Half-term, President Obama has fulfilled many of his environmental promises

[bigtree]

From the Editor’s Desk at Deep Sea News: Obama and the Environment

By Dr. M, on November 15th, 2010

{snip}____ Within a short few months, President Obama seemed to exemplify a renewed commitment to the environment and reversal of Bush era politics. Needed policies, delayed during the Bush era, were quickly signed and put into effect. One of the best examples was the requirement for higher energy efficiency from appliances. On Inauguration Day, Obama blocked plans to reduce air quality standards and remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list.

Obama asked the EPA to reconsider granting California a waiver to impose their own stricter limits on carbon dioxide emissions from cars. Simultaneously, he signed a presidential memorandum to set new fuel efficiency standards from the current average of 27 mpg to 35 mpg by 2011. In February of 2009, the U.S. and Canada agreed to a joint initiative combating global warning. In March of 2009, when details of the new stimulus package surfaced, $59 billion in tax incentives and research funds of the $787 billion total stimulus package were earmarked for clean energy. This linking of the budget and environment is a welcome Obama trademark . . .

When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act eventually did pass more than $80 billion was dedicated to the development of renewable/clean energy, smarter electrical grids, and fuel efficiency technologies all with the goal of producing green jobs. Obama also fulfilled his campaign promise of committing the Federal Government to lead by example promising a 28% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2020. In May 2009, Obama announced fuel economy and gas emissions standards for cars and trucks including the first standards for previously ignored medium- and heavy-duty cars and trucks. A task force identified key barriers to making homes more energy efficient. The Recovery Through Retrofit program will seek to eliminate these barriers, chiefly the lack of straightforward information for consumers on their home’s energy use and how to improve it.

The Obama administration also worked toward protecting, conserving, and restoring U.S. lands. Obama in early 2009 signed the broad reaching Omnibus Public Land Management Act designating 2 million acres in 9 states as wilderness, creating new trails, renewing commitment to protection of historic battlefields and National Parks, protecting watersheds, cleaning up groundwater, and making efforts to revitalizing our fisheries. Obama also signed a presidential memorandum establishing the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to support communities in conserving outdoor spaces and promoting public interest in the outdoors. To restore habitats, he established a group to coordinate and improve restoration of the Gulf of Mexico coastal regions, and outline near-term actions to restore the California Bay Delta and the Chesapeake Region. Obama also dedicated $475 million for Great Lakes restoration, the most invested into the lakes in two decades.

With regard to climate change, Obama hit some well-known stumbling blocks but managed some advancement. On one campaign promise, meager progress was made turning the U.S. into an international leader. In regards to the international community, the U.S. renewed interest in the Major Economies Forum; moved toward eliminating fossil fuel subsides; formed new partnerships with China, India, Mexico, and Canada; and begin phasing down HFCs. For the first time, the U.S. will catalogue greenhouse gas emission from large emissions sources. Thirteen federal agencies are now collaborating on the U.S. Global Change Research Program to reduce green gas emissions and grow a clean energy economy. Obama signed an executive order calling on a task force to develop within one year recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts.

But many herald the most important contribution of the Obama administration to be the American Clean Energy and Security Act: (http://lcv-ftp.org/scorecard09/overview09.html)

In the most sweeping accomplishment – not just of 2009 but perhaps in a generation – the House passed the landmark American Clean Energy and Security Act in June by a vote of 219-212. This vote marked the first time that comprehensive global warming and clean energy legislation passed either chamber of Congress. The House-passed bill, while not perfect, would reduce global warming pollution by 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050 and includes complementary clean energy measures to help meet those emissions reductions.


read more (misses, failures, remaining challenges): http://deepseanews.com/2010/11/from-the-editors-desk-obama-and-the-environment/

White House outline of accomplishments: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/energy-and-environment

[Catherina]

1. Depends how you look at it. I beg to differ

we still have fresh oil coming in, BP is still spraying Corexit, and people are becoming increasingly ill.

