In the Pipeline: 1/18/13

Look out, folks.  This young woman is a force to be reckoned with. AEA (1/15/13) reports: “Director of Federal Affairs, Robin Millican, speaks at a press conference held by Rep. Mike Pompeo about the Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act.”

We could have come up with a dramatic statement like “Blades of Death Ripping American Bald Eagles to Shreds while the Greens and the Government just Watch” but we would rather let the article speak for its hypocritical self. StarTribune (1/17/13) reports: “A bitterly contested wind farm proposed for Goodhue County got the go-ahead Wednesday to pursue a permit that would allow it to legally kill or injure eagles, in what could be the first case of federal authorities issuing a license to kill the protected national symbol… The 48-turbine project would kill at most eight to 15 eagles a year, a number that would not harm the local population, federal officials said in a letter to state regulators. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said its estimate does not include possible strategies to reduce the number of eagles killed and, that if a permit is eventually granted, the goal would be a much lower figure.”

First it was Greece.  Now Germany.  We warned that this was not a silly, isolated event.  With a little foresight we’d all be locking in a long-term contract with a good chimney-sweep. Spiegel Online (1/17/13) reports: “The problem has been compounded this winter by rising energy costs. The Germany’s Renters Association estimates the heating costs will go up 22 percent this winter alone. A side effect is an increasing number of people turning to wood-burning stoves for warmth. Germans bought 400,000 such stoves in 2011, the German magazine FOCUS reported this week. It marks the continuation of a trend: The number of Germans buying heating devices that burn wood and coal has grown steadily since 2005, according to consumer research company GfK Group… That increase in demand has now also boosted prices for wood, leading many to fuel their fires with theft.”

Continuing our little tour around the world, this dude in Australia shares his account about what happens when the government gets its hands on a toy to play with voters. Stopthesethings.com (1/13/13) reports: “Now if the chamber of commerce doesn’t fight to block the proposed wind farm, Barber says he will resign from the body and continue to fight the proposal with other concerned residents… One last question: how would he describe the wind industry? … Barber’s response is immediate: ‘The wind industry is a pack of liars and con merchants who couldn’t lie straight in bed. I have absolutely no confidence in anything they say whatsoever.’”

New recipe for ‘credibility and perspective’ at Goldman Sachs: A dash of cronyism with a sprinkle of persistent lobbying on top.Bloomberg (1/17/13) reports: “‘The market appears to have toughed in the fourth quarter of last year and several sectors have rallied meaningfully since then,’ Bernstein said… His comments coincide with a deal in the U.S. to extend a tax credit that supports wind-turbine installations. The policy was due to expire Dec. 31 and lobbying efforts to renew it received a boost after President Barack Obama’s re-election… Goldman has been investing in renewable energy since at least 2005, and has a long-term view, said Ethan Zindler, an analyst with New Energy Finance… ‘They have considerable credibility within this sector,’ he said in by e-mail. ‘They have seen the various ups and downs, so they have significant perspective as well.’”

The following think tank chiefs are opposed to a carbon tax.  The list to date follows.  If your guy is not on the list, it is because he either favors a carbon tax, wants to retain the option of favoring a carbon tax at some point in the future, or has yet to contact us.

Tom Pyle, American Energy Alliance / Institute for Energy Research
Myron Ebell, Freedom Action
Phil Kerpen, American Commitment
William O’Keefe, George C. Marshall Institute
Fred Smith, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Andrew Quinlan, Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Tim Phillips, Americans for Prosperity
Joe Bast, Heartland Institute
David Ridenour, National Center for Public Policy Research
Michael Needham, Heritage Action for America
Tom Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform
Sabrina Schaeffer, Independent Women’s Forum
Barrett E. Kidner, Caesar Rodney Institute
George Landrith, Frontiers of Freedom