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FOIA Number: 2017-1094-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
WH Task Force on Climate Change
Series/Staff Member:
Roger Ballentine; Paul Bledsoe; Julie Anderson
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
41301
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Bioenergy Rollout
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100
3
10
2
White House Climate Change Task Force
734 Jackson Place, N.W. Washington, DC 20503
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION SHEET
To
From
Jennifer Loan
PAUL BLEASOE
Office
AD
Date
1/13/00
Fax
Fax
Number
776-9573
Number
395-2342
Office
Office
Number
395-2310
Number
Comments:
Pages:
,
including this cover sheet.
IF TRANSMITTAL IS INCOMPLETE, PLEASE PHONE
White House Climate Change Task Force
734 Jackson Place, N.W. Washington, DC 20503
FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION SHEET
To
From
Pr.
Office
Date
Fax
Fax
395-2342
Number
Number
Office
Office
395-2310
Number
Number
Comments:
Pages:
,
including this cover sheet.
IF TRANSMITTAL IS INCOMPLETE, PLEASE PHONE
President Clinton's FY 2000 Climate Change Budget
"Our most fateful new challenge is the threat of global warming Tonight I propose a new clean air fund to help
communities reduce greenhouse and other pollution, and tax incentives and investments to spur clean energy
technology."
President Bill Clinton, State of the Union address, January 19, 1999
Meeting the challenge of global warming. In his FY 2000 budget, the President is proposing a 34 percent
increase for R&D in energy efficient technology and renewable energy; a new Clean Air Partnership Fund
to boost state and local efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution; a five-year package of tax
incentives to spur clean energy technologies; substantial new funding to focus on the ways farms and forests
can reduce and offset greenhouse gas emissions; and $1.8 billion for global change research -- a total
package for FY 2000 of over $4 billion.
Clean Air Partnership Fund. The President proposes $200 million for a new fund to provide grants to
state and local governments for projects that reduce both greenhouse gases and pollutants like soot, smog,
and air toxics.
Climate Change Technology Initiative (CCTI). The CCTI is a package of targeted tax incentives and
investments aimed at increasing energy efficiency and spurring the broader use of renewable energy. The
package will save consumers money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. FY 1999
appropriations represented a 25 percent increase over the prior year. The President's new budget proposes a
still more accelerated effort.
$3.6 billion in tax incentives over five years. The proposed package contains $3.6 billion over
five years in tax cuts ($383 million for FY 2000) for consumers who purchase energy efficient
products and for producers of energy from renewable sources. Highlights include:
Tax credits for energy efficient homes. Consumers can receive a $1000-2000 credit toward
the purchase of a new energy efficient home; a 10-20 percent tax credit for the purchase of
selected energy efficient products for their homes and buildings; and a $1000-2000 credit for
installing a rooftop solar system.
Tax credits for fuel-efficient cars. The package includes tax credits ranging from
$1000-4000 for the purchase of a qualifying electric, fuel cell or hybrid vehicle.
Tax credits for renewable energy. The package extends the 1.5 cent per kilowatt hour tax
credit for the production of electricity from wind and biomass; expands the biomass credit to
cover additional sources of biomass; and adds a 1.0 cent per kilowatt hour tax credit for
cofiring coal and biomass in power plants.
$1.4 billion for Energy Efficiency & Renewables. The proposed package contains nearly $1.4
billion in FY 2000 to research, develop, and deploy clean technologies for the four major
carbon-emitting sectors of the economy -- buildings, transportation, industry, and electricity
a 34 percent increase over the amount appropriated in FY 1999. Highlights include:
Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. PNGV is a government-industry effort to
develop comfortable, affordable cars that meet all applicable safety and environmental
standards and get up to three times the fuel efficiency of today's cars. The combined
proposal for PNGV in the FY 2000 budget is $264 million, an increase from the $240
million appropriated in FY 1999.
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing. PATH is a government-industry
partnership to improve the energy efficiency of new homes by more than 50 percent and to
retrofit 15 million existing homes to make them 30 percent more energy efficient within a
decade. The FY 2000 budget request for building efficiency efforts, such as PATH, Energy
Star, and Building America, totals $273 million, a 59 percent increase over FY 1999
appropriations.
Renewable energy. The President proposes $399 million for the Department of Energy's
(DOE) solar and renewable energy programs, a 19 percent increase over the amount
appropriated in FY 1999. The package includes expanded efforts in key renewable
technologies, such as wind, bioenergy, photovoltaics, and geothermal energy.
Forests and Farms. The FY 2000 proposal includes $105 million for the Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) climate change budget, an increase of $50 million over the amount appropriated in FY 1999 and
$40 million over the Administration's FY 1999 request. The new proposal includes funding for a new,
multi-agency Carbon Cycle Initiative to better understand how carbon is absorbed by agricultural soils and
forests; a soil carbon inventory; pilot projects to demonstrate how improved farming practices can help
store carbon; and programs to reduce emissions through means such as the conversion of waste to energy.
In addition, DOE, in conjunction with USDA, will expand efforts aimed at broadening the use of biomass to
produce power, fuels, and chemicals.
Cleaner Coal. The budget request contains $122 million for R&D to develop next-generation technologies
for coal combustion with much higher energy efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Weatherization & State Energy Grants. The budget request includes $191 million -- a $25 million
increase over FY 1999 appropriations -- to deliver energy conservation services to low-income Americans
and to assist state energy offices in addressing their energy priorities.
U.S. Global Change Research Program. The FY 2000 request includes $1.8 billion for scientific research
to improve our understanding of human and natural forces that influence the Earth's climate system and to
assess the likely consequences of global warming.
2
Bioenergy/Bioproducts Initiative
FY 2001 Budget
January 13, 2000
President Clinton's FY 2001 Budget includes a new initiative to accelerate the development and
use of bio-based technologies, which convert crops, trees, and other "biomass" into a vast array
of fuels and products. This initiative supports the President's August 1999 Executive Order
13134 and Memorandum on Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy, aimed at tripling U.S.
use of biobased products and bioenergy by 2010. The initiative provides an increase of more
than $240 million over the amounts available for FY 2000, with $49 million directed towards the
Department of Energy (DOE) and $193 million for stepped-up efforts at the Department of
Agriculture (USDA). This initiative will increase the viability of alternative energy sources, help
meet environmental challenges like global warming, support farm incomes, and diversify and
strengthen the rural economy.
The DOE goal for this initiative is making biomass a viable competitor to fossil fuels as an
energy source and chemical feedstock. Its efforts will be concentrated on developing
"biorefineries" integrated systems for processing feedstocks simultaneously into a variety of
products such as fuels, chemicals, and electricity. This will require increased collaboration
among DOE, USDA, NSF, and other agencies, and will support research partnerships linking
industry, university, and government research facilities selected on a competitive basis. The
work will build on fermentation, gasification, and other biomass-related activities currently
funded by the Energy Department.
Key areas of increased DOE activity will include:
y
Development of inexpensive cellulase systems to break down cellulose into low-cost
sugars for the production of bio-based chemicals and bioenergy. This will allow woody
and grassy crops and agricultural waste such as corn stalks to take the place of high-value
grain and food crops as biofuel feedstocks.
y
Renewable Bioproducts, using multi-disciplinary and university/industry partnerships to
develop and accelerate adoption of possible "leap-frog" technologies for converting
crops, trees and residues into chemical feedstocks and consumer products.
y
Biopower, promoting both the integration of biomass gasification systems with modern
gas-turbine/steam-turbine generation systems, and the co-firing of biomass with coal at
levels ranging from 5-15% biomass by heat value.
USDA's goals for the initiative are increasing the economic viability for farmers and foresters to
grow biomass products, developing new uses for biobased materials, and providing incentives to
use bioenergy. Key areas of increased USDA activity will include:
y
Expanded Forest Service research on faster-growing trees and the use of small-diameter trees
for commercial, biobased products.
y The Natural Resources Conservation Service funding methane gas recovery pilots to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations, providing a clean energy source to the
producer, and providing assistance to farmers that want to produce or market biobased
products.
y Expanded Agricultural Research Service research (in association with DOE) to develop
biobased materials from commodities and bioproducts, and convert biomass to energy.
y The Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service providing additional
competitive resources for research partnerships involving universities. This will complement
the new Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems announced by the Secretary of
Agriculture on January 10th.
y
Rural Development grants to rural electric cooperatives to develop pilot projects to
demonstrate the commercial viability of small-scale biomass fuel generation, grants for
technical assistance to cooperatives for processing and marketing biobased products, and
loans for facilities and operating capital for organizations engaged in biobased production
activities.
y
The Commodity Credit Corporation providing up to $100 million in FY 2000 and up to
$150 million in FY 2001 and 2002 in incentive payments to bioenergy producers to expand
production of biobased fuels. Payments would be made on a portion of the increase in
agricultural commodities purchased for expanded bioenergy production, with smaller and
cooperatively-owned facilities receiving higher payment rates.
The Washington Post
Citc: 852,262
JAN 13 2000
Global Warming Is
'Real,' Report Finds
warming in the 20-year satellite re-
By JOBY WARRICK
A4
The 11-member panel, which was
cord has provided potent ammuni-
Washington Post Staff Unter
organized by the National Academy
tion to global-warming skeptics, who
of Sciences's National Research
view the land-based temperature
A worldwide rise in temperatures
Council (NRC), included the two sci-
measurements as unreliable.
at the Earth's surface is "undoubtedly
entists responsible for tracking satel-
In recent months, small comput-
real" and appears to have accelerated
lite temperature measurements. Roy
ing errors were detected in satéllite
in recent decades, an independent
Spencer, of NASA's Marshall Space
readings that, when corrected;
scientific panel concluded in a major
Flight Center, and John R. Christy, of
showed a slight warming trend in the
new report yesterday.
the University of Alabama in Hunts-
upper atmosphere. Still, a "substan-
The panel estimated the increase
ville, had been among a vocal minor-
tial disparity remains." the réport
in temperatures over the past centu-
ity of atmospheric scientists who ar-
said.
ry at between 0.7 and 1.4 degrees
gued that the Earth's warming-if it
Although the difference cannot be
Fahrenheit-a 30 percent increase
were occurring at all-was likely
fully explained, the NRC panel found
from earlier projections that reflects
very mild. While concurring with the
a variety of factors that could have
record-shattering high temperatures
panel's conclusions, Christy said that
slowed the rate of warming high
in the late 1990s.
predicting future climate trends re-
above Earth. Possible explanations
Partly deflating a key argument
mains fraught with peril.
include atmospheric cooling from
used by skeptics of global warming.