[bigtree]

3. that's not a rebuttal at all to these accomplishments

It's just a cheap shot.

[Catherina]

4. I realize you prefer to ignore it but it's an important part of his environmental record. n/t

[bigtree]

6. I'm not ignoring it and neither is the President

I'm not going to pretend it overshadows the fulfillment of many of his campaign promises. It's obviously still a challenge. The article I linked to points to this as a failure.

[Radical Activist]

10. He responded to it before it happened.

The most important response is to reduce our dependence on oil. Even before BP happened, he had already pushed through major new mileage standards, new investments in alternative vehicles, and put stimulus money into high speed rail and public transportation. The Dept. of Transportation was already working toward making cities less auto-dependent. The most important long-term solutions were already underway because that was part of Obama's environmental agenda.

Why don't we ever hear about that? The corporate press will always stand with the fossil fuel industry. And I guess left pundits were too busy holding Obama's feet to the fire to point out anything positive.

[HuckleB]

2. Indeed.

:toast:

[babylonsister]

5. Recommend; thanks. Too bad we don't hear more about this. nt

[ixion]

7. And while I can appreciate these modest achievements, they pale in comparison

to the failures he has made by keeping us in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by his insistence on continuing so many Bush era policies.

Oh, and with regard to the green money in the stimulus: It went largely to well-connected beltway corporations, that is: the usual Big Energy suspects. The money could have been spent in such a way that it provided a far greater impact than it did.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ixion]

25. It's nice that you're so easily impressed...

I imagine shiny things are endlessly fascinating to you.

[bigtree]

11. right

. . . on 'green money in the stimulus':

PHILADELPHIA (November 3, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed construction for the third and final phase of the Havertown PCE Superfund site in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pa. EPA used funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to complete this final phase of the Havertown cleanup. The construction cost for the final phase was approximately $3.6 million and included $3.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/31ed3f8c894bf669852577d00050477d?OpenDocument


The FRA awarded New York State $151 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for high-speed intercity passenger rail
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F0_0_s_27_0_t&usg=AFQjCNGsWVYB8GSXYcYAdQXdILFUyERRyg&cid=17593819329339&ei=Ku_hTJiPIoWY8QTVvpqNAQ&rt=SEARCH&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Freadme.readmedia.com%2FGovernor-Paterson-Delivers-Remarks-at-2010-High-Speed-Rail-Conference%2F1773158

As part of the Obama Administration’s initiative to encourage the rapid and responsible development of renewable energy on U.S. public lands, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, renewable energy developers whose projects begin construction by the end of 2010 can apply for payments of up to 30 percent of the eligible costs of the project. Also under the Recovery Act, renewable energy companies can be awarded loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy for their public land projects. Here's a California solar project that was advantaged by the green money in the stimulus:
http://www.ttkn.com/science-environment/salazar-lauds-private-public-collaboration-on-the-new-energy-frontier-at-solar-%E2%80%98power-tower%E2%80%99-plant-groundbreaking-5725.html

DMACC--Des Moines Area Community College has awarded a contract to Energy Maintenance Service, LLC (EMS), a Broadwind Energy company, to remanufacture and assemble a wind turbine on the DMACC Ankeny Campus . . . Besides becoming a new landmark for the Campus, the wind turbine will serve an important new role for research and education in DMACC's Wind Energy and Turbine Technician program and the Iowa Energy Center's efforts to study medium-sized wind turbines. It will also generate electricity for the Campus, up to one-third of the energy consumed during off peak hours and five percent during peak usage . . . the project became a reality only after the Iowa Office of Energy Independence approved a $131,000 grant to the College. The state grant will cover half of the cost and is part of the American Recovery and Rein-vestment Act (ARRA). DMACC is funding the other half.
http://media.www.bannernewsonline.com/media/storage/paper1387/news/2010/11/10/News/Wind-Turbine.To.Reduce.Impact.On.Environment-3957211.shtml


