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DoD Invests in Energy Efficiency

Rajan Narang — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:10:07 +0000

This Tuesday, the Department of Defense announced that it would spend $18 million on six projects that will develop the American military’s ability to efficiently use energy. This step will allow our armed forces to rely less on foreign sources of energy, which are expensive as well as potential security risks. As Secretary Panetta summed it up in the official announcement, ”The Department is taking the lead on this because saving energy on the battlefield means saving lives and money.” Given the immense amounts of energy used by the military, the success of even one of these projects would save many times the original investment.

If these technologies prove successful, they may also be applied to civilian life. As a result, this energy initiative has the potential to yield vast rewards even beyond its military application if it can improve America’s energy efficiency. This wouldn’t be the first time that military inventions have been used for civilian purposes. Some of the key aspects of our everyday lives, including the Internet, were originally military innovations. These new technologies may join a growing number of recent inventions that will help the quality of American life.

Focus the Nation is Driving Clean Energy Solutions in Your Neighborhood

John McCauley — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:31:16 +0000

Focus the Nation is hosting forums for student leaders across the country for solution-oriented clean energy programs between campuses and local communities.

Want to drive clean energy solutions in your community? Attend a Focus the Nation Clean Energy Forum! Head to http://www.focusthenation.org to find a forum near you.

Looking for service learning opportunities for the 2012-2013 school year? Consider Forums-to-Action (F2A). F2A is a dynamic program that develops new student leaders who drive solutions-oriented clean energy collaborations between their campuses and communities. Learn more at http://www.focusthenation.org/programs/f2a

Operation Free Co-Founder Testifies at Philadelphia Hearing

John McCauley — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:07:33 +0000

Fresh from the Philadelphia Inquirer’s blog: Brendan Flynn, Coast Guard Academy graduate and Operation Free co-founder, testifies at length at the EPA hearings in Philadelphia.

Earlier, Brendan Flynn, a Coast Guard Academy graduate from Meadville, Pa., urged adooption of the proposal as well.

“It is very clear to me that America’s oil dependence makes us vulnerable,” he said. “A number of my good friends from the Coast Guard have served in-theater guarding oil platforms just off the coast of Iraq from waterborne suicide boat attacks. One such attack, in 2004, took the life of Damage Controlman Third Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal – the first Coast Guardsman to be killed in action since Vietnam. U.S. forces recently turned over oil platform security duties to the Iraqis, but oil infrastructure continues to be a target for attack both overseas and here at home.”

Flynn was Military and Veterans Affairs Director for U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Murphy of Bucks County. Most recently, he served on the staff of the Truman National Security Project, where he was a founding organizer of the Operation Free campaign, an effort to support clean energy from the national security perspective.

“This is why I believe that we must adopt the 54.5 mpg standard. Nearly half of the oil we use goes towards fueling our cars and trucks, meaning building cars that use less gas will help break our addiction to oil,” Flynn said.

“This standard is good for our economy, as it will spur new investments in energy-efficient engines. It is good for our national security – as the less reliant we are on one source of energy, the less vulnerable we are to a major disruption of supply,” he said. “Frankly, the only people that this standard is bad for are the insurgents and terrorists fighting against our troops and plotting to attack our nation.”

Read More: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/greenliving/More-local-voices-at-US-mpg-hearing.html

Detroit Automakers Can Thrive with the New 54.5 MPG Standards

John McCauley — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:33:00 +0000

In a guest commentary in the Detroit Free Press, Mark McManus tell us how Detroit automakers have the power and technology to meet and exceed to the new 54.5 fuel economy standards.

Guest commentary: Detroit automakers have the technology, creativity for 54.5 mpg
On Tuesday, Washington will come to Detroit to talk about how many miles per gallon American drivers will soon be getting.

Officials from the National Highway Transportation Administration and the EPA will hold a hearing on a proposal — announced last year by President Obama, flanked by leaders of the major car companies in a show of support — to require a fleet average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
Since that announcement, voices of doubt have grown louder, even from those who might benefit from it like the National Auto Dealers Association. Some are fearful that the new mileage goals will hurt Detroit’s signature industry. And especially in tough times like these, that’s the last thing anybody wants.

