2009.07.31
Blowing smoke at Boucher
Rep. Rick Boucher in Virginia's Fightin' 9th, who had a critical role in shaping the House climate change bill, has taken heat from some environmentalists, who argue it doesn't do enough to lower carbon emissions, and opponents who argue it goes too far and will damage the economy by hurting industry, including the coal companies in Boucher's own district. The natural gas industry comes down on the side of the environmentalists.
Natural gas has lower carbon emissions than coal. Lobbyists argue that the way to lower greenhouse gases quickly is to encourage manufacturers to switch from coal to natural gas as their energy source - and the House bill won't do that, thanks in large part to Boucher's efforts.
TheHill.com reports:
"The House bill requires businesses to lower their greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels. The alliance contends that actual emission reductions could be put off for a decade or more because the bill allows companies to purchase carbon offsets to help meet those targets. Offsets are projects that absorb carbon dioxide in the air and serve as a counterbalance to emissions at the smokestack.
"[America’s Natural Gas Alliance President and CEO Rod] Lowman also said the House bill gives away too many credits that cover a company’s emissions. Supporters say the approach protects against sharp rises in energy prices because of the carbon cap, but Lowman said it could keep the carbon costs so low that utilities and other emitters will have little incentive to switch to less polluting fuel sources."
This should be reassuring to conservatives who accuse the longtime congressman of putting a liberal cause ahead of his district's economic interests. As if.
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Rick Boucher is a rich politician and his constituents in Appalachia's homes are becoming a mountaintop removal mining site. We can't stand anymore of his progress and prosperity on main street Pound and Appalachia. Our air, land and water are toxic. We are being bombed, blasted and bulldozed right into 3rd world America.
http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=138
If you've never seen the devistation of mountaintop removal, there are lots of photos on my web site.
Comment by Tim Mullins — July 31, 2009 @ 9:29 pm
Rep. Boucher just voted against the President's health care reform bill in committee. Progressive Virginians should be interested as to why.
Comment by Art Hill — July 31, 2009 @ 10:15 pm
Does Boucher support mountaintop removal?
Comment by allen bunch — July 31, 2009 @ 10:20 pm
Boucher voted against health care? Guess he does listen every now and then
Comment by TScottW — August 1, 2009 @ 7:33 am
Boucher basically gutted the cap and trade bill. And, really, for no good reason as remaining coal reserves in Virginia are much, much lower than other states like West Virginia and Wyoming. Coal can't be the basis of future economic growth in the 9th district.
Comment by KevinL — August 1, 2009 @ 7:45 am
Maybe this is why
California's Health Care Welfare has run out of money.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wheres-Nancy-Pelosi-Silent-bw-773536103.html?x=0&.v=1
Free health care is great until you figure out that someone has to pay for it. Eventually, those "someones" run out of money
Comment by Henry — August 1, 2009 @ 7:46 am
Since when has a Republican ever worried about paying for anything?
Just mortgage it to your great-grandchildren like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Comment by Art Hill — August 1, 2009 @ 10:38 am