Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

Wisconsin Senate adjourned today at 2pm leaving several bills including the Voter Protection Act and Green Jobs (Global Warming, Cap and Trade) Act.

Click to News of the North Article for complete report, thorough coverage with photos and video from yesterday’s event in St. Germain:
http://newsofthenorth.net/article/Top_Stories/National/Sen_Feingold_faces_wrath_on_health_care_bill_on_eve_of_vote/37758

ST. GERMAIN – Sen. Russ Feingold came to St. Germain on Saturday, March 20, for his 32nd “listening session” of 2010 and 1,256th since 1993 and heard a lot of anger from a sometimes raucous and hostile crowd.

About 100 people showed up at the Community Center at noon for the one-hour meeting and, as expected, health care was the big topic.

Several people made statements, most of which were critical of the health care bill now before the House, or interrupted the Democratic Wisconsin senator with catcalls although appreciative applause also broke out at times from some in the audience who supported the health care legislation.

But for the most part it was a confrontational session as speaker after speaker blasted what they see as government takeover of the health care system. Outside a few protesters carried signs opposing “Obama care.” Another said, “Are you listening?”

The placard-carrying critics included Rudy Fuys of Boulder Junction, who said he was “outraged by the taking of $500 billion out of the Medicare program. That’s ridiculous. Myself and many other seniors have paid for this our whole lives and it’s gone. How can they force this on the American people?”

Another critic, James Lynn of Cloverland, said, “They totally corrupted the government and it’s unconstitutional.” Loyd Black (see video clip below) questioned the senator on whether the law should apply to everyone.

Feingold defended his support of health care reform, noting that the vast majority of Americans favored universal health care. (see video clip below), and that he was standing on principles espoused during his previous election campaign.

In discussing the soaring federal deficit and the need to cut spending, he lauded passage of the Control Spending Now Act provision to cancel unspent transportation earmarks, which won Senate approval last week on an 87-11 vote. He said the amendment could save taxpayers at least $478 million a year and considerably more over time.

Feingold also lent his support to an amendment to place a year-long ban on earmarks, although the move was defeated; he likewise endorsed a plan by House Republicans to impose a year-long prohibition on earmarks.

Another subject that came up during a pre-session interview was unemployment. Feingold said the new jobs bill, which President Obama signed into law last week, includes a payroll tax break to make it a bit easier to business to hire more workers.

“But even with this bipartisan effort becoming law, we must remain focused on creating jobs and strengthening the economy. And since the new payroll tax break expires at the end of the year, more must be done. I strongly favor the approach my own jobs tax credit bill takes, which is to provide firms with a tax break for the next two years to help them expand their payroll and put people back to work.”

Other questions dealt with illegal immigration sparking a testy exchange with Kim Simac of Eagle River, a member of the Northwoods Patriots Group (see video clip below). Deficit spending and global warming also came up, but the subject that was on most minds was health care.

Dr. William Raduege, a family physician who works in Land O’ Lakes, Wis., representing the Wisconsin Medical Society, said there should be a permanent fix for what he called the flawed Medicare payment system for doctors and hospitals, without which access to care would be threatened and limited. (see video clip below)

As the health care debate winds down this weekend and the House is on the verge of an up-or-down vote, Democrats appeared confident that the measure would pass after several months of contentious debate, which has not only split both major parties but also the country, according to public opinion polls. House Democrats were quoted Sunday morning as saying they had enough votes — at least 216 are needed — to pass the bill.

Before the listening session, Feingold, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke with NN.N about a new strain in U.S.-Israeli relations stemming from the Israeli government’s announced plans to expand settlements in east Jerusalem, and the growing possibility that former Wisconsin governor and Republican Tommy Thompson may run against him this fall. (see video clip below). Feingold was first elected senator in 1992 and is seeking a third term.

Click Here for list of 75 reasons to be skeptical of man-made global warming claims.

A Scam of Nuclear Proportions

Nuclear power produces roughly 20% of electricity both in Wisconsin and the United States as a whole.  Despite being only 1/5 of the nation’s energy, nuclear power accounts for 72% of the country’s carbon dioxide emission-free generation.