But as I will testify at Tuesday’s hearing, the truth is that higher fuel economy standards will boost the bottom line for American automakers. In fact, I believe the Detroit Three need exactly this sort of ambitious but doable national mileage goal to help keep them from repeating mistakes that have proved so costly in the past.

Research shows that when automakers boost fuel efficiency, their profits actually rise. They sell more cars and trucks. And they create more jobs across the board — from manufacturing and marketing, to developing new and cleaner technologies that make their vehicles more competitive on the world stage. Add it all up, and economic models predict that the 54.5-mpg mileage standard now being considered would boost auto industry profits by billions of dollars per year.

On the other hand, we in Michigan know only too well what can happen when automakers ignore driver demand for more fuel-efficient cars. A few years back, Detroit stayed focused on SUVs and gas-guzzlers even as oil prices rose. By 2009, two of the Detroit three had declared bankruptcy. Government bailouts cost taxpayers billions. Here in Michigan, our friends, families and our neighbors lost their livelihoods. From 2000-2010, we were the only state in the country to lose population.

Now gasoline prices are rising again. In 2011, the price of gasoline (all grades and formulations) averaged $3.58 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is 74 cents per gallon higher than in 2010, and 28 cents per gallon higher than in the crisis year of 2008.

Against this backdrop, vehicle manufacturers are deciding on the mix of vehicles they will be offering for sale; some highly fuel-efficient, some very inefficient. A strong national mileage standard will help ensure vehicle manufacturers make better choices this time around, while giving American drivers what they want: cars, SUVs and light trucks that go farther on a gallon of gasoline.
Consumers have confirmed their preference for more efficient vehicles in poll after poll. A recent Opinion Research poll commissioned by the Consumer Federation of America shows that 75% of Americans believe it is important to increase fuel-economy standards. And in a recent Mellman Group poll of likely voters here in Michigan, 76 percent said a national 60-mpg standard would encourage American carmakers to innovate, boosting sales and protecting US jobs.

Sixty miles per gallon is not on the table, but 54.5 mpg by 2025 is. Michigan’s automakers can do it. They have the technology and the creativity. They can give American drivers what they want. Along the way, they can make more money, sell more cars, and rebuild one of America’s great industries.
Economist Walter McManus is research professor of decision and information sciences at Oakland University. He is the former director of automotive analysis at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, and spent nine years working in the automotive industry, focusing on forecasting, marketing analysis and new product development.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/comments/article/20120116/OPINION05/120116049/Guest-commentary-Detroit-automakers-have-the-technology-creativity-for-54-5-mpg

NADA Must Be Reasonable About CAFE proposals

John McCauley — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:40:29 +0000

A strong, new editorial from Automotive News tells the National Automotive Dealers Association to get on board with the new 54.5 fuel economy standards.

NADA Must Be Reasonable About CAFE Proposals

Automotive News — January 16, 2012 – 12:01 am ET
It’s time for the National Automobile Dealers Association to reconsider its opposition to the Obama administration’s proposed corporate average fuel economy standards for the 2017-25 model years.

NADA is just about the last remaining industry group trying to derail the proposals. The association says it is still raising questions about the proposed standards because it has not received satisfactory answers from the government. The group says it will continue to pursue the issue in 2012 as one of its top legislative priorities.

One NADA question is whether consumers can afford or even want the technology required to meet the standards. The group says the estimated cost would be an average of nearly $3,000 a vehicle to achieve the equivalent of 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year. The association says it favors a single, national standard but fears the proposed rules would cost jobs and limit consumer vehicle choices.

The group also criticizes the way the proposals were created when the administration allowed the EPA and the California Air Resources Board to participate in the process with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which by law has the sole responsibility.

But the process also gave a voice to automakers, 13 of which publicly supported the fuel economy proposals last July.

