State Department Hearings for the Keystone XL Pipeline

On September 26th, the State Department began a series of hearings on the Keystone XL pipeline. Two very different views were expressed at public meetings in two states on Monday. People in Kansas criticized the Keystone XL pipeline for being environmentally destructive, while people in Texas praised the pipeline.

Video: President Obama's American Jobs Act

On September 8, 2011, President Barack Obama asked Congress to act to provide jobs and spur the economy. Calling it an "urgent time for our country," the President asked Congress to "stop the political circus" and approve a nearly half-trillion-dollar plan to help the economy by cutting payroll taxes, raising taxes on the wealthy and rewarding companies that hire new workers.

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Excerpts of President Obama's American Jobs Act Speech

President Obama is seeking to grow the economy and create employment through a combination of tax cuts, government incentives and reforms to entitlement programs. Obama's jobs plan is modeled on bipartisan initiatives that include transit projects that will help to build a 21st century transportation infrastructure. Specifically Obama called for faster trains, fuel-efficient cars and advanced biofuels. The President indicated that he will not forgo regulations that compromise the health, safety and security of the American people. The plan will help to build energy infrastructure such as power transmission, and it will support energy efficiency overhauls for public and commercial buildings. The President also called for improvements in water infrastructure and eliminating tax loopholes for oil companies. See excerpts of the Obama speech below:

Obama's Jobs Plan Emphasizes Education and Greener Schools

In an address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama emphasized the importance of education and green schools. The Thursday September 8, speech called for a $25 billion effort to modernize at least 35,000 public schools that includes making them greener.

Consumer Groups Push for a US Vehicle Standard of 60 mpg by 2025

Consumer groups want to see US vehicle fleet standard of 60 mpg by 2025. This point was made at a recent teleconference event held by the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit association of nearly 300 consumer groups, and by Consumer Action, which is a network of more than 8,000 community-based organizations.

As reported in the LA Times, Mark Cooper, research director for the Consumer Federation of America cited a May 16, 2011 report (PDF) which indicated that 87% of respondents said they want reduced dependence on oil, 85% said they are fed up about prices, and 75% said they want higher-mileage vehicles.

"Pain at the pump, along with the country's oil-import dependence, has produced a growing consensus that the federal government should substantially increase fuel-economy standards. And among independent technical experts, there is a growing consensus that committed car companies could meet these higher standards," Cooper said.

Click here to sign a petition to make 60 mpg the standard for new vehicles by 2025.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Bill McKibbon and the 350 Team's "Moving Planet" Campaign

On April 3rd, 2011, Bill McKibben and the 350 team gave organizers advanced insight into the new campaign known as "Moving Planet" in a global conference call. As explained by McKibben, it is time to get moving because governments around the world have failed to take legislative action curtailing carbon dioxide (C02). this new day of global action scheduled for September 24, 2011.

The lack of climate change legislation in the US is the single biggest obstacle to global action. Mass action is required as a counter-force to the fossil fuel industry which is aggressively lobbying US lawmakers.

Bill McKibbon joined the conference call from his home in Vermont. Bill started by thanking everyone, he went on to say that he expects this year to be "the most exciting year yet," in global efforts to reign in climate change causing CO2.

The 350 team has organized some remarkable events over the last two years including last year's Global Work Party and a solid understanding of the science behind the number 350 as the upper safe limit for CO2.

This year's "Moving Planet" campaign emphasizes the need to be in motion, it asks people to move with purpose to deliver a global demand for action on climate change. For 24 hours on September 24th, people will be in motion with a common message designed to make things move in the fight against climate change.

A variety of low carbon transportation mediums will be used for this event including bicycles, skateboards and canoes. Whether you walk, run, cycle or ride, people are asked to move with purpose. The campaign will also explore the meaning of 350 in specific places all around the world.

This has got to be the year when we get that motion underway. The effort to engage the battle against climate change is the biggest fight we have ever faced and solidarity is extraordinarily important

As this is an advanced preview, the "Moving Planet" website is not yet up and running but it will be up in a couple of weeks, at which point everyone can sign up for the 2011 campaign.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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GOVgreen Conference & Expo

On November 9-10, 2010, GOVgreen held their Conference & Expo in Washington, DC. The event included eco-friendly car displays and over 100 exhibitors selling green products and services.

The keynote address was delivered on November 10, by environmentalist and president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Mr Kennedy also took part in a press conference which followed.

There were technical Workshops and a plenary session with key representatives from DoD, DoS, GSA and EPA. In total there were 30 educational sessions presented by 85 speakers.

This event was organized to help government employees, military personnel and contractors learn about and comply with federal sustainability initiatives mandated by President Obama’s Executive Order 13514. It provides solutions for the government to reduce its carbon footprint, addressing areas such as energy, conservation, transportation and facilities.

GOVgreen conferences are free for government and military employees and open to contractors and consultants.

For more information go to GOVgreen.


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CEIL: Standard Compliance Knowledge Center for Green Government

Compliance with presidentially mandated green government can be a daunting challenge, thankfully there is a resource bank and online community that can help.

The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (CEIL), has launched a new online community. CEIL is an independent organization connecting government and military professionals with providers of green goods and services to help them comply with Executive Order 13514 – President Obama's commitment to creating a "Green Government."

Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability was signed on October 5, 2009, it required each Federal Agency to submit a 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reduction target from its estimated 2008 baseline. President Obama has pledged to reduce the Federal government's GHG emissions by 28 percent over the next decade.

According to a press release from Whitehouse.gov, "Actions taken under this Executive Order will spur clean energy investments that create new private-sector jobs, drive long-term savings, build local market capacity, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy industries."

To assist with the implementation of EO13514, CEILeadership.org has created a knowledge center for sustainability in the public sector, it includes news, expert advice, discussion groups, and podcasts. For more information or to join go to CEIL.

CEIL is also producing GovGreen Conference & Expo in Washington, DC on November 9-10, 2010. See GovGreen for more information and registration details.
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Koch Industries' Environmental Crimes

The Koch companies have a notorious environmental record. According to Greenpeace, in the last 15 years they have amassed an impressive rap sheet that includes everything from environmental violations to negligence causing death.

In 2009, the US Justice Department and the EPA announced that Koch Industries' Invista subsidiary would pay a $1.7 million penalty and spend $500 million to fix environmental violations at facilities in seven states.

In May 2001, Koch Industries paid $25 million to settle with the US Government for the company’s long-standing practice of illegally removing oil from federal and Indian lands.

In late 2000, the company was charged with covering up the illegal release of 91 tons of the known carcinogen benzene from its refinery in Corpus Christi. Koch eventually cut a deal with then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to drop all major charges in exchange for a guilty plea for falsifying documents, and a $20 million settlement.

In 2000, the EPA fined Koch Industries $30 million for its role in 300 oil spills that resulted in more than three million gallons of crude oil leaking into ponds, lakes, streams and coastal waters.
In 1999, a Koch subsidiary pleaded guilty to charges that it had negligently allowed aviation fuel to leak into waters near the Mississippi River from its refinery in Rosemount, Minnesota, and that it had illegally dumped a million gallons of high-ammonia wastewater onto the ground and into the Mississippi.

In 1996, two people where burned alive in their vehicle due to a poorly maintained Koch pipeline that had leaked flammable butane into a residential Texas neighborhood.

Koch's crimes are not limited to spills of oil, ammonia, aviation fuel, benzene, and butane. A recently released Greenpeace expose uncovered Koch industries' connections with climate denial front groups.
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Next: Koch Industries Financing Climate Denial

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