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Politics : The Solyndra Scandal -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Carolyn who wrote (508)	6/18/2012 8:28:22 AM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Respond to of 1400

Here is the mentality of an EPA employee on display: EPA Science Writer Celebrates Andrew Breitbart’s Death by Jim Hoft on Monday, June 18, 2012 thegatewaypundit.com Your tax dollars at work – Paying this douche to work at the EPA. EPA science writer says he’s happy Andrew Breitbart is dead. Ian Boudreau @iboudreau Am I supposed to be sorry for pointing out the fact that Andrew Breitbart is dead? Because I'm not. I was happy he was dead WHEN HE DIED. 17 Jun 12 Reply Ian Boudreau is the Communications and Outreach Contractor at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. credit to brumar Retweet Favorite

To: Carolyn who wrote (508)	7/3/2012 12:32:00 AM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 1400

Rep who led Solyndra charge wants probe into Massachusetts wind farm By Molly Line Energy In America July 02, 2012 After more than a decade of push and pull, the nation's first offshore wind farm got the green light -- but longtime opponents of Massachusetts' Cape Wind claim they have a smoking gun that shows the Obama administration applied "pressure" to get the project approved. Now the same congressman who led the investigation into failed solar panel firm Solyndra is calling for a probe into Cape Wind. "The emails that came from the FAA that I have seen obviously shows the White House is pushing the FAA for political reasons," said Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. Audra Parker, the president of the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, an organization that's working to prevent the wind farm's development, said her organization has obtained documents she believes are proof the Federal Aviation Administration fast-tracked the project despite safety concerns for local aviation. "We have at the federal level and at the state level a very, very strong green agenda but this project is a perfect example of a green agenda at any cost," she said Parker welcomed a congressional investigation. "The documents are based on responses that we got through a Freedom of Information Act request to the FAA, and they reveal a very strong pattern of political pressure and ultimately the FAA succumbing to that political pressure and sacrificing the lives of the flying public over Nantucket sound," she said. Parker's paperwork reveals that an internal FAA email from 2009 acknowledges "The Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound is highly political..." A PowerPoint presentation given in 2010 states: "The Secretary of the Interior has approved this project. The Administration is under pressure to promote green energy production. It would be very difficult politically to refuse approval of this project." These documents have caught the attention of Stearns. "I think the Cape Wind project is something similar to Solyndra in the sense there's a lot of pressure from the White House," the congressman said. The White House dismissed Stearns' latest accusations. And Cape Wind spokesman Mark Rodgers said that despite the concerns raised by opponents, the project has been heavily vetted. "Cape Wind has been through the most comprehensive review of any power facility in the history of the Northeast U.S., and so if we're on any kind of fast track I'd hate to see the slow track," said Rodgers. In fact, the FAA is again reviewing the project after a federal appeals court overturned the agency's ruling that 130 proposed turbines posed "no hazard" to aviation. Rodgers believes the FAA will once more rule in Cape Wind's favor despite political pressure from opponents. "We know in the early years there was a lot of political pressure by project opponents to try to prevent the FAA from ever approving Cape Wind. But despite that negative political pressure the FAA has approved this three times after reviewing the full record -- twice during the Bush years, once now in the Obama years, and we're confident when they have this one more decision to make that we'll be approved again," Rodgers said. Despite the latest efforts to fight the project, Cape Wind hopes to begin building next year. But they are facing multiple lawsuits and the possibility of further delays as both sides -- for and against the development -- charge that politics is playing a role in the battle. Read more: foxnews.com

To: Carolyn who wrote (508)	7/17/2012 1:54:27 PM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Respond to of 1400