Almost two years ago, Congressional leaders and the Obama Administration championed an unprecedented commitment of Recovery Act funds to support clean energy technologies. Like all of the Recovery Act funds, the $80 billion targeted for energy projects helped to create new jobs and save existing ones while spurring economic activity and long-term growth. And unlike funds that built a road which will, eventually, require new funds for repairs, some of the funds for the 5,000 energy related Recovery projects will continue to pay dividends well into the future.
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2010/11/01/recovery-solar-schools/


When Congress passed the landmark stimulus bill in 2009, more than $90 billion was targeted at clean energy -- the largest investment of federal dollars in the energy sector ever. Nearly $3 billion was awarded to the Bay Area from the Department of Energy alone. The infusion of money came at a critical juncture, filling a void when the global financial crisis and U.S. recession made other sources of funding hard to come by.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16588400?nclick_check=1


All Floridians benefit from the nearly $11 billion in Recovery Act funds that created or saved more than 61,000 jobs in state, and residents near those 90 schools will particularly benefit when electric power systems fail during future hurricanes as these shelters will provide safe, well-lit spaces for evacuees. These and other energy-related projects would not be possible without the leadership of a nearly dozen Congressional members from Florida who supported the Recovery Act in February 2009. East River High School in Orlando, Florida can direct its thanks to Congressman Alan Grayson for supporting the Recovery Act . . .
http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2010/11/01/recovery-solar-schools/

Energy Projects highlighted at Recovery.gov.:

Appliance Rebate Program Underway -
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/ApplianceRebate.aspx

Electric Car Company Gets Energized -
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/ColoradoElectricCars.aspx

Retrofitting 32,000 Homes for More Energy Efficiency and
Comfort -
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/ColoradoElectricCars.aspx

Schools Taught Energy Efficiency
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/IdahoEnergyTune-ups.aspx

Uranium Tailings Moved to Secure Location
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/RecoveryFundsHelpSpeedUraniumClean-Up.aspx

Science & Technology
NOvA Project Funded in Part with Recovery Funds
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/RecoveryFundsinSupportingRole.aspx#NOVAProject

Clean Water Project for Three States to Create or Save 600 Jobs, Company Says
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/CleanWaterSouthDakota.aspx

Home Sewage Systems Fixed in Ohio -
http://www.recovery.gov/News/featured/Pages/FixingHomeSewageSystemsinOhio.aspx

[Radical Activist]

9. He has already done more for clean energy than Clinton and Carter combined.

But it's not fashionable to give him credit for it.

[Forkboy]

12. We need way more, but he's been a big step in the right direction on this.

We're still lagging way behind where we should be though, and we can't forget that either. Small steps, no matter how welcome, won't cut it much longer.

K&R

[defendandprotect]

13. Obama has essentially done nothing about Global Warming ---

We should be moving all gasoline driven autos off the roads and

replacing them with electric cars --

We can no longer burn fossil fuels -- we've known that for 50 years!!!

And, why the hell are we still paying subsidies to oil companies?

Isn't $36 BILLION enough in one year for ExxonMobil?

[bigtree]

14. he has done some things to address global warming

In May 2009, President Obama announced the first ever joint fuel economy/greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-National-Fuel-Efficiency-Policy/

In May 2010, President Obama created the first-ever efficiency and emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty cars and trucks.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-directs-administration-create-first-ever-national-efficiency-and-em

Under President Obama’s leadership, the international community has taken significant measures toward a global solution to climate change, including reinvigorating the Major Economies Forum (MEF); eliminating fossil fuel subsidies; fostering bilateral energy and climate partnerships with China, India, Mexico, Canada and others; phasing down HFCs (Hydrofluorcarbons); and reaching an historic accord at the Copenhagen climate summit.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/energy-and-environment

For the first time, the U.S. will catalogue greenhouse gas emissions from large emission sources – an important initial step toward measurable and transparent reductions.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

The U.S. Global Change Research Program, a collaborative effort involving 13 Federal Agencies, works to understand and respond to climate change as part of a government-wide effort to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and grow a clean energy economy.
http://www.globalchange.gov/

The President signed the Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, on October 5, 2009, calling on the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force to develop, within one year, Federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-signs-an-Executive-Order-Focused-on-Federal-Leadership-in-Environmental-Energy-and-Economic-Performance

[defendandprotect]

16. If you understand Global Warming you know this would take a huge commitment....

an address to the nation -- a full time campaign to inform the public --

and we would have to NATIONALIZE oil industry -- and other natural resources.

