Eighteen leading environmental groups demand an end to Obama's "all of the above" energy strategy

[bananas]

http://grist.org/news/big-green-groups-demand-an-end-to-obamas-all-of-the-above-energy-strategy/

Big green groups demand an end to Obama’s “all of the above” energy strategy
By John Upton
17 Jan 2014

Leading environmental groups are telling President Barack Obama that it’s time to drop his climate-screwing “all of the above” energy strategy, which promotes rampant drilling and mining of fossil fuels as well as green alternatives.

Eighteen groups sent a letter to Obama on Thursday, pointing out that his strategy “fails to prioritize clean energy and solutions that have already begun to replace fossil fuels,” and arguing that it’s “a compromise that future generations can’t afford.” The signers include the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, Oceana, Environmental Defense Fund, and Natural Resources Defense Council. Here’s more from the letter:

We believe that continued reliance on an “all of the above” energy strategy would be fundamentally at odds with your goal of cutting carbon pollution and would undermine our nation’s capacity to respond to the threat of climate disruption. With record-high atmospheric carbon concentrations and the rising threat of extreme heat, drought, wildfires and super storms, America’s energy policies must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, not simply reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

We understand that the U.S. cannot immediately end its use of fossil fuels and we also appreciate the advantages of being more energy independent. But an “all of the above” approach that places virtually no limits on whether, when, where or how fossil fuels are extracted ignores the impacts of carbon-intense fuels and is wrong for America’s future. America requires an ambitious energy vision that reduces consumption of these fuels in order to meet the scale of the climate crisis.

And here’s more commentary from Trip Van Noppen, president of Earthjustice, another group that signed the letter:

In addition, “all of the above” leaves the American people holding the bag of drinking water contamination in our communities, crude oil pipeline bursts in our neighborhoods, toxic chemicals in our air, fracking groundwater accidents across the nation, oil spills in our precious Arctic waters and in our seafood-rich Gulf, carcinogenic dumping in our community waters, mountaintop removal across the Appalachians, historic coal ash spills, and more.

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[Doctor_J]

1. Meh. These scientists just don't understand chess

He had to compromise on contaminated air and water so he could get, um, er, something. Either that, or by giving in to the far right on the environment, he's demonstrating how out of touch they are, thus guaranteeing a Dem sweep in November. I forget.

rec for the Amazing Middleman (and by middle I mean far right corporateman)

[2naSalit]

2. Since all the

natural food sources are being depleted full scream ahead, it would appear that we are being prepped for soylent green food conditions. And WE are the only ones who can stop it from happening, it's not going to be easy for many but it has to happen or we will becmoe extinct... but probably only after 99% of all other species do.

[bananas]

3. Podesta questions why environmentalists would challenge Obama’s energy strategy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/17/podesta-questions-why-environmentalists-would-challenge-obamas-energy-strategy/

Podesta questions why environmentalists would challenge Obama’s energy strategy
By Juliet Eilperin
January 17

President Obama's senior adviser John D. Podesta rebuked U.S. environmental leaders Friday for challenging the White House's energy strategy, saying he was "surprised" they would question his commitment to addressing climate change.

In a two-page letter obtained by The Washington Post, Podesta provided a detailed account of steps Obama has taken to reduce the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, and others he has pledged to undertake as part of the climate action plan he unveiled in June. Podesta, who has spent several years championing an aggressive national and global climate strategy as chairman of the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, began advising Obama this month on issues including energy and the environment.

<snip>

Podesta did not directly address the major thrust of the environmentalists' argument--that the White House was undercutting its climate efforts by simultaneously espousing an "all of the above" energy strategy that embraces carbon-emitting natural gas, oil and coal.

<snip>

Podesta's letter is at http://www.washingtonpost.com/r/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2014/01/17/National-Politics/Graphics/2014-0117_Podesta.pdf

[blkmusclmachine]

4. Ha ha. Good luck, you all. BHO seems pretty hard set in his worldview.

[cprise]

5. K&R