"It is still not clear whether this is a
volcanic eruptions in the 1990s
the report also dismissed as insignif-
representative sample that will tell us
the depletion of Earth's ozone layer.'
icant a glaring contradiction between
how the greenhouse effect will be
Also, the 20-year satellite record is
two sets of measurements that have
played out in the future," he said.
too short to be reliable in analyzing
tracked temperature change over re-
The report did not attempt to ex-
long-term trends, the report said.
cent decades. Although land-based
plain the reasons for the warming.
The NRC's study was immediately
weather stations have shown a rise in
Many scientists believe the century's
hailed by environmental groups that
temperatures, satellites that record
warming is at least partly the result of
have called for the reduction of
temperatures in the upper atmos-
man-made pollution-higher levels
greenhouse gases to slow the warm-
phere have shown little change in 20
of carbon dioxide and other "green-
ing trend.
years.
house" gases that trap the sun's heat
"It totally deflates the argument of
"The difference between the sur-
like an insulating blanket. Further
the so-called skeptics that had used
face and upper-air trends in no way
warming could disrupt agriculture
the apparent difference between
invalidates the conclusion that the
and cause sea levels to rise, swamp-
ground-based and satellite data to ar-
Earth's temperature is rising," said
ing coastal cities, scientists say.
gue that we really didn't know whieth-
John M. Wallace. a professor of at-
The NRC panel's chief task was to
er the world is warming or not," said
mospheric sciences at the University
attempt to reconcile the differences
Michael Oppenheimer, an atmos-
of Washington and chairman of the
between the observed temperature
pheric scientist with the Environ-
panel.
changes on land and in the tropo-
mental Defense Fund.
However, Wallace said, the dis-
sphere, the layer of the atmosphere
But Arthur Robinson, the presi-
parity between the two sets of meas-
that extends six to nine miles above
dent of and a professor of chemistry
urements points up weaknesses in
Earth. For years, the lack of notable
at the Oregon Institute of Science
scientists' ability to predict future
and Medicine, called the report a
warming. Most climate-forecasting
litical document" and evidence that
models have predicted correspond-
the "National Academy Board has
ing increases in temperature on land
pretty much been taken over by envi-
and in the air.
ros." He contended that any global
"There really is a difference be-
warming is part of a natural trend.
tween temperatures at the two levels
"One must not lose track of the
that we don't fully understand," Wal-
fact that the Earth's temperature has
lace said in a telephone news confer-
been warming now for 300 years, not
ence on the eve of the report's official
just 50 years. And there was no coal
release today at the annual meeting
or gas 300 years ago," he said.
of the American Meteorological Soci-
ety in Long Beach, Calif.
Staff writer Rick Weiss
contributed to this report.
26
Los Angeles Times
2000
Circ: 1,104,651
Global Warming Real, Says National
Panel of Climate Experts
Environment: Experts find that surface temperatures
on Earth have risen in the last 20 years at a rate greater
tions, which affected the atmos-
phere, and the two biggest El
than the average for the last 100.
Niño events on record. That may
make the trends different from
Most climate models of global
warming-caused by the buildup
what we might otherwise see."
By ROBERT LEE HOTZ
TIMES SCIENCE RITER
A4
of greenhouse gases like carbon
A combination of human activ-
dioxide-generally predict that
ities and natural causes has con-
Despite major conflicts in tem-
temperatures should increase in
tributed to rising surface tempera-
perature records, a National Re-
the upper air as well as at the sur-
tures. while other human and
search Council panel concluded
face. Critics of the global warming
natural forces actually may have
Wednesday that the warming of
theory often have cited the satel-
cooled the upper atmosphere.
the Earth's surface is "undoubt-
lite and balloon data as evidence
Natural events such as the erup-
edly real." and that surface tem-
that the threat of climate change
tion of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991
peratures in the last two decades
has not been proven.
tended to decrease atmospheric
have risen at a rate substantially
However. after examining all
temperature for several years.
greater than average for the last
available ground and atmospheric
And burning coal and oil for en-
100 years.
temperature records. the panel
ergy produces tiny aerosol parti-
concluded that the difference in
cles in the atmosphere that can
The 11 climate experts on the
panel spent nine months investi-
surface and atmospheric tempera-
have a cooling effect.
gating the troubling differences in
tures may be real. but it does not
Upper-air temperatures also
global warming as measured at
undercut the case for global
can be reduced by depletion of
warming.
ozone in the stratosphere caused
Earth's surface and in the upper
by chlorofluorocarbons and other
atmosphere. The discrepancies
"In the opinion of the panel. the
chemicals being emitted into the
had caused some scientists to
warming trend
during the
atmosphere.
question whether a long-term
past 20 years is undoubtedly real
When these variables are ac-
warming trend was just an artifact
and is substantially greater than
of poor record-keeping and faulty
the average rate of warming dur-
counted for in atmospheric mod-
els, satellite and balloon data
satellite measurements.
ing the 20th century," the group
Because global warming is a
concluded. "The disparity be-
more closely align with surface-
long-term process that can be
tween surface and upper air
temperature observations. Wal-
masked by year-to-year changes
trends in no way invalidates the
lace said.
in climate, warming trends are
conclusion that the surface tem-
Some environmentalists said
most clearly revealed by surface
perature has been rising."
the report effectively countered
temperature measurements,
Panel Chairman John M. Wal-
those who have argued that there
which have been recorded daily at
lace, director of the University of
is no global warming trend.
hundreds of locations for more
Washington's environment pro-
"It totally deflates the argu-
than a century.
gram, emphasized that the group
ment of the so-called skeptics
These data indicate that the
was not asked to address the
[who] had used the apparent dif-
Earth is, in fact. warming. the
cause of the rising temperatures
ference between ground-based
panel said. By the best ground
or whether human influences,
and satellite data to argue that we
measurements, Earth's surface
such as the burning of fossil fuels
really didn't know whether the
temperature has risen about 0.7 to
or greater urbanization, might be
world is warming or not," said Mi-
1.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the last
involved.
chael Oppenheimer, an atmos-
century. But data collected by sat-
pheric scientist with the Environ-
"It is a reaffirmation of the fact
ellites and balloon-borne instru-
mental Defense Fund.
ments since 1979 indicate little if
that the surface temperature is
But Arthur Robinson, president
any warming of the atmospheric
rising and has risen substantially
and professor of chemistry at the
layer extending up to about 5
in the past 20 years. We are not
Oregon Institute of Science and
miles from the Earth's surface.
saying that rise is due to green-
Medicine, called the report a "po-
house gases nor are we saying it is
litical document" and evidence
going to continue," Wallace said.
that the "National Academy
In addition, the panel warned
Board has pretty much been
that temperature records for any
taken over by enviros."
single 20-year period may not be
He contended that any global
representative of a long-term cli-
warming was part of a natural
mate trend.
trend.
27
"Twenty years is a short time,"
Wallace said. "This particular 20
years had two big volcanic erup-
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
JAN 13 2000
Circ: 1,852,863
Scientists Near
However. a panel of 10 scientists from
Earth's atmosphere has heated up from all
the U.S. and one from the United Kingdom
the industrial activities of the 20th century.
concluded in the report that global warm-
such as manufacturing and traffic conges-
Accord on Rate
ing in fact is occurring, with the Earth's
surface temperature having increased
tion. Others believe that since meteorologi-
from 0.7 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the
cal records go back only about 150 years, the
Earth Warms
past 100 years. Much of that increase-0.50
warming could be part of a cyclical trend.
of a degree-has taken place since 1979. ac-
The scientists said more detailed moni-
cording to the researchers.
toring is needed to help determine the ex-
A4
"This is a fairly rapid rate of rise, but it
tent of man-made activities on the atmos-
is still a very small rise," said John Wal-
By JIM CARLTON
phere. They suggested. among other
lace, chairman of the panel that wrote the
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
things, that more data be compiled into
report and professor of atmospheric sci-
A National Research Council report
electronic databases for the entire scien-
ences at the University of Washington. The
shows something close to a consensus for
National Research Council, a private think
tific community to evaluate.
the first time among academics on exactly
tank of the National Academy of Sciences
how much the Earth is warming: a half de-
and National Academy of Engineering.
gree in the past 20 years, or the fastest rate
was commissioned by the federal govern-
of increase in the past century.
ment to undertake the global-warming
Scientists have been divided on rates of
study about a year ago.
increase, with some arguing for greater in-
Still unexplained is the cause, whether
creases and others suggesting there has
man-made or from natural. recurring
been little or no warming.
events. Many environmentalists believe the
The New York Times
Circ: 1,187,950
Earth Report Shows A21
Accelerated Warming
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (AP)
Despite conflicts in temperature
data, there is strong evidence of an
accelerated warming of the Earth's
surface during the past 20 years, a
panel of the National Academy of
Sciences concluded today.
Still the panel hedged on whether
the warming will continue or wheth-
er it is tied to the "greenhouse ef-
fect" caused by manmade pollution
of the atmosphere.
The panel said global tempera-
tures increased 0.45 to 0.72 degrees
over the last 20 years. By compari-
son, temperatures increased 0.72 to
1.44 degrees over the last 100 years,
the panel reported.
The panel, of the academy's Na-
tional Research Council, discounted
the significance of conflicting tem-
perature data from ground monitors
and those on weather balloons and
satellites.
According to surface monitors, the
temperature of the earth over the
last 100 years has increased 0.7 to 1.4
degrees.
28
USA
JAN 13 2000
TODAY
Circ: 1,557,171
Rate of global warming increases 3A
Strong evidence indicates that the warming of the Earth's
surface is "undoubtedly real" even though there is no corre-
sponding increase in atmospheric temperatures, a report re-
leased Wednesday says.
Surface temperatures over 20 years have risen at a rate
substantially greater than the average for the past 100 years.
says a report by the National Research Council of the Na-
tional Academies. The report examines the apparent con-
flict between temperatures on the surface and in the upper
air, which skeptics say casts doubt on the ability to predict
global warming.
Earth's surface temperature has risen about 0.7 to 1.4 de-
grees Fahrenheit in the last century, the report says. But da-
ta collected by satellites and balloon-borne instruments
since 1979 indicate little if any warming of the low- to mid-
troposphere - the atmospheric layer extending up to about
5 miles from the Earth's surface.
The study, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmo-
spheric Administration and the Aluminum Corp. of Ameri-
ca, said the difference does not disprove global warming.
The National Research Council is a private, non-profit in-
stitution that provides science advice under a congressional
charter.
- Steve Marshall
GLOBAL WARMING: Increasing global 90 temperatures
are "undoubtedly real," despite differences in satellite and
ground climate measures, say federally chartered research-
ers. The National Research Council committee report, re-
leased Wednesday, sought to examine conflicts between sur-
face numbers, which show increased global warming over
the last two decades, and high-altitude readings, which show
little change. "We're saying quite emphatically that these are
not equivalent mea-
sures," says committee
chair John Wallace of
the University of Wash-
ington in Seattle. The 20-
year record of temper-
ature measurements
does not necessarily in-
dicate that warming will
continue, he adds.