It is especially oil/gas industry which have spread the "no-Global Warming"

propaganda because this is where their wealth is -- exploiting nature and

our natural resources!!

[Radical Activist]

19. If you understood what's really going on

you would realize how significant it is for EPA to regulate major new sources of global warming emissions. Or their move to regulate coal ash, reinterpret the fill rule to stop mountaintop removal mining, improve auto mileage standards, and invest billions in renewable energy development.

Obama has already given several addresses to the nation about this and has mentioned it in every major speech. Do you actually listen to Obama or do you only listen to what the corporate media filters tells you he said?

[defendandprotect]

28. We don't need to "regulate" burning of fossil fuels -- we need to STOP burning fossil fuels....

Global Warming isn't something we've just recently learned about --

Scientists became aware of the damage that capitalism does to nature/environment

more than 100 years ago -- and certainly Global Warming during the 1950's ... that's

60 years ago. And, perhaps we have lost our chance to reverse this.

But, putting the milktoast/betraying EPA in charge of pollutants will do nothing for

us even on their best day in reversing Global Warming.

Again -- we require a total cultural change as our scientists have been warning us about

for decades --

If you want credit for Obama for minor changes, you have it --

but it's insufficient to address the dangers we face from Global Warming.

And I'm sure you are aware of them ...

Increasing numbers of and intensity of hurricanes, droughts, floods, cyclones, tornadoes,

earthquakes.

NOR can anyone really guess as to how all of this will compound.

Therefore, what Obama has done -- and what our Democratic leadership has done in response

to GW is wholly insufficient and meaningless.



I'll attach the Scientists Warning to Humanity which they repeated in 1992 --

to a great silence by our corporate-press --


http://www.ucsusa.org/about/1992-world-scientists.html




PS: I'd also add that NY Times reported decades ago that the dams built by

US Corp of Engineers are "impacting the rotation of the earth."

There are many reasons to begin to dismantle these dams -- we hear too little

about this still.

Also, it takes 6 months to properly shut down a nuclear reactor -- we have 106 in

operation and Obama is subsidizing the industry to build more!!

[Radical Activist]

34. Has Venezuela stopped oil production?

You argue that nationalizing oil is a step toward using less of it. Yet, that has not been the case in Venezuela, USSR, China, or any other state-socialist economy. Your solution is no solution at all.

There's a movement to stop global warming right now that the press doesn't want you to know about. The same press that doesn't want you to know how serious the problem is also doesn't want you to know what solutions Obama is pushing for. You can join that movement but dreaming fantasies about a false solution that's NEVER going to happen isn't productive.

[Radical Activist]

18. That's grossly untrue.

He has done a great deal and stretched the limit of what he can accomplish without new laws being passed by Congress. And he has asked for Congress to pass that law in every major speech he has given as President.

[defendandprotect]

29. What Obama has done is largely meaningless in meeting what is required ....

to stop Global Warming --

[inna]

15. Absolutely dismal, DISMAL performance, WRT the environment.

Fucking amazing, as far as your recent posts go.

[bigtree]

17. Let's see. The title says, the president has fulfilled many of his environmental campaign promises

. . . that happens to be true. You are of course free to weigh in on that and other aspects of his environmental record. In fact, the article I've posted includes many criticisms.

But, how childish is it to come on to this thread and try and mock me for the posts I've made? What, do you think this is some high school drama and you're going to send me crying down the hallway while you get hurrahs from your school chums?

You couldn't get enough out of your system responding to the actual threads I've posted you object to? That's where your personal attacks belong, if that's what floats your boat.