Wind Association Executive To State Bureaucrats: 'Delete These Types of Emails' State derails scientific panel recommendations regarding windmill noise levels By Jack Spencer \| July 12, 2012 michigancapitolconfidential.com In an April 25, 2011 email, the head of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association advised state employees to delete emails pertaining to a potential recommendation that Michigan's noise level limit for wind turbines be lowered. Written 14 months ago, the context of the email was what appears to have been a successful effort by government bureaucrats to derail a pending noise level reduction recommendation. The email advising state employees delete conversations was one of several emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act pertaining to the wind turbine noise level issue. "I would delete these types of emails because of the possibility of FOIA requests,” John Sarver wrote in the email. Sarver is now the executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA), which is a statewide non-profit that promotes and facilitates the use of renewable energy in Michigan. Most, if not all, of the renewable energy sources GLREA supports require government subsidies, mandates or both for their survival. A 34-year veteran of state government, as an employee and an official, Sarver is best known for his efforts to promote solar and wind energy. He was program manager at the State Energy Office until leaving within the last two years. At the time of the email, Sarver was not a state employee. In the April 25, 2011 email, Sarver was communicating with Mark Clevey (who had replaced Sarver at the State Energy Office) and Julie Baldwin, an employee at the former Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Development, which, at that time, was being reorganized under incoming Gov. Rick Snyder. Meanwhile, Baldwin was moving to the Michigan Public Service Commission where, by March 28, 2011, she was a Renewable Energy Section Manager. The context of the email was a discussion about how to handle a pending report from the Technical Work Group chaired by Dr. Jerry Punch, an audiologist and professor emeritus at Michigan State University, and Kenneth Rosenman, a professor of epidemiology (occupational diseases) at MSU. State bureaucrats disbanded the Technical Wind Group before it wrote its final report and before it could vote on a statewide wind turbine noise level standard. Clevey ultimately wrote a substitute report with input from some members of the Wind Working Group, an umbrella organization comprised of groups involved with the expansion of wind power. According to emails obtained through FOIA, the Technical Working Group had been organized under the Wind Working Group in connection with federal funding. In his email on April 25, 2011, Sarver recommended that the work group be allowed to finish its report if possible. (In his emails, Sarver referred to the Technical Working Group (TWG) as the “TWK.” It is unclear why he used that acronym, but in the emails, Sarver is clearly referring to the TWG.) “Mark and Julie ... Just ending the TWK will be perceived as government closing down dissent,” Sarver wrote. “The two of you writing a report will be perceived as a white wash. While I think it is important that state government make clear what your plans are, I think you should allow the TWK to decide how to finish its work.” In the email, Sarver outlined what he thought should be done. He made it clear that he believed Clevey would not allow the work group's potential recommendations to go into effect. "Mark. ... .I understand from your response and previous emails that you have no intention to revise the sample zoning language," Sarver wrote. "Julie .... This leaves the ball in your court whether the MPSC would consider a revision?" Also, in the April 25 email Sarver expressed concern about the reactions of the Technical Working Group members, who anticipated that their work would result in regulatory revisions. "I'm trying to avoid the TWK thinking they are doing a lot of work that will lead to guideline revisions if this most likely won't happen," Sarver wrote. "We need to manage expectations and with the energy office change now may be the time." Neither Clevey nor Sarver responded to requests for comment. Baldwin didn't respond to an request for comment made through the MPSC. The emails were obtained through a FOIA request filed by private citizens who banded together to successfully prevent a wind farm from being established in Lenawee County. ~~~~~ See also: Wind Noise Dispute Pits Scientists Against State Officials Energy Debates Heat Up As High Electric Rates Continue Renewable Energy Standard Driving Prices Higher in States, Europe 'Green' Energy Advocates Targeting Michigan Again Commentary: Same Old Story on Energy Policy It's Not Easy Subsidizing Green

To: Carolyn who wrote (508)	8/4/2012 5:02:57 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1400

Obama/Sherrod Brown War on Coal Causes More Layoffs by Nick Mascari 24 Jul 2012 breitbart.com We've spoken previously about how Barack Obama is waging a war against the coal industry. Even though Candidate Obama openly told us that he aimed to bankrupt the industry, he has his toadie, former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, traveling around the state making a fool of himself by insisting that Obama is actually a friend to the coal industry. Recently, ultra-liberal Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Obama in attacking the energy source that provides 86% of Ohio's electricity. Brown had a chance to join other Senators, including other Democrats, in getting rid of the EPA's new Utility MACT rule, which is the centerpiece of the Obama's administration's self-declared goal of bankrupting coal plants and making electricity prices "necessarily skyrocket." Sherrod Brown talks a big game about standing with miners. He even boasts about the coal miner's canary pin that he wears instead of a flag pin. But when it came time to cast a vote to protect the livelihoods of thousands of Ohio coal workers, he kicked them to the curb and voted to keep Obama's extreme new coal regulations. *Sherrod Brown jumped into the foxhole, and eagerly became a soldier against his own state* in Obama's war on coal. The casualties continue. Last Friday, two coal companies announced that they are laying off workers in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that PBS Coals Inc. laid off about 225 workers from its 795-person workforce. The company's CEO said, "Additionally, the escalating costs and uncertainty generated by recently advanced EPA regulations and interpretations have created a challenging business climate for the entire coal industry." Also laying off workers was Ohio Valley Coal Co. of Alledonia, Ohio. General Manager Ronald Koontz attacked the Obama administration for a "'war on coal seeking to destroy the coal industry and the jobs of our own employees and the livelihoods of their families. "Unfortunately, for us, this is just the beginning of workforce reductions."** Sherrod Brown proudly calls himself a "strong progressive." And shutting down coal plants is consistent with progressive values. Sherrod's extreme progressive ideals might fit in a state like Vermont, but not a center-right state like Ohio. I hope that a majority of Ohio voters join me in voting to elect Josh Mandel, and kick Sherrod Brown to the curb, like Brown is doing to the state's coal workers.

To: Carolyn who wrote (508)	8/6/2012 4:13:53 PM
From: joseffy	Respond to of 1400

Solyndra Revelations Show It’s Time to Close the “Bank of Washington” by Amy Payne Monday, August 6, 2012 blog.heritage.org “The Bank of Washington continues to help us!” bragged Solyndra CEO Chris Gronet in emails released last week. An investigation by the House Energy and Commerce Committee revealed that Solyndra—the solar company that went under, taking more than $600 million in taxpayer funds with it—wasn’t ever supposed to be an independent business. It was built to rely on the taxpayers. “Getting business from Uncle Sam is a principal element of Solyndra’s channel strategy,” wrote Tom Baruch, founder of Solyndra investor CEMA Capital, in an August 10, 2010 email.