Obama considers sweeping climate plan

[sheshe2]

Last edited Tue Jun 18, 2013, 11:47 PM - Edit history (1)

POTUS to Announce Plan to Address Climate Change

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is considering a sweeping initiative to address climate change, including the first-ever limits on carbon dioxide from power plants, the country’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The White House has yet to settle on specific measures, but “we’re hearing that existing power plants are definitely in the mix,” said a person with knowledge of the deliberations, who, like others, asked not to be identified to talk about White House discussions. An announcement could come by mid-July.

Any plan announced by the White House will likely face fierce resistance both in the courtroom and in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives where the existence of snow is considered evidence that global warming doesn’t exist, but it’s possible the Environmental Protection Agency will the ability to enforce some of the president’s proposals right out of the box.

Congressional Republicans have held several votes to defund the Environmental Protection Agency over the past several years, and I expect we will see another vote before the year’s end.

http://bobcesca.thedailybanter.com/blog-archives/2013/06/potus-to-announce-plan-to-address-climate-change.html

Obama considers sweeping climate plan

[url=http://postimage.org/][img][/img][/url]
[url=http://postimage.org/app.php]
A coal-fired plant in Colstrip, Mont., owned by Puget Sound Energy. President Obama is said to be considering limits on greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants. (Alan Berner / Seattle Times / April 4, 2013)


SNIP:

Power plants account for about a third of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, with most of the carbon dioxide coming from coal-fired plants and, to a lesser extent, natural gas generation. Issuing rules to curtail their pollution would almost certainly touch off a battle in the courts and Congress.

"There are only a few substantive, meaningful actions the administration can take short of dealing with existing power plants," said S. William Becker, executive director of the National Assn. of Clean Air Agencies, a group of local and state air pollution regulators. "So I'd be extremely surprised if existing power plants weren't one of the top priorities the administration is pursuing."

SNIP:


But in recent weeks, the administration has begun to move on its climate agenda. Most notably, Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced recently that the countries would phase down and eventually halt the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons, potent heat-trapping gases used as chemical refrigerants in air conditioners and other appliances. The United States and China now plan to work to get other countries, in particular India, to join the effort.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-climate-20130618,0,1769572.story

More at both Links.

Great news for Mother Earth and all her Children!

[Hydra]

1. Let's hope this is a meaningful start

Because we're at least 10 years too far into the "point of no return" from the evidence coming in.

[sheshe2]

3. It can Hydra, it can be a very Good Start.

We are late, you are so correct.

Yet I feel this can be a beginning for future awareness. We are ready, and IMHO, our youth are ready!

[Cha]

2. Mahalo She!

Very Encouraging for our Planet!

[liberal_at_heart]

4. well then I guess we can count on him to say no to the Keystone Pipeline.

We shall see.

[The Link]

5. Thats the next thing we will see an abundance of justifications for.

I predict Hillary will catch a lot of the blame.

[sheshe2]

7. I for one will await what the President does...

not what others, that condemn him say, before the words leave his mouth.

[Coccydynia]

6. Cool. I guess he won't approve Keystone XL

I crack myself up sometimes.

[sheshe2]

9. So glad you are amused by this, Coccydynia. nt

[Coccydynia]

12. The comedy that is the tragedy are

those who will cheer the President's sweeping plan that will do nothing, because it will require congressional help, while the President will green light the "game over" project that he can stop with NO help from the Congress.

I suspect you will be one of the cheerleaders of the "sweeping plan" who will excuse the Keystone XL "game ender".

[sheshe2]

14. The Tragedy

is that you find this amusing.

You are pretty new here at DU. A Democratic site. And you come out swinging against a Democratic President.

Been here five days...are you sure you picked the right site to post on.

I suspect you will be one of the cheerleaders of the "sweeping plan" who will excuse the Keystone XL "game ender".

Really???? After 5 days how could you possibly know who I am. Or for that matter what I believe![

Have a great stay here~

[Coccydynia]

19. This is a Democratic sight

Not an Autocratic sight. When the President tells me to make him do it, I try to make him do it. I wonder if I should tell my boss to "make me do it".