[Radical Activist]

20. Best environmental record of any President in history.

It's a shame people are so unaware of what he's doing. The corporate/polluter-owned press likes it that way.

[defendandprotect]

30. In this case, it is the corporate-press which exists to suppress reality of Global Warming ....

and therefore discussions of it and remedies -- which leaves the public uninformed

as to the true nature and threat of Global Warming --

and therefore as to what is really required in respone --


The message we learned decades and a half century ago has been buried -- i.e.,

WE NEED TO STOP BURNING FOSSIL FUELS

And the first step towards that goal would be to NATIONALIZE the oil industry --

No private interests should have control of our natural resources.

[Radical Activist]

33. The first step is to use less fossil fuels while we build infrastructure for an alternative.

That's what Obama is doing right now. The green stimulus bill was a big part of it.

I hate to break this to you but nationalizing industry is not a magic cure-all to every problem. State controlled industries have been some of the worst polluters in world history. The soviet union and communist China were horrible polluters. Nationalizing the oil industry will only ensure that the government has an incentive to burn more fossil fuels to generate revenue. That NOT a solution.

Saying that the only solution is a fantastic one which has no chance of happening in the current political environment is no different than saying we should do nothing. Arguing that we should wait for unicorns to solve climate change for us would be equally as helpful as your suggestion to nationalize oil.

And besides, which oil fields are we going to nationalize? US oil production is minuscule. Are you suggesting we invade the rest of the middle east to nationalize and control their oil production? We have to deal with real world solutions, not some fantasy from Marxist undergrads.

[defendandprotect]

36. We've had more than 60 years and did nothing ...because private interests control

our natural resources --

Presumably we've also known for a quarter century or more many other ways to

produce energy -- if not, we're really dumb!

Behind the problem with pollution and oil is the sad fact that without oil the MIC

can't operate -- at least right now -- they're actually talking about solar planes!

But, this makes oil a "national security issue" and when that happens you end up

with a lot of environmental disasters like Hanford/GE.

Maybe you missed it -- we have invaded the ME and we are seeking to control their oil!

[scheming daemons]

21. Actually... it is only 1/4 of his term.

He's going to serve 8 years.

[bigtree]

22. .

:thumbsup:

[Scurrilous]

23. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Tx4obama]

24. Here's another list (3 pages) in case you've missed any

Obama's Campaign Promises about Environment on the Obameter
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/subjects/environment/

p.s. They are showing 16 environment promises kept so far (of the ones they're tracking),
and many many more 'In the Works'
p.s. On each promise there is a 'more' link to read more about each one :)

[mmonk]

26. I didn't see drill baby drill or fracking coming.

It has been weird belonging to an environmental group in NC that had to gear up for an environmental fight with a Democratic President concerning off shore drilling.

[defendandprotect]

31. W overturned 26 year moritorium on it -- and Obama has continued on -- disgraceful!!

And what a HUGE mistake for the Gulf -- and our oceans -- our populations --

our animal-life --

[de novo]

27. I applaud these successes. Now, if we can get him to quit supporting

offshore drilling, new nuclear plants, clean coal and fraking, we'll really get somewhere.

[defendandprotect]

32. "offshore drilling, new nuclear plants, clean coal and fraking, we'll really get somewhere" --

What disastrous results!!

"The Gulf will bounce back-" -- Wow!

[pitohui]

35. is there any form of energy you DO like?

sheesh

clean coal and nuclear are a cruel hoax, i agree, but offshore drilling is a valuable contribution, fracking to get natural gas appears to be a valuable contribution as well

ultimately we are going to have to get away from petroleum but those folks who think they are too pure to drill, i just don't get 'em, i have never understood why a good and valuable source of energy like oil should be left sitting under the ocean (yes, i'm from louisiana, i do not know why almost everyone in louisiana believes we can find a way to safely drill and 48 of the other states think drilling for oil is this incredibly crazy risky insane thing to do...and yet they still drive cars)