The administration’s proposals aren’t perfect. They include CAFE credits and inducements that unfairly favor the administration’s thesis that electrification is the ultimate solution to limit hydrocarbon emissions and improve fuel economy — at the expense of other, proven technologies such as clean diesels.

At a public policy forum during last week’s Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, there were many points of agreement among representatives from the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group; Ricardo Inc., an engineering firm; and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 12 automakers.

The panelists agreed that despite the administration’s predisposition toward electrification, conventional internal combustion engines would still account for a majority, perhaps some 80 percent, of all light vehicles produced for the 2025 model year, thanks to advanced technology.

Consumers have not yet fully embraced electrification, with gasoline-electric hybrids, pure electrics and extended-range electrics accounting for less than 3 percent of U.S. light-vehicle sales. But since the administration’s proposals include a provision for a 2018 midcourse review to measure the effects of the standards, there is general agreement that the most reasonable approach for the industry is to get on with it.

NADA would do well to take that into consideration.

Jerome “The Bus” Bettis Tackles Air Pollution with the EPA

John McCauley — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:39:59 +0000

Here is a great new video from the EPA, starring NFL legend Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, talking about the EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.

Every American deserves clean air!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xegEGTsndcY

For more information on the EPA’s MAT Standards visit: epa.gov/mats

The USMC & Future Energy

Lauren Wolfe — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:40:58 +0000

Check out this new video produced by the United States Marine Corps highlighting the future of energy within the Marine Corps.

http://www.dvidshub.net/video/133912/usmc-future-energy#.TwTMzXJEJQM

Issa Wrong On Opposition to Sensible Fuel Standards

Lauren Wolfe — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:08:14 +0000

An impressive Op-Ed response ran Sunday in The North County Times.

ISSA WRONG ON OPPOSITION TO SENSIBLE FUEL STANDARDS

By: Eric Buechele | Posted: Sunday, January 1, 2012 9:00 pm

Eric Buechele is a Carlsbad resident.

As publications across the world talk of austerity measures and tightening budgets at a private and public level, it is hard to think why anyone would be opposed to measures that would save a few dollars.

A big missed source of savings for Americans starts at the pump: As demand for oil accelerates with China and India’s continued growth, Americans can expect sharp increases in the cost of fuel in the future.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If Republicans in Congress, such as our own Rep. Darrell Issa, R-49th District, would stop blocking sensible fuel standards for cars and trucks, we could go a long way toward a common sense approach to conserving and using limited resources such as oil and gas.

Even if you think the evidence against global warming is dubious, with current price hikes in oil prices, it is prudent for the Obama administration to work with car manufacturers to increase average fuel economy standards. Why? Because it just makes good economic sense. If fuel could consume proportionately less out of American household budgets, this money could be spent on other forms of consumption. This diversified consumption will stimulate other areas of the economy instead of just oil-dependent supply chains. Republican pundits, however, claim this isn’t free market economics, and that auto- manufacturers should set the trend.

When semi-conductor computer chips were first developed, they were commercially unfeasible to produce for the private sector. The US Department of Defense stimulated demand through generous contracts until manufacturing costs came down. Today, no one in the US would dispute the gains average Americans have reaped not only from semi-conductors themselves, but from the hiring and economic growth this invention has stimulated.

The point is, not only is it acceptable to have the government help private enterprise, but government support and collusion can help firms reduce uncertainty and risk the investment in cleaner technologies requires. It seems wiser to establish standards the auto companies endorse instead of passing reactionary legislation with goals that are not feasible.

That is why I have such a hard time understanding the shortsightedness of policy makers like Rep. Issa when he opposes the collaboration of auto-manufacturers and the Obama administration working together to create reasonable standards that benefit both parties. If we can create initiatives that reduce fuel consumption, stimulate clean energy research and development that will yield high-paying dividends in the future and give consumers more money in their pocket, isn’t it a no-brainer?

