Environment & Energy

kristopher

(29,798 posts) Tue May 22, 2012, 12:34 PM May 2012

ALEC Says It Plans To Craft Legislation To Take Down State Renewable Energy Targets

ALEC Says It Plans To Craft Legislation To Take Down State Renewable Energy Targets
By Stephen Lacey on Apr 24, 2012 at 1:30 pm

Two leading conservative political organizations say they are stepping up coordinated efforts to repeal state-level renewable energy targets.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — a “stealth business lobbyist” that works with corporate interests to help them write and implement “model” legislation — says it may soon start crafting laws designed to kill or weaken state targets for renewable electricity, heating and fuels.

ALEC has come under fire in recent weeks for its support of voter ID laws and the controversial Stand-Your-Ground law that opponents blame for the death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. After progressive groups began an aggressive campaign to educate the public about ALEC, 13 companies have since pulled their membership from the organization.

Last July, Bloomberg News acquired tax documents showing that Koch Industries, Exxon Mobil and other energy companies paid membership fees to ALEC in order to help write legislation repealing carbon pollution reduction programs in states around country.
Bloomberg now reports that ALEC is looking to take aim at renewable energy programs in states:

ALEC, a group of state lawmakers and corporations recently criticized for its support of Stand-Your-Ground laws highlighted in the Florida shooting of Trayvon Martin, may write model legislation for state lawmakers to repeal or weaken the mandates later this year, said Todd Wynn, energy, environment and agriculture task force director for the group, in an interview. Stand-Your-Ground laws allows citizens to use force when threatened, even when they can retreat.

The group may also develop an “energy freedom” index that ranks states based on regulation, market intervention and taxes.
ALEC has already attempted to write legislation preventing targets for renewable energy on ...

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/04/24/469934/alec-plans-to-craft-legislation-to-take-down-state-renewable-energy-targets/

8 replies

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ALEC Says It Plans To Craft Legislation To Take Down State Renewable Energy Targets (Original Post) kristopher May 2012 OP

The battle with ALEC is nowhere near over. It'll keep serving the Koch brothers' resource interests. freshwest May 2012 #1

The REPS* in Ohio was sponsored by a Republican and passed with a nearly-unanimous margin Kolesar May 2012 #2

So you're saying the current GOP majority in Ohio is not Tea, but progressive? freshwest May 2012 #3

No, the tea baggers had a successful "rout" and took both houses of state government in 2010 Kolesar May 2012 #4

So the Republican who sponsored the REP is no longer there? Guess we turn the baggers out this year. freshwest May 2012 #5

Because some things just can't be said often enough kristopher Jun 2012 #6

kick nt bananas Jun 2012 #7

Lawsuit Accuses Bloom Energy, Delaware of Fuel Cell Cronyism kristopher Jun 2012 #8

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

1. The battle with ALEC is nowhere near over. It'll keep serving the Koch brothers' resource interests.

Reply to kristopher (Original post)

Tue May 22, 2012, 12:47 PM

May 2012

As well as their social vision for society, which the Tea Party is enacting in every state legislature, state house and majority in Washington they control. Nothing done in a vacuum, each opposing view has a sponsor. But not all things are equal, nor are all just or thinking longer term than immediate profits, taken regardless of costs to the environment and people. Paid voices always shout the loudest. N/T

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)

2. The REPS* in Ohio was sponsored by a Republican and passed with a nearly-unanimous margin

Reply to kristopher (Original post)

Tue May 22, 2012, 03:11 PM

May 2012

*Renewable energy portfolio standard

The standard was part of a broader electricity bill in 2008. I think there were three no votes.

Unfortunately, the state house has become even more extreme after the Teaparty rout in 2010. They just might try this.

They will get public opposition to repeal, because wind turbines have broad public support in Ohio, like habit for elks or eagles.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

3. So you're saying the current GOP majority in Ohio is not Tea, but progressive?

Reply to Kolesar (Reply #2)

Tue May 22, 2012, 05:05 PM

May 2012

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)

4. No, the tea baggers had a successful "rout" and took both houses of state government in 2010

Reply to freshwest (Reply #3)

Tue May 22, 2012, 05:24 PM

May 2012

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

5. So the Republican who sponsored the REP is no longer there? Guess we turn the baggers out this year.

Reply to Kolesar (Reply #4)

Tue May 22, 2012, 06:50 PM

May 2012

If at all possible. Got a GOP governor and legislature, doesn't look too promising except there was the progressive win on the anti-union (whatever it was termed) bill this year.

I think Kasich was bad news from before he entered office as governor and they were unfair the way they used demographic loss from the census to pit Kucinich vs. Kaptur. Sorry if I've not kept up on that, but how is Joe the (not really a) Plumber doing?

Here's hoping he get out of Palin's back pocket and get his tush handed back to him but good.

kristopher

(29,798 posts)

6. Because some things just can't be said often enough

Reply to kristopher (Original post)

Mon Jun 11, 2012, 05:48 PM

Jun 2012

kick

bananas

(27,509 posts)

7. kick nt

Reply to kristopher (Reply #6)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 09:16 PM

Jun 2012

kristopher

(29,798 posts)

8. Lawsuit Accuses Bloom Energy, Delaware of Fuel Cell Cronyism

Reply to kristopher (Original post)

Mon Jun 25, 2012, 06:06 PM

Jun 2012

Lawsuit Accuses Bloom Energy, Delaware of Fuel Cell Cronyism
A lawsuit filed against Delaware’s governor and utility commission seeks to undo Bloom’s big fuel cell deal in the state.
JEFF ST. JOHN: JUNE 20, 2012

Fuel cell maker Bloom Energy’s massive 30-megawatt project in Delaware is facing a lawsuit seeking to undo the project's financial underpinnings, on the grounds that it represents a “crony” deal that will unfairly charge utility ratepayers millions of dollars and bar competitors from the state.

The lawsuit, filed in federal District Court in Delaware, accuses Delaware governor Jack Markell and the Delaware Public Service Commission of “unconstitutionally discriminating against Bloom’s competitors and taxing a segment of Delaware residents to subsidize the crony company,” according to a Wednesday announcement.

The lawsuit was filed by Cause of Action, which describes itself as a group dedicated to fighting waste, fraud and mismanagement in the federal government. The complaint (PDF) also names Fuel Cell Energy, a Danbury, Conn.-based fuel cell maker and competitor to Bloom Energy, as a plaintiff, Cause of Action spokeswoman Mary Beth Hutchins said in a Wednesday interview. It also names an individual, John Nichols, who is a customer of Delmarva Power & Light, the utility that’s working with Bloom.

“Our desire is that the court will issue a summary judgment” halting the Bloom deal from going forward, Hutchins said. “Our allegation is that the governor and the public service commission have essentially engaged in cronyism.”

Bloom Energy did not immediately respond to...

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/lawsuit-accuses-bloom-energy-delaware-of-cronyism/

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