In the Pipeline: 10/19/12

Coal: It’s what’s for dinner. AEA (10/19/12) reports: “The American Energy Alliance traveled to West Virginia with the “American Products. American Power.” bus tour and met with the hardworking coal miners that keep the lights on for the rest of America. Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, describes in this video just how important coal is for our daily lives.”

More movie fun for a Friday morning . This time, petrochemicals are for dinner. 

Does anyone know what déjà vu means? Heritage (10/18/12) reports: “A solar company that got a multi-million-dollar grant from the Department of Energy earlier this year announced Wednesday that it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, making it the second taxpayer-backed green energy company to file for bankruptcy this week. “

Earlier in the week, Scott was warning about an energy tax.  Now, he offers a couple of arguments against it.  Next, he will send both the article and his editorial around to his customers.  This town can make one cynical. Atlanta Journal-Constitution (10/18/12) reports: “Third, carbon taxes aren’t fair; in fact, they are regressive. Those living at or near the poverty level, or on fixed incomes, tend to pay the largest share of their monthly incomes for energy. Therefore, an energy tax — which a carbon tax most certainly is — makes those in society least able to afford it pay the most. While some argue that a portion of the carbon tax could be rebated to offset this impact, don’t bet on it. Conservatives who allegedly support carbon taxes insist on revenue neutrality, meaning cutting corporate rates to offset the revenue raised by the carbon tax. That means no money for rebates. Or for deficit reduction, for that matter.”

AEI keeps talking about that carbon tax like it is going to be part of some great big regulatory deal.  They are wrong. E&ENews (10/18/12) reports: “He does, however, also have some baggage that could prove problematic in the confirmation process, particularly in satisfying the GOP’s conservative tea party wing… For example, Connaughton has defended his work to address climate change while at CEQ, which included efforts to facilitate the transfer of low-carbon technology between countries… Green noted that Connaughton and his team were criticized by some conservatives for “being willing to go along with heavier-handed regulation than they had to.”

What can you say?  The Republic is probably finished. Washington Times (10/17/12) reports: “Just outside San Antonio, at the intersection of Look 1604 and Highway 151, the discovery of a single, dime-sized, translucent, subterranean spider has brought a $15 million traffic reduction project to a dead stop. Unfortunately for area motorists, the Bracken Cave meshweaver is one of more than 1,400 species regulated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).”

Heads of think tanks* who are publically opposed to a carbon tax: 

Tom Pyle, American Energy Alliance / Institute for Energy Research
Myron Ebell, Freedom Action
Phil Kerpen, American Committment
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

*For now, we’re keeping it simple and focusing on heads of think tanks with this list. If you’d like to join the list or you think you might know someone who would, please contact [email protected].