It seems abiding by a strict, conservative dogma has trumped the laws of economics —- for now. As a citizen, I enthusiastically support initiatives that will help spur growth domestically and hope by electing sensible representatives, others do too.

EPA Issues Rule Limiting Mercury Emissions

Lauren Wolfe — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:35:21 +0000

From the New York Times:

EPA Issues Rule Limiting Mercury Emissions

By: John Broder

The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled new standards on Wednesday sharply limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from the nation’s 1,400 coal- and oil-burning power plants.

If and when the new rule takes effect, it will be the first time the federal government has enforced limits on mercury, arsenic, acid gases and other poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals emitted by the burning of fossil fuels.

Lisa P. Jackson, the E.P.A. administrator, said that the regulations, which have taken more than 20 years to formulate, will save thousands of lives and return financial benefits many times their estimated $11 billion annual cost.

“By cutting emissions that are linked to developmental disorders and respiratory illnesses like asthma, these standards represent a major victory for clean air and public health – and especially for the health of our children,” Ms. Jackson said.

President Obama, who in September rejected a proposed E.P.A. rule covering smog-causing emissions as too burdensome to industry, said he was fully supportive of the new regulation. He directed the agency to ensure that companies were given sufficient time and flexibility to meet the new rule.

He said the new rule, formally known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, “represents a major step forward in my administration’s efforts to protect public health and the environment.”

To read the full article, please visit: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/e-p-a-announces-mercury-limits/?hp

Heads In The Sand

Jonathan Mallek — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:58:08 +0000

In 2008, climate legislation seemed almost a lock. An extensive law curbing carbon emissions was within easy reach with a heavily democratic Congress and both presidential candidates promising to tackle the issue of climate change. However, just three years later, not only has there not been any climate legislation but there is not even a slight possibility of any in the near future. This article in the National Journal delves into the issues and explains why Republicans don’t want to believe in anything climate and why even some democrats shy away from it too. However, as the article points out, it may not be as hopeless as it seems.

Navy to Buy $12 Million of Advanced Biofuels in Record Purchase

Jonathan Mallek — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:58:30 +0000

Article by: Andrew Herndon

The U.S. Navy will spend $12 million to buy 450,000 gallons of alternative fuel for aircraft, ships and unmanned vehicles, the biggest government purchase of advanced biofuels, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said.

The fuel will come from Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint partnership of Tyson Foods Inc. and Syntroleum Corp., and Solazyme Inc., Mabus said today on a conference call. The cost will be about $26 a gallon, he said.

“This is still R&D,” Mabus said. “As the market develops, you will see the cost come down.”

Dynamic Fuels will process algal oil supplied by Solazyme and used cooking oil into 100,000 gallons of jet fuel and 350,000 gallons of marine distillate fuel at its plant in Geismar, Louisiana. The facility opened in November 2010 and has a 75 million gallon a year capacity. The Navy will receive the fuel in May 2012, the companies said today in a joint statement distributed by Globe Newswire. Both companies previously supplied fuel to the military for testing.

The contract is part of the Navy’s effort meet half of its fuel needs from alternative sources by 2020. The deal also follows an August announcement by the Navy and the U.S. energy and agriculture departments to invest $510 million to retrofit or build new biofuel processing plants.

This article was originally found on Bloomberg.com

Why Thomas Friedman Forgives Obama’s Short Environmental Record:

Jonathan Mallek — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:20:56 +0000

Thomas Freidman, columnist for The New York Times, could not have said it any better in his latest column about President Obama and his seemingly lacking record on the Environment:

In many ways, President Obama has been a disappointment on energy and the environment. He has been completely missing in action on the climate debate. His decision to block his own Environmental Protection Agency from setting new rules to cut smog levels was disappointing. And, while I believe in using the balance sheet of the U.S. government to spur clean-tech research and start-ups, Solyndra was a case of embarrassing excess — precisely what happens when you rely too much on government push not consumer pull, spurred by price and regulatory signals.

But, for me, all is forgiven — because Obama came through big-time last month.