Within the United States are 104 operating nuclear reactors.  Three sites are located in Wisconsin. The LaCrosse reactor in Genoa was permanently shut down in 1987.  Kewaunee’s reactor is licensed to operate through 2013 with a 20 year license extension pending.  Point Beach’s two reactors have operational licenses expiring in 2030 and 2033.

While constructing a nuclear reactor may be more expensive than building a traditional coal or petroleum burning facility, total energy production costs, including construction, operation, maintenance, and fuel are lower.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, in 2008, nuclear power cost 1.87 cents per kilowatt-hour.  Coal, gas, and petroleum followed with 2.75 cents, 8.09 cents, and 17.26 cents per kilowatt-hour respectively.

Wind and solar do not have fuel expenses; however, the start-up costs, maintenance, backup power requirements, taxpayer funded subsidies, and mandates for utilities to purchase them at inflated rates put their costs much higher than traditional fuels.  Reported by the New York Times, wind power is approximately 50% more expensive than coal and solar is 3 times more expensive.

Coal and nuclear are the lowest cost dependable sources of fuel for “base” load electricity.  “Base” load electricity is the electricity needed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year to power homes and businesses.

Both coal and nuclear power run regularly at capacity factors of 70.8% and 91.5% respectively. Contrast the capacity factor for wind at only 31.1% and solar at 21.1%.  Wind and solar energy are heavily reliant on Wisconsin’s unpredictable weather conditions and are not consistent enough to provide base load energy.

In other words, if the wind isn’t blowing on a hot summer day, a windmill will not provide electricity to your air conditioner.  Nor will solar panels produce the needed energy to heat your house on a gray winter day.

Although nuclear power is the most reliable and affordable solution to provide future electricity needs, controversy surrounds nuclear energy.  The need to store spent fuel is one concern that cannot be ignored.

A 12 ounce can of soda would hold one person’s lifetime worth of spent nuclear fuel. In comparison, the same amount of electricity produced by coal would require 68.5 tons of fuel.

Included in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 was a provision requiring the federal government construct a national repository for the storage of spent nuclear fuel.  Yucca Mountain in Nevada was chosen as the national storage site by Congress in 1987

Funding for the repository has been set up through the U.S. Department of Energy.  Ratepayers in 34 states where nuclear power is generated pay into the fund via an assessment on their electric bill.  For the average Wisconsin homeowner using 800 kilowatts of power per month, this fee is approximately $10.00 per year (one-tenth of one cent per kilowatt hour).

As of September 30, 2009 there was $33.2 billion in the Federal Nuclear Waste Fund.  Wisconsinites have contributed $414.8 million to the non-functioning repository.   Add accrued interest and the state’s share of the Nuclear Waste Fund is over $731.2 million.

Twelve years after the scheduled 1998 completion date for Yucca Mountain, money is still being collected from ratepayers.  President Obama has officially stated the project will be indefinitely suspended.  Instead of centralizing a repository at Yucca Mountain as originally intended; spent nuclear fuel will be stored on site at our nation’s nuclear facilities.

So comprises the scam against Wisconsinites. Although the Yucca Mountain project has been scrapped, the assessment paying for the repository will still be charged to your electric bill.  Additionally, utility companies must charge you extra to pay for storing their spent nuclear fuel on site.

Because this money has been and is still being collected at the federal level, I am authoring a resolution to encourage Congress return these funds to Wisconsin ratepayers and utilities that store spent fuel.

The federal government is unjustifiably taking money out of the budgets of families and employers for an unfinished and unlikely to be completed nuclear repository. These funds, rightfully Wisconsin’s, would reduce energy costs and support reliable affordable energy into the future.

What do you think about this issue?  Click here and send an email with your thoughts.

Respectfully,

Kevin PetersenState Representative
40th Assembly District

While other states are initiating “Freedom to Breathe Acts” to ensure that additional legislation to regulate CO2 does not occur, DOYLE and WISCONSIN are moving full steam ahead.  Now is our time to act!

SAVE JOBS!

Stop the Wisconsin Global Warming Bill!
Please Contact Your State Lawmaker Today

Americans for Prosperity CALL TO ACTION

We urge all to help send a message to our legislators to oppose Senate Bill 450 and Assembly Bill 649, which would significantly increase the cost of energy and threaten Wisconsin jobs with unaffordable global warming regulations.