29
Los Angeles Times
JAN 13 2000
Circ: 1,104,651
a false statement, McNeely said.
Electricity Seller
Regulators agreed to the ban on
Bloom instead because they were
convinced that the current man-
to Refund $250,000
after California's electricity market
agers were reliable.
was opened to competition on
Bloom was replaced as Common-
March 31, 1998. The company
wealth's chief executive late last
in Billing Dispute
grabbed consumers' attention by
year as part of a broader restructur-
advertising aggressively and tout-
ing.
ing environmentally friendly en-
"We think the sanction that
Energy: Commonwealth also
ergy sources and discount prices.
we're recommending fits the
The company's billing problems
crime," McNeely said. "If they had
agrees to ban exec from state
occurred from July to December
told us the truth, there's a good
1998. After realizing it had under-
operations and to pay $100,000
probability that the license would
billed about 19,000 customers,
have been granted, at least on a
for consumer education fund.
Commonwealth sent them a second
provisional basis, and they did not
round of bills ranging from a few
use the license for fraud."
cents to $2,000.
Commonwealth executives said
By ROBIN FIELDS
"You can only do that if you get
TIMES STAFF WRITER
the stipulation will not have much
prior approval and if the customer
practical impact.
Electricity marketer Commonwealth
understands the terms and condi-
"It's pretty meaningless to our
Energy Corp. has tentatively agreed to pay
tions in advance," said William
current structure," Goth said.
about $250,000 in refunds and to remove its
Schulte, director of the PUC's con-
"Fred Bloom has moved into the
former chief executive from the company's
sumer services division.
national marketplace."
California operations to end a six-month
More than 150 customers com-
Bloom now serves as president of
state investigation into alleged billing ir-
plained, many contending that the
ElectricAmerica, an offshoot cre-
regularities.
additional bills wiped out the 15%
ated to market Commonwealth's
to 25% savings the company had
The Tustin company also will pay the
services in other states. He contin-
promised in persuading them to
California Public Utilities Commission
ues to hold a stake in Common-
switch from their former providers.
$100,000 to fund a consumer education pro-
wealth, Goth said.
Under the settlement's terms,
gram, agency officials said Wednesday.
Commonwealth has about 85,000
Commonwealth will issue refunds
customers in California, about 80%
"This has been a costly blunder for Com-
or credits to about 12,000 custom-
of them residential. Its client roster
monwealth," said Larry McNeely, deputy
ers who paid the makeup bills or
also includes the city of Santa
director of the PUC's consumer services di-
still have the charge on their re-
Monica, Orange-based St. Joseph
vision. "The settlement makes customers
cords, Schulte said.
Health System and Universal Stu-
whole and
sets a standard in this
The deal also requires Common-
dios. The company has added
fragile, brand-new market."
wealth's founder and former chief
about 5,000 customers in Pennsyl-
Commonwealth executives still dispute
executive, Fred Bloom, to have no
vania this year and plans to expand
the PUC's contention that the company im-
involvement in the company's Cali-
its service into New Jersey, Goth
properly billed customers but said they set-
fornia operations for at least two
said.
tled to avoid an expensive legal battle.
years.
The proposed settlement must
"We think it's in our best interest to
Bloom failed to disclose in Com-
be approved by the administrative
move on," said Jay Goth, Commonwealth's
monwealth's registration applica-
law judge overseeing the case.
vice president of marketing. "We've al-
tion that he had been ordered to
ready issued refunds to many customers
stop selling unregistered securities
and whoever hasn't received one will."
or commodities by five states, in-
Commonwealth is the largest of about
cluding California, since 1988, the
three dozen service providers that emerged
PUC's investigative report said.
Under state law, Commonwealth
could have lost its license for filing
30
_OS Angeles
Times
AID
1-12-00
Associated Press
Almond farmer Steve Cooper of Modesto opens water valve to irrigate his trees. The Central Valley has had a dry winter thus far.
CEQ NEWS
Dry Spell Raises Drought Fears in Central Valley
Weather: Conditions in nation's
"Right now, all the measurements show
December, and more sunshine and warmer
top farming region are 'critically
it's critically dry - well below normal," said
temperatures than usual.
Ed Tobias, Irrigation Manager for the Mo-
Weather patterns in the mountains have
dry,' but state's reservoirs are
desto district, which serves about 3,300 agri-
been equally arid, with snowpack readings
checking in over capacity.
cultural customers with roughly 63,000
across the Sierra Nevada far below average,
acres.
said Frank Gehrke, who is in charge of snow
Modesto began filling water*orders this
surveys for the state Department of Water
From Associated Press
week, the first time since 1991 and only the
Resources.
seventh time in its nearly 100-year history
MODESTO-The irrigation canals in this
Water districts are tempering their fears
that it has made such a move as early as
Central Valley city usually are empty this
about shortages with the hope that after four
January.
time of year, as rainfall nourishes the rich
or five straight years with plentiful rainfall,
soil. But they're full of water now, thanks to
Other irrigation districts in the Central
they will have banked enough water to carry
a long dry spell that has farmers far short of
Valley-which generates close to half of
them through even if the situation ap-
the water they need to keep their crops alive.
California's nearly $30 billion in farm re-
proaches drought proportions.
Bracing for what they fear could be Cali-
ceipts-report they are filling up their sys-
"The reservoir storage is about 110 per-
tems ahead of schedule.
fornia's first real drought in nearly a decade,
cent average," said Maurice Roos, chief hy-
the Modesto Irrigation District and others
Dry conditions in the first half of this win-
drologist for the Department of Water Re-
stretching along the nation's top farm belt
ter have left the ground parched and roots
sources. "We aren't going to declare a
are making emergency water deliveries and
thirsty across the valley floor, with only
drought when we have that kind of storage
stepping up conservation measures.
traces of rainfall reported in November and
on a statewide basis."
The wall Street
10
Journal
GM Stops Making
A14
Electric Car, Holds
S
1-12-00
Talks With Toyota
By GREGORY L. WHITE
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
DETROIT-General Motors Corp. has
ceased production of its slow-selling EV-1
electric vehicle and is in talks with Toyota
Motor Corp. about possible joint produc-
tion of a hybrid-powered vehicle, GM Vice
Chairman Harry Pearce said.
"We recognize the limitations of a pure
electric vehicle," he told reporters at the
Detroit Auto Show.
GM's decision to halt production of the
EV-1 comes a few months after Honda Mo-
tor Co. discontinued its electric car and
highlights the auto industry's turn away
frompure electric-vehicle technology. While
GM's Mr. Pearce left the door open to re-
sume EV-1 production if demand material-
izes, the reality is that GM and its rivals are
racing now to develop hybrid vehicles with
batteries and small internal-combustion en-
gines. Longer term, the industry's efforts to
develop an economical, clean alternative to
century-old internal-combustion technology
are focused on fuel cells, which create elec-
tricity rather than merely storing it.
GM started leasing the EV-1 to con-
sumers in 1996 with considerable fanfare.
GM executives said the car demonstrated
the auto maker's leadership in key areas of
alternative-fuel vehicle technology. But
customers were never as impressed and
have leased only about 600 of the EV-1 ve-
hicles. The two-seat cars have much
shorter useful ranges than traditional vehi-
cles and take hours to recharge. Mr.
Pearce said GM will continue to keep the
current fleet of EV-1s on the road.
He noted that the EV-1 has offered GM
useful experience in developing its elec-
tric-drive technology, which is needed for
other advanced power systems, including
hybrids and fuel cells.
Mr. Pearce/ declined to comment on
when GM and Toyota might release a hy-
brid vehicle, if they agreed to do so. Toyota
already sells its own hybrid, the Prius, but
Mr. Pearce said that car would need more
power to gain acceptance in the U.S. A
joint vehicle, he said, would include tech-
nology from both companies.
GM views hybrids as an interim solu-
tion in the search for new power sources.
The ultimate goal is the use of fuel cells,
which use hydrogen as a fuel to generate
electricity, releasing no noxious emis-
sions.
Mr. Pearce said GM believes that future
fuel cells will be powered by hydrogen
stored in a solid form as hydride. Systems
using gasoline or methanolas a fuel would
be too large to be practical, he said.
At the auto show, GM unveiled a con-
cept car powered by a fuel cell that Mr.
Pearce said would be operational by the
end of the year. He declined to specify
when GM plans to market a fuel-cell vehi-
cle.
Asked about traditional vehicles, Mr.
Pearce reiterated that heexpects GM to in-
crease its share of the key U.S. market this
year.
"Do we have the business initiatives in
place to address that? Absolutely.' he
said. "I see a pretty bright picture with re-
spect to growth of market share in the
U.S."
19990
StarNews.com $350 lion later, GM bails out on elec: re-car effort
http: business 2000 jan/0112st_gm.html
Merlin-Net
get the picture
St: rNews.com
$350 million later, GM bails out on
News
Sports
ele tric-car effort
More Services
By B. K enig
The / imapolis Star
DET OIT (Jan. 12, 2000) -- General Motors has pulled the
plug n its EV1 electric car and plans to develop cars
Looking for
pow ed by fuel cells and hybrid fuel-electric engines.
great NFL photos?
On 7 resday, GM unveiled two ultra fuel-efficient cars, both
calle the Precept.
One FOR a diesel engine coupled to an electric motor. It gets
the juivalent of 80 miles per gallon of gasoline.
The ther uses a fuel cell, which generates electricity from a
souy f chemicals.
GM id it wants such a vehicle on a test track by the end of
the yourn A car with a fuel cell has the potential to have
ener efficiency equivalent to more than 100 miles per
gasoline.
"Th. vehicles are the first step in a very long journey,"
said arry Pearce, GM's vice chairman. The vehicles also
in inglorious end to GM's electric-car program.
CM egan building the EV1 in 1996 and had developed
fits power systems at a GM facility in Castleton.
It : :11) eventually sell thousands of battery-powered
vehi. es as pollution-free transportation -- especially in
wan climate cities beset by smog.
It
: $350 million to develop the EV1, and promoted it
heav y, delivering some of the first vehicles to celebrities
Sylvester Stallone. It billed the EV1 as a household's
customers came forward. EV1 leases cost between
S40" md 5600 a month. The cars went only about 80 miles
befo needing recharged, and that process took several
1/12/2000 9:15 AM
StarNews.com
bails out on electric-car effort
http://www news business 2000/jan/0112st_gm.html
Tm. wasted on the doomed EV1 may now come back to
has GM. Honda Motor Co. will begin selling its
ine-clectric Insight here this year. Toyota Motor Corp.
will egin importing a similar vehicle, called the Prius, by
car.
makers are under increasing pressure from state and
fell
regulators, and from some customers, to develop
mor
environmentally friendly cars.