Tell me, was I wrong in my assessment that you will cheer the climate change proposal and excuse the Keystone XL decision?

Oh, and like the President said a while back. He would be considered a moderate Republican back in the 70s. You may consider the Nixon, Ford, and Reagan Republicans of the 70s acceptable Democrats today. I don't.

Perhaps you should move on to Kos or Huffington Post where Blue Dog is in style. I intend to push the Democratic Party back to the left side of the aisle.

[sheshe2]

21. Actually you are incorrect in your assumptions!

Will I cheer the Climate Change proposals that This President will put forward, probably. However I would have to know what they are first, to make an educated opinion.

I believe that he will present good solid ideas on how we can help turn the vicious tide of Climate Change.

[

Three years ago, Obama pledged that the U.S. would lower its greenhouse gas emissions to 17% less than 2005 levels by 2020. The administration's fuel economy rules for motor vehicles have helped rein in emissions. Carbon dioxide output has also fallen because the economy slowed and cleaner-burning natural gas plants are replacing coal-fired plants. Yet the U.S. cannot meet that target without enacting new regulations or laws, according to analysts and regulators.

Republican lawmakers have largely rejected the idea that human activity has caused climate change, precluding the chance of passing new legislation. As a result, the administration has to act on its own.

SNIP:

Environmentalists and regulators said a new climate initiative might contain energy efficiency programs and efforts to eliminate leaks of methane, another potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas drilling operations and pipelines.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-climate-20130618,0,1769572.story

As for Keystone, will you please post me the link in this article that I state that I support that subject.

If you can not find one here perhaps you can link me to where I made that statement elsewhere on DU. You know so much about me after 6? days, that you should be able to get back to me in seconds!

Thank you in advance for you efforts in this matter.

PS. You are asking a member of DU to leave this site?! Seriously. I don't believe that is part of DU'S rules.

Why does what I have to say scare you so, to suggest that I leave this Community.

[Coccydynia]

23. Is didn't say you support KXL

I said I suspect you will cheer the President's "sweeping" climate proposals and ignore the KXL decision.

And I am not suggesting you leave DU for Kos or other sights. I merely point out that they are less likely to "make the President do it."

At any rate, we will know soon enough our reactions to his KXL decision.

[Hekate]

16. Welcome to DU, where there is something for nearly everybody.

Enjoy your stay, this time around.

[Coccydynia]

20. Thank you, Hekate, I think.

Have I been here before?

[Hekate]

8. Can he count on one iota of help from the GOP? So we need to work on our Dems...

... not to mention next year's GOTV.

Thanks for the post, She.

[sheshe2]

15. Thanks Hekate,

You are right, however one can hope.

When we are done with that, then we can shout it out from the rooftops!

You know...from the movie. I am mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore!

I am, and we have to shout to be heard!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. There was a day when this would be a bi-partisan no-brainer.

In 2013 I expect no brained partisanship and a complete denial of climate change. But that may be where he has some hidden allies, including China. Hopefully some backing from Christie (R), Bloomberge (I) and the rest of the world.

[Populist_Prole]

11. I wish he'd rather re-consider sweeping anti-working class trade deals and corporate influence

Everything else is just fluff. Screw social issues too, until the working class stops getting its asses kicked.

[ljm2002]

13. That's great news!

I hope he is able to follow through, it would be such a welcome change from all of the gloom and doom concerning climate change these days. If one person in power can make the leap, maybe others will follow.

K&R

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended, I hope they follow through with meaningful results,

time is of the essence.

Thanks for the thread, sheshe.

[Union Scribe]

18. Excellent! nt

[Scurrilous]

22. K & R

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. There are very few things which will actually work

a moratorium on new coal-fired power generation and investment in nuclear, solar and wind; mandated minimum fuel economy; infrastructure investment for mass transit; all of those things are needed. But telling people that they need to have drastic lifestyle changes is a politically losing proposition.