source:

FuelFix

The Energy Information Administration said the U.S. exported a record 13.6 million short tons of coal in March, FuelFix reports.

Environment

House to debate conservation in farm bill amendments

Source:

E&E

Amendments to the House version of a five-year farm bill up for debate would require farmers to follow conservation guidelines to qualify for crop insurance subsidies, E&E reports.

Politics

Obama's nuclear plans would have trouble passing Senate

Source:

Roll Call

President Obama's proposed treaty with Russia to reduce nuclear arms by one-third would have trouble passing the Senate, Roll Call reports.

Nuclear

NRC proposes $70K fine for TVA's Watts Bar violations

Source:

The Associated Press

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed charging the Tennessee Valley Authority a $70,000 fine for quality violations at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, The Associated Press reports.

Policy

Cement company agrees to EPA air pollution settlement

Source:

The Associated Press

Ash Grove Cement Co., based in Kansas, agreed to pay a $2.5 million penalty and invest $30 million in air pollution controls to settle EPA air pollution allegations, The Associated Press reports.

Renewable Energy

Tesla announces recall for some Model S cars

Source:

Blooomberg

Tesla Motors Inc. announced a recall of 1,228 Model S sedans after discovering a potentially dangerous manufacturing flaw, Bloomberg reports.

Nuclear

Environmental group hits Graham for MOX project support

Source:

The Associated Press

Friends of the Earth aired a television advertisement criticizing Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for supporting the Savannah River MOX facility in his state, The Associated Press reports.

Oil

Bank: Oil sands needed as shale output becomes expensive

Source:

Bloomberg

Canadian investment bank Peters & Co. said the United States will need to import crude from Canadian oil sands as the current surge in shale oil will be too expensive to keep up, Bloomberg reports.