Julls are attractive because their only byproduct is
Bu: technical challenges include finding safe ways to
S:
hydrogen onboard. The Precept's fuel cell uses a
substance, instead.
The
M; resentation came a day after Ford Motor Co.
uce I a group of products under the Th!nk (pronounced
brand. The Th!nk Neighbor is an electric vehicle a
rigger than a golf cart that can reach 25 mph. Th!nk
En is a line of bikes that can go on pedal power or an
emotor.
50 used the auto show to unveil the Ford Prodigy, its
vbrid car. There are no plans for production, at least
-aid the environmental sentiments aren't happening
exem.
"initely a reaction to the Japanese," said Dennis Virag,
ive director of Automotive Consulting Group Inc. in
hor, Mich.
we of a vocal message than a practical message."
N
the' 2SS, Joseph Phillippi, auto analyst with
I' :ir Wehber in New York, said consumers are interested in
cars "once you get it to the point it's really a car and
Cordable.
essentially the same price (as conventional cars),
peor will buy it as long as it's not compromised in what
they want."
10 esociated Press contributed to this report.
1/12/2000 9:15 AM
CNN - Nissan stakes claim to cleanest gasoline car - January 12, (//www.cnn.com/200/NATURE-01/.environment.nisan.reut/index.htu)
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TOKYO (Reuters) -- Nissan Motor Co on Wednesday staked its claim
TECHNOLOGY.
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Nissan said the California Air Resources Board, which imposes many
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1/12/2000 1:06 PM
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under fire
convdn/view 0,1249,145018446,00.html?
Resources for Learning
PIONEER
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Libery
Utah Education Network
deseretnews.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2000
Incinerator under fire
Former worker blames Tooele plant for illnesses
Format story
for printing
By Lee Davidson
Deseret News Washington correspondent
E-mail
of th
WASHINGTON - Gary Harris says the Army and its contractors
threatened his job if he wouldn't sign off on false data purporting that
a chemical arms incinerator in Tooele is safe.
Now he says he suffers "cognitive and memory problems - big
time," which are symptoms of long-term, low-level exposure to deadly
nerve agents. His body also has had high concentrations of seven
toxic heavy metals found in materials burned at Tooele.
He said he believes his illnesses were caused by the plant and
that other Utahns may soon face similar problems because of Army
"lies." So he said he decided to become the latest whistle-blower
alleging major problems at the plant.
"The bottom line is that incineration is not safe," he told the
Deseret News on Tuesday. "There are better ways to destroy the arms
that would greatly diminish the danger to (plant) employees and the
public in surrounding communities."
Harris was also scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon at the
National Press Club in a press conference sponsored by groups
opposing more Army incinerators at other chemical arms storage
sites. He also scheduled a press conference in Utah on Wednesday.
Harris is making several other serious allegations, including:
nerve agent from the plant is finding its way into Utah's food chain
while officials knew about and ignored that risk; the Army has lost
track of large numbers of chemical arms in Utah; it is not adequately
monitoring for escaped nerve agents at Tooele; the Army has not
released data showing incineration does not work; and that
contractors set up systems that may lead to double-billing for work
while decreasing plant safety.
Meanwhile, Greg Mahall, spokesman for the Army's program
manager for chemical demilitarization, said the Army is aware of
I of 3
1/12/2000 9:14 AM
Indinerator under fire
http: www.desnews.comdniview 0.1249,14501$446,00.lxtml?
Harris' allegations.
"While this matter is under investigation, the Army cannot and
will not comment on the matter." But, he added, "The Army is
confident that these allegations will be proven to be untrue. In the
meantime, the citizens of Utah and all citizens of the United States
can rest assured that the Army will continue its mission to effectively
and safely eliminate this country's stockpile of obsolete chemical
weapons."
Harris said he worked at different jobs relating to chemical arms
destruction at Tooele for 12 years and became the manager
overseeing applications for environmental permits. He said he was
pushed out of a job three years ago after fighting with superiors
because he felt they were breaking environmental laws.
He said he found superiors had included false or misleading data
on reports. "I was often required to submit these under the threat of
losing my job. I was also directed to withhold information from the
state regulators, again under duress."
Harris said such information included that the plant cannot totally
destroy all chemical agent and that leftover wastes are contaminated
with it. He said some such wastes - one-ton containers - were
shipped to a Colorado metal recycler while the Army and Utah state
inspectors knew it was illegal.
Also, he said some waste barrels stored outside have leaked
mustard agent. They and other leaking containers could threaten local
groundwater, he said.
Also, he said Tooele has found several problems with its
monitoring process that could allow raw nerve agent to escape
smokestacks without detection. He provided lengthy, technical
descriptions of them. Also, he said same-time monitoring to allow
quick alarms for leaks is not occurring in many key areas.
Harris also said fine ash from the plant has covered cars in
parking lots at the facility, and that ash may contain small amounts of
nerve agent. "Any amount is too much under EPA standards," he said.
Harris said that similarly, tiny amounts of nerve agent could be
spread by the plant to nearby farms and ranches. He worries that
nerve agent consumed by humans on food grown there could get
them sick.
"And everyone out there has a garden and grows some of their
own food," he said. "And there's a lot of dairy cows (that may graze
on contaminated fields), and people who drink the milk locally."
He said he raised such concerns with the Army and state
inspectors when they prepared health risk assessments, but it was not
included in the final state studies. He said with that and other
omissions, "the plant passed, but only barely."
Harris also said that counts of munitions stored in Utah have been
"way off" - which raises the possibility of theft or loss. He said the
Army has handled that by saying some arms were destroyed that
were not actually processed.
of 3
1/12/2000 9:14 AM
Incinerator under fire
http://www.desnet/ com-dn-view 249.145018446,00 html?
(Of note, the Deseret News reported last September that the
Army inspector general investigated when the numbers of arms
delivered to the burn plant did not match the number it said were
destroyed. Inspectors concluded that the problems came simply
because of sloppy recordkeeping).
Harris said he decided to come forward as a whistle-blower
"because I realized that the physical problems I was having and the
environmental issues I had fought for were one and the same thing."
He said he also had several friends from the plant who recently have
been diagnosed with cancer, and worries about the safety of people in
Utah. (Harris now lives in Oregon).
He said alternative technologies, such a chemical neutralization,
could more safely handle the arms - and called for the Army to stop
incineration and switch to them.
Harris is the fourth whistle-blower to have alleged major problems
at the plant. Others have included former plant general manager Gary
Millar, former safety chief Steve Jones and supervisor Trina Allen.
World & Nation + Utah + Sports + Business + Opinion + Front page
1/12/2000 9:14 AM
Financial Times
6
1-12-00
ETHICAL INVESTMENT MULTI-FAITH COALITION USES FINANCIAL MUSCLE IN BID-TO PREVENT: COMPANIES HARMING THE ENVIRONMENT
Religious groups work to 'save creation
By Nancy Dunne In Washington
religious and environmental
Exxon Mobil is a member
withdraw from the GCC last
The Interfaith Center
is exaggerated," the resolu-
organisations in 17 states.
of the Global Climate Coali-
month. Still on the centre's
believes companies that take
tion said
Call it "conservation
The centre intends to press
tion, a group of companies
hit list are: Allegheny
moral and ethical stands will
Shareholder activists last
theology" or simply "butting
Exxon Mobil to reform
that has become a particular
Energy, Chevron, CSX, Duke
prosper most. Its members
year were defeated? when
in", but increasingly US reli-
corporate practices that
target for environmental
Energy, Eastman Chemical,
are long-term investors that
they sought to pass a similar
gious groups are flexing
"contribute to global
activists. The GCC says it
Mobil, Norfolk Southern,
need solid returns to run
environmental resolution for
their consciences and finan-
warming".
promotes voluntary reduc-
Texaco, Goodyear, Cinergy
parishes, synagogues and
Exxon Mobil, However, com-
cial muscle to push busi-
The centre, composed
tion of greenhouse gases but
and General Motors.
schools, pay pensions for
pany officials met the group
nesses to do the right thing
mainly of religious inves-
it wants "unfettered debate"
The 29-year old group of
employees and help the
to explain the company's
for the environment.
tors, has been urging Exxon
on the theory of climate
Protestant, Catholic and
poor.
efforts on energy conserva-
Using their pension funds
Mobil to invest heavily in
change.
Jewish institutional inves-
Most of its environmental
tion. 'We think they're mis-
as leverage, religious share-
"clean, efficient and reliable
Exxon Mobil said the
tors believes it can profit-
actions are similar. In one
guided," the company
holder activists are backing
energy sources". It also
Interfaith Center had misin-
ably merge social and envi-
shareholder resolution it
said
resolutions, funding public
wants the company to
terpreted its policies. "Our
ronmental values with
asked Texaco to report to
In statements filed with
campaigns and meeting cor-
acknowledge that human
position on global warming
investment decisions. It is
investors by next August on
Goodyear and Cinergy, the
porate representatives to
activity is causing global
is that we think we need a
part of a growing corporate
greenhouse gas emissions
centre applauded the compa-
demand protection for
warming and to "cease its
dialogue on how good the
social responsibility move-
from the company's
nies withdrawal from the
"God's green earth".
campaign of misinformation
science is. But we can never
ment" that includes labour
operations and products. It
GCC and asked for a com-
The Interfaith Center on
to confuse the public and
get to that discussion."
unions, public and private
asked for information on the
mitment on reducing green-
Corporate Responsibility, a
policymakers about the facts
It said Exxon Mobile was a
pension funds, mutual funds
company' financial expo-
house gas emissions.
group that says it holds
regarding this severe envi-
company that based its busi-
and foundations.
sure resulting from the costs
Sister Pat said the centre
more than $100bn\in pension
ronmental threat".
ness on technology and sci-
Social Investment Forum,
of reducing emissions and
had had successes in many
funds, is now demanding
"Exxon Mobil's position of
ence. "We will have the
an investors' association,
potential liability for dam-
areas. Last year it submitted
action on global warming
denial and misinformation
same rigour on global
last year said nearly one in
ages associated with climate
153 shareholder resolutions,
from 12 large US corpora-
on global warming puts all
warming as we do when we
every seven dollars under
change.
challenging corporations on
tions.
of creation at risk, and we
are running a 3D seismic off
investment management in
"We believe that our com-
everything from sweatshops
Last week, the group
simply cannot stand by and
West Africa."
the US - more than $2,000bn
pany is using shareholder
and "racist" advertising to
added Exxon Mobil to its list
let them do that," said
The Interfaith Center also
- was actively involved in
money for advertising and
the safety of healthcare
of targeted companies, join-
Sister Pat Daly of the
made Ford a target until the
the corporate social respon-
lobbying to suggest that the
products and withdrawal
ing a coalition of 42 other
centre.
vehicle maker agreed to
sibility movementA
problem of global warming
from Burma.
