EPA

In the latest attack on the Environmental Protection Agency as a front for a far left-wing agenda (rather than a purpose which its name would suggest), Ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, James Inhofe (R-OK), released this video naming the regulatory agency as the culprit for the "outrage of the year."

For those of you feeling frustrated by the lack of progress on green industrial growth and clean energy reform, last night's GOP debate was a distinct reminder that the outlook could be much worse.

During the debate, former PA Senator Rick Santorum, who previously called climate change policy a "beautifully concocted scheme" by the left, claimed that Obama's obstruction of offshore drilling was a primary cause for our current energy concerns.  Despite tar still washing up on the Gulf and the ongoing deterioration of the Louisiana coastline more than a year after the Deepwater Horizon spill, Sen. Santorum feels there's no need to cry about spilled milk--or in this case, 210 million gallons of spilled oil, by reviewing the environmental risks associated with offshore drilling.  Santorum's state is currently exercising the same mindset, throwing caution about fracking to the wind and expanding natural gas exploration. 

I attended an EPA hearing on May 11th titled, “EPA Mining Policies: Assault on Appalachian Jobs – Part II” by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.” House Republicans framed a mythical tone that President Obama’s EPA has killed coal mining jobs by using its authority under the Section 404(C) of the Clean Water Act. One interesting note about this hearing is that through an Open Secrets search, I discovered $23,950 in campaign donations in the 2010 election cycle by Koch Industries to five Republicans present at the hearing. They include James Lankford (OK), Don Young (AK), Rob Gibbs (OH), John Mica (FL), and Larry Bucshon (IN).

A lobbying group in attendance was FACES (Federation for American Coal, Energy, and Security). They all wore shirts with the slogan, “Protecting American Coal Jobs”. They looked like they were actual West Virginia coal miners, but FACES is a coal industry front group, made infamous a few years back when the pictures of "grassroots" supporters on their website turned out to be purchased from iStockphoto.com.

While the Koch Brothers make far more money off oil than coal, the candidates they and other powerful lobbyists support have a profit-first, anti-regulatory mentality, which plays directly into the hands of the coal companies.

Yesterday morning President Obama spoke at Georgetown University and laid out his vision for securing our energy future. Speaking directly to the students in the room, the President told us:

“We need you to dream big. We need you to summon that same spirit of unbridled optimism, that bold willingness to tackle tough challenges and see those challenges through that led previous generations to rise to greatness.”

We agree, now is the time to dream big. Our dream is a 100% safe, equitable, and clean energy economy, and we’re working to build it — but what President Obama is proposing is a dirty energy nightmare:

• Despite the nuclear crisis in Japan, the Administration has suggested more support for this dangerous energy;
• Last week, they announced they’re opening 2.35 million tons of coal mining in the Powder River Basin, enough coal to scorch the planet;
• And just this morning reports are breaking that President Obama may cave to Big Polluters and accept amendments to the budget that would handcuff the EPA and jeopardize clean air.