He backed his great E.P.A. administrator, Lisa Jackson, and Department of Transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, in producing a deal with all the top U.S.-based automakers that will go into effect in 2017 and require annual mileage improvements of 5 percent for cars, and a little less for light trucks and S.U.V.’s, until 2025 — when U.S. automakers will have to reach a total fleet average of 54.5 miles per gallon. The current average is 27.5 m.p.g.

…

The new vehicles sold over the life of the program — including its first phase between 2012 and 2016 — are expected to save a total of four billion barrels of oil and prevent two billion metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution.

This is a big deal — a legacy deal for Obama that will make a significant, long-term contribution to America’s energy, environmental, health and national security agendas.

Here at Operation Free, we understand the outstanding impact high CAFE standards will have. Getting the word out like Mr. Friedman has done is the next important step. If you haven’t yet, tell a friend or start a conversation and let everyone know just how positively monumental these new standards will be in the fight against oil dependency and climate change.

David Freidman on Congressman Issa

Jonathan Mallek — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:39:48 +0000

We’ve dedicated a few posts lately on Congressman Issa, the Chairman of the House Committee On Oversight and Government Reform. He’s been unnecessarily intrusive into the already negotiated and decided CAFE standards for future fuel efficient cars. It is his job to keep an eye on most government decisions as Chairman of the Oversight Committee, making sure they are negotiated while following all relevant laws and making sure there are no ethical lapses. However, in this case he is going too far and causing unneeded headaches.

David Friedman, Deputy Director of Clean Vehicles, blogged his thoughts on Issa’s latest act of sending a letter to all parties involved in the CAFE standard negotiations. To quote part of his blog, “Chairman Issa’s letter contains 18 questions or requests for information, 61 sub-requests/questions, 10 sub-sub-requests/questions, and an additional four pages of instructions and definitions…” A little excessive, Congressman?

While it is Issa’s job to make sure there is nothing illegal happening throughout government, his latest actions prove to be a poorly veiled attempt to slow down the implementation process of the CAFE standards. He is getting dangerously close to abusing his Chairman position by putting his personal beliefs about global climate change ahead of his job. Not only do the increased CAFE standards reduce oil dependence but they are also a huge boost to the American economy which will be spending less money on imported oil. It really is a win-win situation — unfortunately Congressman Issa does not see it that way.

More Responses to Errant WSJ Editorial

Jonathan Mallek — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:39:46 +0000

Last week we brought you an excellent response to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal. The original WSJ opinion piece opposed President Obama and EPA Administrator Jackson’s decision to raise the CAFE standards to 54.5 miles per gallon. The response piece by Media Matters For America absolutely tore down any argument given in that WSJ editorial.

Now we have even more responses to the editorial. These two recently appeared as letters to the editor in the Wall Street Journal, one by Roland Hwang, from the NRDC, and the other from Adm. Dennis Blair, USN (Ret.), Securing America’s Future Energy.

The majority of America thinks the newest CAFE standards are a good thing, including over a dozen car makers. Why can’t the Wall Street Journal accept that and get on board with something that will help America reduce its dependence on oil?

We’ll post any more awesome responses as they come.

Issa Continues to Question CAFE Standards

Jonathan Mallek — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:30:29 +0000

Congressman Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, continued to question the newest CAFE standards Monday. His latest antics involved sending letters to 15 automakers requesting information on their role in the negotiations with President Obama in the months preceding the announcement of the increased 54.5 mile per gallon standard. Issa claims he is concerned about the behind closed door negotiations. However, it appears he is just searching for a reason to slow down the standards’ implementation process or trash the them completely, all the while walking a thin line of abusing his power as chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

To learn more, please visit the full article on The Hill’s website.

The Wall Street Journal’s Fuel Economy Falsehoods

Jonathan Mallek — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:38:42 +0000

A recent editorial in the Wall Street Journal knocked the 54.5 mile per gallon CAFE standards using some ambiguous claims. A fact-based article by Media Matters For America basically tears apart every argument put forward in that editorial and puts it right: the newest CAFE standards are a good thing for America.