Financial Times
12
1-12-00
WTO must bend or break: supporters of
trade status quo, you have been warned
From Ms Lori Wallach.
encroachment of a secretive,
based on where something is
Sir, Either Martin Wolf does
unaccountable institution into
made).
not understand the crux of the
domestic social decisions. While
Thus, when Mr Wolf derisively
World Trade Organisation debate
the Gatt focused on such
quotes me as noting that Seattle
or, alternatively, he seeks to
principles as non-discrimination
sent a warning against the
ensure that your readers do not. I
(treating domestic and foreign
"invasion of the WTO into
refer to his article "In defence
goods the same), which we
domestic policy decisions", he
of global capitalism" (December
support for creating a climate of
ought to take it as a welcome
8).
competition, the WTO has got
warning of how the WTO must
In Seattle, 200 mainstream
into making subjective decisions,
bend otherwise it will break
consumer groups from 50
such as how much food safety
altogether.
countries demanded no new WTO
protection is permissible even if
The issue is not how to counter
Round, but rather a turnaround
the law treats domestic and
the backlash against
- not because we were
foreign goods alike.
globalisation with better public
ill-informed or "front groups",
Obviously, these value
relations, because it is not an
but because we have studied the
decisions must be made by those
ill-informed howl for Mr Wolf to
WTO's unfortunate five-year
who can be held accountable to
dismiss but an informed call for
record on access to food and
those who must live with the
change. Corporate supporters of
medicines for poor consumers,
results so that they can be
the trade status quo should
food and product safety, the
adjusted to suit the public
ignore it at their peril.
environment, human rights and
interest. That is why we support
labour policies, and more
the "pruning back" of the WTO
Lori Wallach,
The transformation of the
so that it does not meddle in
Director,
General Agreement on Tariffs
these subjective areas, instead
Public Citizen's Global Trade
and Trade into the WTO (with its
leaving them for national and
Watch,
expansive 900 pages of rules in 18
local governments to decide (of
215 Pennsylvania Avenue SE,
underlying agreements) has
course, within the objective
Washington, DC 20003,
meant an unacceptable
principles of non-discrimination
US
USA TODAY 8A 1-13-00
Connecticut: East Hampton
- Initial tests failed to show what
has been killing the fish in Lake
Pocotopaug, the state Depart-
ment of Environmental Protec-
tion said. Since last week. thou-
sands of fish have died in the
510-acre lake and in area
New Mexico: Santa Fe - The
streams It feeds. The DEP said it
state has hired bounty hunters to
was continuing to provide fish
kill up to 34 mountain lions. largely
samples from the lake to the Uni-
in southern New Mexico. to protect
versity. of Connecticut
bighorn sheep. Bill Dunn. a biolo-
Hawaii: Honolulu - Cleanup
gist with the state Game and Fish
has started at the former bio-
Department. said the agency docu-
waste recycling center in Waima-
mented 50 deaths of bighorns that
nalo that had been operated by
had been radio-collared and that 37
Unisyn Meadow Gold Dairies
1 were identified as cougar kills.
took control of the facility in De-
cember, eight months after Uni-
South Dakota: Pierre - Gov.
syn stopped processing food and
Janklow asked the Legislature to
green waste because it no longer
create an Agricultural Policy Office
could afford to meet government
within the state Agriculture Depart-
regulations of the site.
ment. The office would study farm-
related topics and try to develop
Minnesota: St. Paul - The
policies reflecting the unifled posi-
U.S. Forest Service has issued
tions of three state agencies: Agri-
permits that allow St. Louis Coun-
culture, Environment and Game,
ty officials and a private land-
Fish and Parks, he said.
owner to use a temporary logging
road near the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area. The road will be
used to remove trees downed in a
July 4 storm. The county plans to
log 333 acres of damaged wood.
Bill Larson, a private landowner,
also plans to log on his 75 acres.
Montana: Noxon - The De
partment of Environmental Qual-
ity proposed to more than triple
the $2.8 million R reclamation
bond that Sterling Mining Co.
must post for the mine it recently
purchased in northwestern Mon-
tana. The state now wants $10
million. Former governor Tim
Babcock, president of Sterling
Mining Co., said his company
would work with the state agency
for a revised reclamation plan.
LENIS®-NEXIS table Page
http. web.lexis-nexis.com/In.unive:sc se...rch/submitViewTaged
LE KIS NEXIS
erse
Copyright 2000 The Idaho Statesman
The Idaho Statesman
January 9, 2000, Sunday
SECTION: Editorial ; Pg. 6b Chuck Malloy
LENGTH: 700 words
HEADLINE: For now, Clinton has edge on roadless areas
BYLINE: By Chuck Malloy
BODY:
President Clinton's plan to protect about 50 million acres of roadless areas in national forest lands has
Republicans shaking their heads.
As they see it, he is trying to speed through his roadless-protection initiative before he leaves the White
House creating a political legacy for himself, while bypassing Congress in the process.
Republicans, of course, aren't going to stand still for that. Almost all Republicans in Congress voted last
year eith to impeach the president or remove him from office. If they had their way, Al Gore would be
president today and Clinton would be somewhere in Arkansas, wallowing in self-pity.
There's 11.) way they allow Clinton to compare himself with Teddy Roosevelt - at least, not without a fight.
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, who is no friend of Clinton's on almost every issue, objects to the
administration's efforts to railroad a major policy initiative without going though Congress.
Although some public hearings have been held, Craig said, there has not been adequate public notification
and n plan has been presented.
"They
en have maps in place," Craig said.
In Craig's view, the president should have come forward with a bill for Congress to consider.
However if ( "inton went that route, he could forget about leaving behind an environmental legacy. In all
likelihood, Craig said, it would take longer than a year to resolve the roadless issue and the end product
would look anything like the original proposal.
That's away the process normally works - especially on controversial public-lands issues.
The strilles close to Craig, because more than 8 million acres in Idaho could be affected by the
roadless initiative. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has said the forest road development in designated areas "will
have a devastating impact on timber communities in Idaho" and destroy efforts to develop recreational
economi arious parts of the state.
1/12/2000 9:24 AM
Page
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/n.universd search tViewTagged
B:
Craig Gehrke, regional director of the Idaho Wilderness Society, the issue has no business
be alonds of Congress.
"If
thi
wilderness designation, then Congress should have a say," Gehrke said. "But this concerns
mara the national forest, which is an administrative matter."
Co: de:
agress' track record for acting on national forest and wilderness issues, Gehrke said, he
do. b.
linton for trying for a faster course. The wilderness issue is a case in point.
"Ther
been sitting on their butts for 20 years," Gehrke said.
Genrk
comestions whether the purpose of the roadless area provides Clinton with much of a legacy.
"It
ulous legacy," Gehrke said. "It is not setting aside land for a national park or building
son
national monument. But it reflects the sentiment of the nation. One way or another, people
wa
me of our open spaces."
Al.,J, Gelike ays, Clinton isn't the only one guilty of bypassing Congress. For years, Craig has made
at:
h riders to appropriations bills - without going through the congressional hearing process.
O1
riders called on Congress to exempt salvage logging from environmental laws - which has
retive organizing tool for the Wilderness Society and other environmental groups. They
hav
:
nd of rallying point since James Watt was interior secretary.
On
Clinton's roadless initiative provides a tremendous rallying point for Craig and other
We
Tican lawmakers who object to the federal government's undemocratic takeover. Most of the
lar
the roadless initiative is in the West.
linton holds an advantage. It appears his administration will impose a roadless-protection
po
what Craig or other members of Congress think.
Bu:
ould have the last laugh if Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins the presidency. Anything
Clinton
his forest roadless policy can be rapidly undone if Bush listens to Craig and other Western
Re:
Ch
is
!itorial page editor of The Idaho Statesman. He can be reached at cmalloy@
be
in or at 377-6432.
L( January 12, 2000
1/12/2000 9:24 AM
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Ex-worker alleges violations at
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chemical weapons incinerator
Classifieds
The Associated Press
About Us
01/12/00 5:16 AM Eastern
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Officials at the Army's chemical weapons incinerator
in Utah rigged tests and misled state regulators to conceal the plant's inability
to safely destroy nerve agents, charges the plant's former permit manager.
Gary Harris also said Tuesday that officials at Tooele Chemical Agent
Disposal Facility knew residue from sarin -- a nerve agent also known as GB
that kills by constricting the lungs and halting breathing -- remained on
weapons parts sent to Du-Wald Steel Corp., a Denver scrap metal business,
between 1996 and 1998.
"The incineration process itself should not be going on," Harris said. "It is
inherently dangerous. It does not destroy the (nerve) agent."
Harris said officials with the Army and the private contractor running the
incinerator threatened to fire him if he told state regulators or the public about
the safety problems, which he said could allow sarin to escape into the
environment.
Officials with the Army and EG&G Defense Systems Inc., the contractor that
runs the plant, say the incinerator is safe.
The Army is investigating and "is confident (Harris') allegations will be proven
untrue," said Greg Mahall, a spokesman for the Army's chemical weapons
destruction command in Aberdeen, Md.
"We take the allegations seriously, of course," Mahall said. "It doesn't do us
any good to let those go unchallenged."
The federal government is planning a similar incinerator for Anniston, Ala.
EG&G declined to comment on the allegations. A manager at Du-Wald did not
return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.
Harris, who resigned from EG&G at the end of 1996, is the fifth former
1 of 2
1/12/2000 1:09 PM
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official at the incinerator to allege environmental and safety problems. One of
them, Steve Jones, regained his post as the incinerator's chief safety officer last
year after federal courts ruled he had been illegally fired for criticizing safety
at the plant in 1994, when it still was under construction.
Harris first made his allegations in a sworn statement to the Chemical
Weapons Working Group, an organization asking Utah officials to overturn the
incinerator's state permit. The group also is suing in federal court to have the
incinerator shut down and opposes similar planned incinerators at military
bases in Alabama, Arkansas and Oregon.
The $600 million Tooele incinerator, about 50 miles west of Salt Lake City,
has been operating since 1996. It is the only chemical weapons incinerator in
the continental United States and was built to destroy nerve and blistering
agents stockpiled at the Army's Deseret Chemical Depot since World War II.
Please send any questions or
comments to [email protected].
Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast,
rewritten, or redistributed.
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TODAY'S
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"renewable" plastics
NEWS
PLANET
ARK
USA: January 12, 2000
AUSTRALIA
La Nina pattern set to
NEW YORK, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Banking on new
weaken by April - met
technology which uses kernels of corn to create
bureau
plastics used in packaging and film, Dow Chemical
Your daily
EU:
Co. and Cargill Inc. unveiled plans yesterday to fund
EU parliament
guido to
the first large-scale "renewable" plastics plant and
committee backs scrap
helping
stake their claim to a multi-billion dollar business.
car law
the planet
FRANCE
Jim Stoppert, president and chief executive of Cargill Dow
French wreck probe finds
Polymers, a two year old joint venture between the two
no bigleaksin rear hull
companies, said the plant in Blair, Nebraska would be
FRANCE
completed in late 2001 and stand as the centrepiece of a
French forest owners
BODY
$300 million investment in the business.
count costiof storm>seek
SHOP
aid
The plant will allow Dow Chemical the No. 2 U.S.