Please take two minutes and CLICK HERE to send a message to your State Representative and State Senator to tell them that this legislation would have a devastating impact on Wisconsin’s economy.

Please take action today as the Legislative Committee will be meeting on Assembly Bill 649 on Monday. Thanks for your help and support.

Mark Block
State Director - Americans for Prosperity WI

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

For Immediate Release January 27, 2010

Contact:  Senator Glenn Grothman 1-800-662-1227 - Capitol
262-689-8421 – Cell

One More Time – Stop the Global Warming Committee NOW!

Chairman Thilly’s Conflict of Interest puts Credibility of

Global Warming Task Force in Doubt

Madison: Senator Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) will publicly ask the Chairman of the Clean Energy Committee to begin today’s hearing with discussion as to whether the committee should be disbanded now that efforts of Representative Brett Davis (R-Oregon) have revealed that WPPI Energy of Sun Prairie is a major financial beneficiary of high-priced renewable energy.

“This whole thing smells – Roy Thilly, the chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming, made it sound during the initial hearing as if he was concerned about the climate and renewable energy.  Now it turns out he has such a financial stake in this matter that he could not possibly be an impartial chair and the Task Force’s work should be promptly dispatched to the wastebasket,” Grothman said.

“The idea we would even consider spending billions of dollars on alternative energy because of the recommendations made by a task force that was run by a man with such a brazen conflict of interest is untenable.  He really should have disqualified himself as chairman before the task force started.  In the alternative, the Clean Energy Committee ought to at least suspend operations until we get a thorough review of how much money Mr. Thilly and his company would get if this legislation would pass as proposed,” said Grothman.

Senator Grothman reiterated his call to disband the Clean Energy Committee as Wisconsin has had its second year in a row of temperatures below average, calling the whole rationale of the original task force in question.  At the first committee meeting Senator Miller adjourned the committee while Senator Grothman tried to get his attention to discuss this fact.

Dear Friends,

Wisconsinites are welcome to testify or register on these bills that will have a major impact on our state’s economy. the Assembly Special Committee on Clean Energy Jobs will be holding a Public Hearing on Governor Doyle’s Global Warming bill (Assembly Bill 649/Senate Bill 450).

Monday, February 15
10AM
State Capitol – Room 412 East

Hearing Notice: http://committeeschedule.legis.wisconsin.gov/files/HearingNotices/10-02-15-1000-2009ACEJ-13062.html

Click Here to View the Bills:
Assembly Bill 649 http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/AB649hst.html
Senate Bill 450 http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/SB450hst.html

Some “Highlights” of the Global Warming Bills Include:
* A 25% renewable energy portfolio with a net $16.2 Billion cost increase by 2025 which will be paid by utility rate-payers.

* The loss of 43,093 private sector jobs. (Wisconsin has lost 163,000 jobs in the last year.)

* A per capita loss of disposable income equal to $1,012 per year.
* A $1.6 billion drop in gross wages.
* If adopted, Wisconsin’s motorists will have to follow California’s emission standards meaning people in California whom you did not elect will determine the emissions standards for Wisconsin’s drivers.

To share your concerns about the future of Wisconsin’s economy with your state legislators, click here for contact information: http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx

Working for Wisconsin’s Families,

Jolene R. Churchill, Assistant
Senator Glenn Grothman
20^th Senate District
1-800-662-1227

Website for WISCONSIN’S BUSINESS VOICE – Please go to RELATED MATERIAL—SAVE JOBS! SIGN THE PETITION

http://www.wmc.org/governmentaffairs/display.cfm?ID=2241

As numerous “Story of Stuff” videos were being shown across the USA in classrooms, L Doren developed critiques including this one to debunk the Cap & Trade Story. Indoctrination is alive and well so please ask questions of your teachers, school board and administrators. It’s up to us.

More critiques can be found on Doren’s YouTube Channel.

Misleading Legislation

It’s no surprise jobs – or the lack of jobs – is the foremost issue on the minds of everyone.  In fact, a Pew Research Center public opinion poll showed job creation and the economy are Americans top priorities at 81% and 83%, respectively.  Wisconsin alone had approximately 440 people per day become unemployed in 2009.

