In the Pipeline: 3/27/12

Do you think Willard’s folks here in DC, who lobby for crews like Chevron,  API, Encana, and Halliburton should say something to someone about this?  I mean, other than the usual complaints about how rude it is for people to point out that Willard may not be as pro-energy as he (now) says he is? New Yorker (3/25/12) reports: Last week, Mitt Romney, who, it now seems, is going to become the Republican nominee whether anybody likes it or not, called on President Barack Obama to fire three of his Cabinet members: the Energy Secretary, Steven Chu; the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar; and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson. According to Romney, the three have spent the past few years carrying out a not-so-secret plan to raise the price of gasoline at the pump. Only by firing the “gas-tax trio,” Romney told Fox News, can the President demonstrate that he did not approve of this plan. “Time for them to go,” Romney said

First they came for the coal.  Then they came for the oil.  Then they came for the natural gas.  Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me GigaOM (3/26/12) reports: Three environmental groups on Monday filed a law suit against the federal government over a proposed solar farm in California, contending that the government has failed in its duty to ensure the project would not pose a significant harm to wildlife…The 663.5 MW solar project, called Calico Solar, would take up 4,600 acres of public land in the Mojave Desert. Its original developer, Tessera Solar, sold it to K Road Power in late 2010 after receiving final approval from the U.S. Department of Interior. K Road said it wanted to change the technology to use mostly solar panels instead of only solar mirrors. The Bureau of Land Management said last October it would start preparing a supplemental environmental impact report to reflect the proposed change to the project.

President Rig Count apparently forgot to tell EPA to forget all about that green agenda stuff National Journal (3/26/12) reports: The Obama administration is expected to unveil long-awaited global-warming regulations as soon as Tuesday in a move that will make a big splash politically but won’t have real environmental or economic impact until long after the 2012 elections…The controversial rules—initially setting limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from new power plants—have been in the works since 2009, when the Environmental Protection Agency determined within a year of President Obama taking office that it had a legal obligation under the Clean Air Act to rein in carbon pollution that scientists say is one of the chief causes of climate change.

Every once in awhile, we like to remind you that all craziness is not limited to energy and environmental issues.  No sir, there are idiots everywhere prepared to spend your money on ridiculous “ideas”.  Just ask Ray LaHood Business Week (3/25/12) reports: On a dusty, rock-strewn expanse at the edge of the Mojave Desert, a company linked to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to build a bullet train that would rocket tourists from the middle of nowhere to the gambling palaces of Las Vegas…Privately held DesertXpress is on the verge of landing a $4.9 billion loan from the Obama administration to build the 150 mph train, which could be a lifeline for a region devastated by the housing crash or a crap shoot for taxpayers weary of Washington spending.