INDIA:
chemical company, and Cargill, the agribusiness giant, to
Indian author arrested in
begin the first widespread marketing of polymers derived
dam protest
entirely from renewable resources rather than petroleum
NEW ZEALAND
products.
NZ interests stake In
GMO/GMF.debater
At a presentation in New York, the companies said they
USA
have fine-tuned the technology to such a degree that for
Montreal GMO talks
the first time it can compete in terms of costs and
likely to be difficult
performance with more traditional materials.
USDA
USA
What's more, to meet what they expect to be rising
U.S. appeals
demand for renewable plastics Stoppert said a 140,000
environmentaliruling on
metric ton plant in Nebraska would be followed two years
trade panels
later by a facility in Europe.
USA
FOCUS Dow, Cargill to
Stoppert added that Cargill Dow Polymers would build
produce Grenewable
another plant every 18-24 months after that, with location
plastics
to be decided on by demand for the product.
USA
Clinton.protects.Grand
Dubbed NatureWorks, the technology allows the company
Canyon and California
to process natural plant sugars such as corn syrup, rather
lands
than traditional petroleum based materials, into polyactide
USA
polymer (PLA).
"Recycline" toothbrush
wrap;overt.classics
PLA can then be used for plastics and fibers in goods
ranging from carpets to clothes to food containers.
previous day
"This product is renewable in every sense of the word,"
said William Stavropoulos, president and chief executive
of Dow, adding that fibers in clothes or plastics used in
packaging can now be made from "carbohydrates rather
than hydrocarbons."
Down the road, the company said it could be using rice.
and wheat as well as corn in the process in what they said
could turn into a multibillion business.
Written agreements are already in place with customers,
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the company said. adding they have already seen enough
demand to cover the first year's production from the Blair
plant.
"What's exciting about this technology is the breadth of
applications and the fact it comes from annually
renewable resources," Dow's Stavropoulos said in a
statement. He added the technology "offers the
opportunity to truly develop sustainable products because
we are using raw material that can be regenerated year
after year."
Shares of Dow dropped 1-13/16 to 134-5/8 Tuesday on
the New York Stock Exchange.
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AUSTRALIA:
La Nina pattern set to
WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration said
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yesterday it appealed a federal judge's decision
bureau
ordering U.S. Trade Representative Charlene
Your daily
EU:
Barshefsky to name environmentalists to two panels
EU parliament
guido to
advising her on wood and paper products.
committee backs scrap
helping
car law
the planet
But the administration said it would launch new initiatives
FRANCE:
aimed at increasing input from environmental and
French wreck.probe.finds
consumer activists in U.S. trade policy.
no bigleaks in rear, bull
FRANCE
"Congress has carefully designed a structure for
French.forest owners
THE
BODY
channelling important negotiating advice to the
count:cost of stormseek
SHOP
administration from the manufacturing and services sector
aid
of our economy," Commerce Secretary William Daley said
INDIA:
in a statement. "The court's ruling, if permitted to stand,
Indian author.arrested.in
could undermine the framework that Congress
dam protest
established."
NEW ZEALAND:
NZ interests at stakeling
But he added: "At the same time, we need to take
GMO/GMF debate
additional steps to ensure that we receive timely and
HERE
comprehensive advice from other nongovernmental
USA
Montreal GMO talks
groups as well."
likely to be difficult
USDA
U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein ruled in
November that the U.S. Trade Representative's office
USA
U.S. appeals
violated a federal law governing advisory panels by
environmental:ruling on
limiting membership on these committees to industry
trade panels
officials.
USA:
FOCUS Dow Cargill to
Currently, representatives on the two advisory panels
produce renewable
include top officials from the biggest U.S. lumber and
plastics
paper product companies and their industry associations.
USA
Clintomprotects Grand
Congress and the Clinton administration have set up a
Canyon and California
wide variety of other advisory committees which solicit
lands
advice from environmental, labour and other
USA
nongovernmental organisations, Barshefsky said.
"Recy cline toothbrush,
wrap oven classics
Barshefsky said her office and the Commerce Department
were carrying out the court's order, but the Justice
Department had filed its appeal on January 7.
previous.day
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USA: January 12. 2000
AUSTRALIA:
La Nina pattern set to
WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration said
weaken by April - met
yesterday it appealed a federal judge's decision
bureau
ordering U.S. Trade Representative Charlene
EU:
Barshefsky to name environmentalists to two panels
EU parliament committee
advising her on wood and paper products.
backs scrap car law
FRANCE:
But the administration said it would launch new initiatives
French wreck probe finds
aimed at increasing input from environmental and
no big leaks in rear hull
consumer activists in U.S. trade policy.
FRANCE:
French forest owners
"Congress has carefully designed a structure for
count cost of storm, seek
channelling important negotiating advice to the
aid
administration from the manufacturing and services sector
INDIA:
of our economy," Commerce Secretary William Daley said
Indian author arrested in
in a statement. "The court's ruling, if permitted to stand,
dam protest
could undermine the framework that Congress
established."
NEW ZEALAND:
NZ interests at stake in
GMO/GMF debate
Buthe added: "At the same time, we need to take
additional steps to ensure that we receive timely and
USA:
Montreal GMO talks
comprehensive advice from other nongovernmental
likely to be difficult -
groups as well."
USDA
U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein ruled in
USA:
November that the U.S. Trade Representative's office
U.S. appeals
environmental ruling on
violated a federal law governing advisory panels by limiting
trade panels
membership on these committees to industry officials.
USA:
Currently, representatives on the two advisory panels
FOCUS - Dow, Cargill to
produce "renewable"
include top officials from the biggest U.S. lumber and
plastics
paper product companies and their industry associations.
USA:
Congress and the Clinton administration have set up a
Clinton protects Grand
Canyon and California
wide variety of other advisory committees which solicit
lands
advice from environmental, labour and other
nongovernmental organisations, Barshefsky said.
USA:
"Recycline" toothbrush
Barshefsky said her office and the Commerce Department
wrap, oven classics
were carrying out the court's order, but the Justice
Department had filed its appeal on January 7.
previous day
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
1/12/2000 9:15 AM
The
Washington
MICHAEL FUMENTO
Times
t was "a message to those who
I
seek to benefit from the risky
endeavor of genetically engi-
Biotech crop killers
A12
neering the food supply,"
according to the group calling itself
Nor do the plans stop even there.
After Reclaim the Seeds ripped
1-12-00
Seeds of Resistance. The "mes-
"Crops, research facilities and cor-
up a sugar beet field at the Univer-
sage?" They hacked down a half-
porate offices are all sources of this
sity of California at Davis, it pro-
acre plot of corn one dark August
technological threat and should be
claimed "these acts as self-defen-
night with machetes:
targeted," say the Weevils. "If cor-
sive measures on behalf of all
The crop's offense? The Univer-
porations, governments and uni-
beings." (Emphasis added). So now
sity of Maine-owned Rogers Farm
versities have any relationship to
they even speak for birds, bees and
was determining whether a new
biotechnology, they are targets."
bacteria.
strain of corn would be protected
Crime against property is seri-
But what's the real motive here?
from herbicides that would kill
ous. But the euphemisms
After crunching a corn crop, the
surrounding weeds. This would
and rationalizations
Reclaimers cried: "Modern agri-
reduce the need for herbicide
these self-styled "gar-
business and genetic mutilation is a
use, saving farmers money and
den guerrillas"
capitalist machine that must be dis-
reducing chemical runoff into
employ
are
mantled," and its vandalism "is a
water supplies. To have these
beyond ludi-
direct action that destroys corpo-
advantages, it had a specially cho-
crous. Tres-
rate power and authority."
sen gene from another plant insert-
passing on
Thus bioengineering of food and
ed into it.
public
trees has become representative of
For that, the corn had to die.
every evil any corporation has
So far this year, vandals have
perpetrated (or, shall we say,
struck 14 crop sites in the United
property to
everything corporations have
States, spanning the country from
rip up crops is
done that members of these groups
Maine to Minnesota to California.
"peaceful direct
don't like). Therefore attacking
And however one feels about
action." The field
biotech is just another way of
biotech crops or biotech in general,
isn't destroyed, it's
attacking capitalism and
the attacks tell us much about
"decontaminated." The
technology.
biotech opponents.
science of gene transfer
How many environmen-
The American vandals directly
is called "pollution."
talist groups have decried
acknowledge the inspiration from
Greenpeace's U.K. exec-
this vandalism? Only three I've
overseas, especially the U.K., where
utive director, Lord Peter
been able to find, and then just
wrecking crop plots that offend
Melchett, who was arrested
mildly. The vast majority have kept
one's sensibilities is commonplace.
for personally "decontaminating"
mum.
"Many thanks to our comrades in
crops, even claims it "is not law-
Still, there's a silver lining to
other countries for the inspiration
lessness." Really? Trespass and van-
this dark cloud hanging over
to join them," declared a "commu-
dalism are legal in Britain?
North American science and con-
nique from Reclaim the Seeds, one
In this instance yes, says Lord
sumers. To use the groups' own
of the more U.S. active crop-busting
Melchett, because "we act within
analogy, history shows that ter-
groups.
strong moral boundaries." Thus the
rorism is a desperation tactic of
In Europe, anywhere between
criminality of an act can be negat-
guerrillas who have abandoned
150-200 experimental biotech fields
ed by the actor's opinion. If you feel
hope of winning the "hearts and
and forests have been damaged or
morally justified in "peacefully
minds" of the people.
destroyed. On this side of the
decontaminating" your spouse via
The eco-terrorists know that
Atlantic, the crop-busters are just
"direct action" with a shotgun, your
just around the corner is the sec-
getting started but are making up
actions are "not lawlessness."
ond wave of biotech foods, in
for lost time in a spectacular fash-
Crop-busters also make claims of
which not just farmers and the
ion. "There was only one [attack]
heroic acts of sacrifice. "We are
environment will benefit but con-
that I know of in the U.S. in 1998,"
risking jail and injury, as well as
sumers as well. They know pres-
according to Jeffrey Tufenkian,
sacrificing time, energy and sleep,"
sure could build in the Third
spokesman for an anti-biotech
declaim the Reclaimers. Time,
World for crops to relieve terrible
American group that tracks crop
energy and sleep?
malnutrition problems that lead
wrecking, Genetix Alert of San
Such statements reveal the mind-
to crippling, blindness and early
Diego.
set of bullies who strike by night
death. When that happens (or in
And it isn't just fields and forests
and slip away, then convince them-
biotech-bashers' thinking, if it's
under attack.
selves and others they are bold war-
allowed to), they know that in the
On the last day of September, two
riors who aren't just above the law;
ensuing war of ideas and choice
groups wrecked various crops but
they make it.
they cannot win.
also disabled an irrigation system
The U.S. crop vandalization
and vandalized three greenhouses.
group Future Farmers has
Earlier in the month, the Bolt Wee-
declared, "The people have the
Michael Fumento is a senior fel-
vils whacked a Minnesota biotech
right and the responsibility to fight
low at the Hudson Institute who
corn crop and further damaged
back." "The people," of course, is as
specializes in science and health
company vehicles and sheds.
defined by these Future Fascists.
issues.