Instead of introducing an incentive package encouraging employers to locate, hire, and remain in the state, the Wisconsin Democrat leadership and Governor Doyle are proposing Senate Bill 450 and Assembly Bill 649 commonly called “The Clean Energy Jobs Act.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Controversial Wisc. Climate Bill Assumes Feds Will Tax Carbon

MacIver News Service
February 5, 2010

Is Wisconsin’s Global Warming Bill built on a house of cards?

Critics of the so-called “Clean Energy Jobs Act” (CEJA) bill are pointing to a major assumption it makes about future national regulation of carbon emissions that would make or break the bill.

Right now it is cheaper to produce electricity from fossil fuels than from renewable sources.  Supporters of CEJA are counting on that to change.

In calculating the cost-benefits of CEJA, The Wisconsin Public Service Commission “assumed a future cost for emitting carbon dioxide from power plants that starts at $20/ton and rises slowly with inflation,” according to the Office of Energy Independence.  If that happens, the PSC says it will then be cheaper to produce electricity from renewable sources than from fossil fuels.

To capitalize on that possibility, CEJA would enforce Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that set requirements on how much renewable energy utilities would have to sell.  By 2025, a full 25 percent of all electricity sold in Wisconsin would have to come from renewable sources, under the bill.

If the PSC’s assumption is correct, the Office of Energy Independence predicts “electric utility bills would go down under this legislation.”  However, to date, the federal government has had little luck in passing that  type of carbon regulation, the PSC is counting on.

The federal bill that would establish carbon regulation, often called Cap and Trade, has stalled in the U.S. Senate. Deborah Sliz, President and CEO of  the Washington, D.C. lobbying firm Morgan Meguire, believes with upcoming election cycle, Cap and Trade probably won’t pass anytime within the next couple of years.

Sliz was the keynote speaker at the Customers First! Coalition Power Breakfast in Madison on Wednesday.

At that same breakfast, Representative Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) argued it’s dangerous to base state legislation on what might or might not happen in Washington at some unkown date in the future.

“Those are tremendous assumptions and take remarkable leaps of faith, because if Cap and Trade in Washington isn’t dead, it’s certainly on life support,” stated Heubsch during a panel discussion.

Representatives Spencer Black (D-Madison) and Jim Soletski (D-Green Bay), who wrote the Assembly version of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, sat on the panel with Heubsch and defended reying on the assumption.

Representative Soletski argued it is not a great leap of faith to believe Washington will eventually pass some form of carbon regulation, and Wisconsin needs to be ready for it.

“If not now, when?  It’s going to happen,” said Soletski. “We are going to put an emphasis on renewables.  We are going to put an emphasis on efficiency.  Are we going to do this in 2010, or are we going to do this in 2020 or 2030?”

Representative Black argued other states used the same methods as Wisconsin in analyzing potential climate legislation, but Wisconsin has been much more responsible in its assumptions.

“Other states have actually gotten much more robust numbers,” said Black. “Very intentionally, the Public Service Commission put in the most conservative assumptions, so it is completely defensible.”

The panel discussion was not the first instance that the controversy over assuming federal regulation of carbon emissions has been discussed.  Eric Callisto, chairman of the Public Service Committee, addressed it at an assembly public hearing on Tuesday.

“We get about two-thirds of our power from coal,” said Callisto. “That coal is a tremendously reliable source of energy, but its regulatory costs are sure to rise.  And as a state, we’re sitting on a lot of potentially very expensive regulatory liability right now.”

During the panel discussion Wednesday, Representative Huebsch said “I don’t think you can simply state this legislation is going to be economically advantageous unless you can keep with all the assumptions that Chairman Calisto made.”

The Assembly and the Senate are holding public hearings this month on the bill which was developed from the findings of Governor Jim Doyle’s Global Warming Task Force.

During the panel discussion, Representative Black stated “We will pass a clean energy bill.  (But) it will not look like the bill we have now.”

While changes are clearly on the horizon, based on the comments of the past week it appears likely the final bill will still be based on the assumption that Congress will impose expensive regulations on carbon emissions.

The floor period ends on April 22.

Link to Article