Here is the full and very detailed response by Media Matters.

Green Energy and Helping Veterans: A Success Story

Jonathan Mallek — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:56:08 +0000

You might not hear a lot of green energy success stories with all of the recent whining about the failure of Solyndra. You also might not hear about success for veterans trying to find jobs after returning from serving our country. However, the two go hand-in-hand and there are plenty of success stories to go around.

The Huffington Post piece about returning U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Ben Noland, hits the nail on the head: green energy jobs for veterans is a win-win.

The veteran unemployment rate in October was 12.1 percent, compared with 9 percent for the U.S. overall. For veterans ages 18-24, that rate was 30.4 percent.

The renewable energy industry is growing fast – solar and wind energy have grown more than tenfold in the last decade – and military veterans often make good fits for green jobs.

Operation Free has been working hard to promote green energy like Ben Noland works to install. OpFree also works to support our Veterans, like Ben Noland. It’s a win-win situation and we applaud Noland’s employer, Tipping Point Renewable Energy, and others like it.

To read the full HuffPost piece and learn more about Noland’s success, please visit here.

Congressman Issa Behind on the Times, Challenges ARB

Jonathan Mallek — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:32:43 +0000

Congressman Issa (R-CA) is causing unneeded trouble again says columnist Thomas Elias.

After President Obama announced the latest and greatest CAFE standards for cars a few months ago, a 54.5 mile per gallon standard by 2025, Congressman Issa has tried his best to slow down the implementation process. Issa refuses to acknowledge that the standards are actually a positive step in reducing our oil dependence and ignores the fact that the increased standards are supported by auto manufacturers. As the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Issa has the power to investigate anything and subpoena anyone short of the president and his immediate aides. Essentially one big, unnecessary headache for a decision that was long-ago agreed upon with widespread support.

His latest actions include sending a letter to the Chief of the California Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols, criticizing the Board’s actions on fuel standards. It is typical that California has much stricter standards in many environmental arenas compared to federal standards in the United States. In the case of fuel standards, California’s tough laws were adopted to the country as a whole to provide a set standard across all states.

To read more on the opinion article, please visit the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Solyndra Hearings Pit Republicans Against Defense Department

Jonathan Mallek — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:25:50 +0000

If House Republicans expected the Solyndra investigation to focus public attention on their opposition to President Obama’s energy policies, by any measure they have succeeded. However, in gunning after the Department of Energy and its solar power loan program they have fallen prey to the law of unintended consequences, and are now heading on a collision course with the Department of Defense.

That is a rather odd position for the Republican Party to be in, given that it has built its brand on unequivocal support for the U.S. military, but for several years now DoD has been committed to transitioning out of petroleum fuels and into solar energy and other alternatives.

To read more of the story, visit http://bit.ly/rJcodo

IPCC: Get Ready For Extreme Weather

Jonathan Mallek — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:00:44 +0000

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a new report on Friday outlining some of the most disastrous potential effects of climate change. As the earth continues to warm, some of the worst extremes of weather including droughts, floods, heat waves, and storms will become more frequent.

“For example, the report predicts that heat waves that are now once-in-a-generation events will become hotter and happen once every five years by mid-century and every other year by the end of the century. And in some places, such as most of Latin America, Africa and a good chunk of Asia, they will likely become yearly bakings.

And the very heavy rainstorms that usually happen once every 20 years will happen far more frequently, the report said. In most areas of the U.S. and Canada, they are likely to occur three times as often by the turn of the century, if fossil fuel use continues at current levels. In Southeast Asia, where flooding has been dramatic, it is likely to happen about four times as often as now, the report predicts.”

The report underscores the importance of energy derived from renewable sources which do not contribute greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The United States currently relies too much on oil, one of the main causes of such gases. The U.S. will have to reduce its oil consumption to have any chance of avoiding the extreme predictions issued by the IPCC report.

The complete story can be found on The Huffington Post.