Bioenergy/Bioproducts Initiative
FY 2001 Budget
January 13, 2000
President Clinton's FY 2001 Budget includes a new initiative to accelerate the development and
use of bio-based technologies, which convert crops, trees, and other "biomass" into a vast array
of fuels and products. This initiative supports the President's August 1999 Executive Order
13134 and Memorandum on Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy, aimed at tripling U.S.
use of biobased products and bioenergy by 2010. The initiative provides an increase of more
than $240 million over the amounts available for FY 2000, with $49 million directed towards the
Department of Energy (DOE) and $194 million for stepped-up efforts at the Department of
Agriculture (USDA). This initiative will increase the viability of alternative energy sources, help
meet environmental challenges like global warming, support farm incomes, and diversify and
strengthen the rural economy.
The DOE goal for this initiative is making biomass a viable competitor to fossil fuels as an
energy source and chemical feedstock. Its efforts will be concentrated on developing "
biorefineries" -- integrated systems for processing feedstocks simultaneously into a variety of
products such as fuels, chemicals, and electricity. This will require increased collaboration
among DOE, USDA, NSF, and other agencies, and will support research partnerships linking
industry, university, and government research facilities selected on a competitive basis. The
work will build on fermentation, gasification, and other biomass-related activities currently
funded by the Energy Department.
Key areas of increased DOE activity will include:
Development of inexpensive cellulase systems to break down cellulose into low-cost
sugars for the production of bio-based chemicals and bioenergy. This will allow woody
and grassy crops and agricultural waste such as corn stalks to take the place of high-value
grain and food crops as biofuel feedstocks.
Renewable Bioproducts, using multi-disciplinary and university/industry partnerships to
develop and accelerate adoption of possible "leap-frog" technologies for converting
crops, trees and residues into chemical feedstocks and consumer products.
Biopower, promoting both the integration of biomass gasification systems with modern
gas-turbine/steam-turbine generation systems, and the co-firing of biomass with coal at
levels ranging from 5-15% biomass by heat value.
USDA's goals for the initiative are increasing the economic viability for farmers and foresters to
grow biomass products, developing new uses for biobased materials, and providing incentives to
use bioenergy. Key areas of increased USDA activity will include:
The Commodity Credit Corporation providing up to $100 million in FY 2000 and up to $150
million in FY 2001 and 2002 in incentive payments to ethanol and other bioenergy producers
to expand production of biobased fuels. Payments would be made on a portion of the
increase in agricultural commodities purchased for expanded bioenergy production, with
smaller and cooperatively-owned facilities receiving higher payment rates.
Expanded Forest Service research on faster-growing trees and the use of small-diameter trees
for commercial, biobased products.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service funding methane gas recovery pilots to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations, providing a clean energy source to the
producer, and providing assistance to farmers that want to produce or market biobased
products.
Expanded Agricultural Research Service research (in association with DOE) to develop
biobased materials from commodities and bioproducts, and convert biomass to energy.
The Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service providing additional
competitive resources for research partnerships involving universities. This will complement
the new Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems announced by the Secretary of
Agriculture on January 10th.
Rural Development grants to rural electric cooperatives to develop pilot projects to
demonstrate the commercial viability of small-scale biomass fuel generation, grants for
technical assistance to cooperatives for processing and marketing biobased products, and
loans for facilities and operating capital for organizations engaged in biobased production
activities.
B6
SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000
The Washington Post
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Warming to Reality
B
IT BY bit, industry is facing up to global
alter climate patterns. A serious effort to
warming. Last month Ford Motor Co.
reduce such emissions is therefore needed.
withdrew from the Global Climate Co-
Last year the administration promised to cut
alition, a lobbying group opposed to the Kyoto
the federal government's fossil fuel emissions
climate treaty. On Thursday DaimlerChrysler
by 30 percent by 2010, and to triple national
Corp. quit too; British Petroleum, Shell Oil
production of non-greenhouse "biomass" fuels
and Dow Chemical left a while back. But as
derived from farm products.
corporations move on, some politicians are
But there is a limit to what the administra-
lingering behind. On the campaign trail, Sen.
tion can do without the cooperation of Con-
Orrin Hatch routinely denounces the Kyoto
gress. For the past four years, Republican
accord, and Gov. George Bush has said that he
budget riders have prevented the administra-
opposes it. In Congress an ostrich caucus still
tion from raising fuel-efficiency levels for
insists that the scientific evidence for global
vehicles. Congress has killed tax credits for
warming is inconclusive.
fuel-efficient vehicles and air conditioners.
For most of the world, 1997, 1998 and 1999
The Senate has made it clear that it will not
were the three warmest years on record. That
ratify the Kyoto climate accord. It will not
is no mere blip: Since the mid 1970s, the world
even pass modest versions of the Kyoto idea,
seems to have been warming at a rate of 3.5
which would give industry an incentive to
degrees per century. Given that the world
reduce greenhouse emissions.
warmed by less than 10 degrees in the 20,000
The oil industry claims that compliance
previous years, the current rate is alarming.
with the Kyoto accord would cost the average
The unpleasant consequences may well in-
American family $1,500 to $3,000 a year. The
clude more extreme weather, a disruption to
Clinton administration declares that the extra
agriculture and rising sea levels that cause
cost of fuel-efficient machines is largely offset
coastal flooding.
by the savings from reduced fuel purchases,
This warming is at least partly the conse-
rendering compliance all but free. The truth
quence of human behavior: Cars, factories and
may lie somewhere in between. But reckless
coal fires produce carbon dioxide and other
inaction in the face of global warming is the
gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and
costliest of all options.
B6 SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000
The Washington Post
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Warming to Reality
B
IT BY bit, industry is facing up to global
alter climate patterns. A serious effort to
warming. Last month Ford Motor Co.
reduce such emissions is therefore needed.
withdrew from the Global Climate Co-
Last year the administration promised to cut
alition, a lobbying group opposed to the Kyoto
the federal government's fossil fuel emissions
climate treaty. On Thursday DaimlerChrysler
by 30 percent by 2010, and to triple national
Corp. quit too; British Petroleum, Shell Oil
production of non-greenhouse "biomass" fuels
and Dow Chemical left a while back. But as
derived from farm products.
corporations move on, some politicians are
But there is a limit to what the administra-
lingering behind. On the campaign trail, Sen.
tion can do without the cooperation of Con-
Orrin Hatch routinely denounces the Kyoto
gress. For the past four years, Republican
accord, and Gov. George Bush has said that he
budget riders have prevented the administra-
opposes it. In Congress an ostrich caucus still
tion from raising fuel-efficiency levels for
insists that the scientific evidence for global
vehicles. Congress has killed tax credits for
warming is inconclusive.
fuel-efficient vehicles and air conditioners.
For most of the world, 1997, 1998 and 1999
The Senate has made it clear that it will not
were the three warmest years on record. That
ratify the Kyoto climate accord. It will not
is no mere blip: Since the mid 1970s, the world
even pass modest versions of the Kyoto idea,
seems to have been warming at a rate of 3.5
which would give industry an incentive to
degrees per century. Given that the world
reduce greenhouse emissions.
warmed by less than 10 degrees in the 20,000
The oil industry claims that compliance
previous years, the current rate is alarming.
with the Kyoto accord would cost the average
The unpleasant consequences may well in-
American family $1,500 to $3,000 a year. The
clude more extreme weather, a disruption to
Clinton administration declares that the extra
agriculture and rising sea levels that cause
cost of fuel-efficient machines is largely offset
coastal flooding.
by the savings from reduced fuel purchases,
This warming is at least partly the conse-
rendering compliance all but free. The truth
quence of human behavior: Cars, factories and
may lie somewhere in between. But reckless
coal fires produce carbon dioxide and other
inaction in the face of global warming is the
gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and
costliest of all options.
B6 SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2000
The Washington Post
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Warming to Reality
B
IT BY bit, industry is facing up to global
alter climate patterns. A serious effort to
warming. Last month Ford Motor Co.
reduce such emissions is therefore needed.
withdrew from the Global Climate Co-
Last year the administration promised to cut
alition, a lobbying group opposed to the Kyoto
the federal government's fossil fuel emissions
climate treaty. On Thursday DaimlerChrysler
by 30 percent by 2010, and to triple national
Corp. quit too; British Petroleum, Shell Oil
production of non-greenhouse "biomass" fuels
and Dow Chemical left a while back. But as
derived from farm products.
corporations move on, some politicians are
But there is a limit to what the administra-
lingering behind. On the campaign trail, Sen.
tion can do without the cooperation of Con-
Orrin Hatch routinely denounces the Kyoto
gress. For the past four years, Republican
accord, and Gov. George Bush has said that he
budget riders have prevented the administra-
opposes it. In Congress an ostrich caucus still
tion from raising fuel-efficiency levels for
insists that the scientific evidence for global
vehicles. Congress has killed tax credits for
warming is inconclusive.
fuel-efficient vehicles and air conditioners.
For most of the world, 1997, 1998 and 1999
The Senate has made it clear that it will not
were the three warmest years on record. That
ratify the Kyoto climate accord. It will not
is no mere blip: Since the mid 1970s, the world
even pass modest versions of the Kyoto idea,
seems to have been warming at a rate of 3.5
which would give industry an incentive to
degrees per century. Given that the world
reduce greenhouse emissions.
warmed by less than 10 degrees in the 20,000
The oil industry claims that compliance
previous years, the current rate is alarming.
with the Kyoto accord would cost the average
The unpleasant consequences may well in-
American family $1,500 to $3,000 a year. The
clude more extreme weather, a disruption to
Clinton administration declares that the extra
agriculture and rising sea levels that cause
cost of fuel-efficient machines is largely offset
coastal flooding.
by the savings from reduced fuel purchases,
This warming is at least partly the conse-
rendering compliance all but free. The truth
quence of human behavior: Cars, factories and
may lie somewhere in between. But reckless
coal fires produce carbon dioxide and other
inaction in the face of global warming is the
gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and
costliest of all options.
President Clinton's FY 2000
Climate Change Budget
The President's climate change package for FY 2000 totals over $4.1 billion -- an increase of
more than $1 billion (34 percent) from the amount enacted for FY 1999. It is comprised of a new
Clean Air Partnership Fund to boost state and local efforts to reduce both greenhouse gases and
ground-level air pollutants; the Climate Change Technology Initiative, which mixes tax incentives
and direct spending to spur the research, development, and deployment of energy efficient
technology and renewable energy; other climate-related investments, such as R&D of highly
efficient technologies for the combustion and use of coal and natural gas, weatherization, and
state energy grants; and the United States Global Change Research Program, to enhance our
understanding of the human and natural forces that influence the Earth's climate system.
Table 1. Climate-Change-Related Domestic Programs ($ in Millions)
FY 1999 FY 2000
Enacted
Request
Change
Clean Air Partnership Fund
0
200
+200
Climate Change Technology Initiative--tax incentives
--
383*
+383
Climate Change Technology Initiative-spending
1,021
1,368
+347
Other Climate-Related Investments (cleaner coal &
387
400
+13
natural gas; weatherization; state energy grants)
Global Change Research Program
1,681
1,786
+105
TOTAL
3,090
4.137
+1.048
*First year of a proposed five year, $3.6 billion package.
Clean Air Partnership Fund
To help protect public health and ease the threat of global warming, President Clinton is
proposing $200 million for the creation of a new Clean Air Partnership Fund. The Fund will
provide grants to states, localities, and tribes to support state, local, tribal, and private efforts that
achieve reductions in both greenhouse gas emissions and ground-level air pollutants. The Fund
will be administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under existing authority.
Integrated Pollution Control. The Fund will stimulate integrated, cost-effective pollution
control strategies. It directs new resources to state, local, and tribal governments to
finance projects and programs that achieve accelerated reductions in both air pollutants,
such as soot, smog, and air toxics, and in greenhouse gases.
A Quicker Path to Cleaner Air. By providing new resources for projects that accelerate
pollution reductions, the Fund will enable communities to achieve multi-pollutant clean air
goals sooner and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.
Technological Innovation. The Fund will help spur both public and private sector
innovations in next-generation pollution control technology.
A Magnet for Local Investment & Innovation. The Fund will encourage public-private
partnerships to demonstrate ways to create a cleaner environment at the local level. The
Fund can be used to support local revolving funds, low-interest loan programs, matching
grants, and other mechanisms that will leverage the original Federal investment, greatly
increasing its impact.
"Win-Win" Clean Air Projects. The Fund will support a wide range of practical projects
that will mean cleaner air, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and real savings for
taxpayers and consumers. These could include projects such as building combined heat
and power facilities that put waste heat to work, reducing emissions of both sulfur dioxide
and carbon dioxide; retrofitting municipal buildings to make them more energy efficient,
reducing pollution resulting from electricity generation; and upgrading municipal vehicle
fleets to make them more fuel efficient.
2
Climate Change Technology Initiative:
$3.6 Billion in Tax Incentives
The President is proposing a new $3.6 billion package in tax incentives over five years to
help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by spurring the purchase of energy efficient products and
the use of renewable energy (see Table 2).
Table 2. CCTI Tax Incentives ($ in Billions)
Revenue Effect
Total
FY 2000
FY00-04
Homes and Buildings
Provide tax credit for energy efficient building equipment
-0.2
-1.5
Provide tax credit for new energy efficient homes
-0.1
-0.4
Provide tax credit for rooftop solar systems
__*
-0.1
Vehicles
Extend tax credit for electric or fuel cell vehicles and provide
tax credits for highly fuel efficient hybrid vehicles
0
-0.9
Renewable Energy
Extend tax credit for electricity produced from wind and
biomass; expand eligible biomass sources; and include coal-
biomass cofiring
__*
-0.3
Industry
Provide tax credit for combined heat and power systems
-0.1
-0.3
TOTAL**
-0.4
-3.6
*Less than $50 million.
**Total may not add due to rounding.
3
HOMES AND BUILDINGS
Tax credit to consumers who purchase new energy efficient homes. To encourage the
purchase of new energy efficient homes, consumers would receive a tax credit of $1,000
for homes purchased from 2000-2001 that are at least 30 percent more energy efficient
than the standard under the 1998 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); a
credit of $1,500 for homes purchased from 2000-2002 that are at least 40 percent more
efficient than the IECC standard; and a credit of $2,000 for homes purchased from
2000-2004 that are at least 50 percent more efficient than the IECC standard.
Tax credit for energy efficient equipment in new and existing homes or buildings.
This credit will encourage the purchase of electric heat pump and natural gas water
heaters, electric and natural gas heat pumps, advanced central air conditioners, and fuel
cells. The credit would apply to both residential and commercial equipment. For electric
heat pump water heaters, natural gas heat pumps, and fuel cells, the credit would be 20
percent of the cost of the investment, subject to a cap, for equipment purchased from
2000-2003. For all other equipment, the credit would be 10 percent of the cost of the
investment, subject to a cap, at one level of efficiency (2000-2001) and 20 percent, subject
to a cap, at a higher level of efficiency (2000-2003).
Tax credit for rooftop solar systems. A 15 percent tax credit will encourage the purchase
by consumers and businesses of rooftop solar systems. The maximum credit would be
$2,000 for rooftop photovoltaic systems placed in service from 2000-2006 and $1,000 for
solar water heating systems placed in service from 2000-2004.
VEHICLES
Tax credits for highly efficient cars and light trucks. Cars and light trucks (including
minivans, sport utilities, and pickups) currently account for 20 percent of greenhouse gas
emissions. Tax credits for electric, fuel cell, and hybrid vehicles will help to move these
highly efficient technologies from the laboratory to the highway. These technologies can
significantly reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas.
Extend the current tax credit for electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. Under
current law, a 10 percent credit, up to $4,000, is provided for the cost of qualified
electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. The credit begins to phase down in 2002
and phases out in 2005. The President's proposal would extend the tax credit at
its $4,000 maximum level through 2006.
4
Tax credits for hybrid vehicles. The credit -- available for all qualifying vehicles,
including cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks -- would be:
-- $1,000 for each vehicle that is one-third more fuel efficient than a
comparable vehicle in its class -- available from 2003-2004;
-- $2,000 for each vehicle that is two-thirds more fuel efficient than a
comparable vehicle in its class -- available from 2003-2006;
-- $3,000 for each vehicle that is twice as fuel efficient as a comparable
vehicle in its class -- available from 2004-2006; and,
-- $4,000 for each vehicle that is three times as fuel efficient as a
comparable vehicle in its class -- available from 2004-2006.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Tax credit for electricity produced from wind. Current law encourages the production of
electricity from wind, which emits no greenhouse gases, through a tax credit of 1.5 cents
per kilowatt hour (adjusted for inflation after 1992). The current tax credit covers
facilities placed in service before July 1, 1999. The President proposes a 5-year extension
of this tax credit.
Tax credits for electricity produced from biomass. Biomass refers to trees, crops and
agricultural wastes used to produce power, fuels or chemicals. This package of credits
would:
-- Extend current biomass credit. This proposal extends for five years the
current 1.5 cent per kilowatt hour tax credit (adjusted for inflation after 1992),
which covers facilities placed in service before July 1, 1999.
-- Expand definition of eligible biomass. This proposal expands the definition of
biomass eligible for the 1.5 cent tax credit to include certain forest-related
resources and agricultural and other sources.
-- Include cofiring biomass and coal. This proposal adds a 1.0 cent per kilowatt
hour tax credit for electricity produced by cofiring biomass in coal plants.
INDUSTRY
Tax credit for combined heat and power (CHP) systems. CHP systems make effective
use of thermal energy that is otherwise wasted in producing electricity by more
conventional methods. To encourage and accelerate investment in CHP equipment, this
proposal provides an 8 percent tax credit for investments in large CHP systems that have a
total energy efficiency exceeding 70 percent and in smaller systems that have a total
energy efficiency exceeding 60 percent. The credit would apply to property placed in
service from 2000-2002.
5
Climate Change Technology Initiative:
$1.4 Billion for Energy Efficiency & Renewables
The President's FY 2000 budget proposes nearly $1.4 billion for the research, development, and
deployment of renewable energy technologies and energy efficient products that will help reduce
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This represents a $347 million increase (34 percent) over FY
1999 spending (see Table 3). The President's proposed investment package covers the four
major carbon-emitting sectors of the economy -- buildings, transportation, industry, and electricity
-- as well as carbon sequestration (see Table 4). The following sections highlight selected
programs in each of these areas of effort. The full agency programs extend well beyond what is
described here.
Table 3. CCTI Funding by Agency ($ in Millions)
FY 1998
FY 1999
FY 2000
Change
Enacted
Enacted
Request
from 1999
Energy
729
902
1,124
+222
EPA
90
109
216
+107
Housing & Urban Development
0
10
10
0
Agriculture
0
0
16
+16
Commerce
0
0
2
+2
TOTAL*
819
1.021
1.368
+347
*Totals may not add due to rounding
Table 4. CCTI Funding by Area of Activity ($ in Millions)
FY 1998
FY 1999
FY 2000
Change
Enacted
Enacted
Request
from 1999
Buildings
140
172
273
+101
Transportation
245
291
377
+86
Industry
157
188
239
+51
Electricity
239
310
379
+69
Carbon Sequestration
0
14
39
+25
Management, Planning & Analysis
37
46
60
+14
TOTAL*
819
1.021
1.368
+347
* Totals may not add due to rounding.
6
BUILDINGS
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH). PATH is a partnership
between the Federal government and building industry to develop and deploy housing
technologies to make new homes 50 percent more energy efficient and to make at least
15 million existing homes 30 percent more energy efficient within a decade.
Energy Efficient Appliances and Products. Various DOE and EPA programs aim to
promote the dissemination of energy efficient appliances and products:
-- DOE will accelerate its program to establish energy efficiency standards for
lighting and appliances.
-- EPA and DOE's Energy Star Products program saves consumers money and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions at the same time by promoting the use of
energy efficient products -- everything from computers to refrigerators to central
air-conditioning units. New funding will support the launch of new Energy Star
product lines.
Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings. DOE and EPA work in partnership with
industry to research, develop, and deploy new technologies and practices to improve the
energy performance of commercial buildings. Buildings in the top 25 percent in energy
efficiency qualify for EPA's "Energy Star Buildings" label. Participants include the
Empire State Building, the World Trade Center, and Chicago's Sears Tower.
Energy Smart Schools. Announced in October 1998, this initiative cuts across several
DOE programs and brings together public and private sector resources to cut schools'
energy bills so that the savings can be reinvested in students and their education.
TRANSPORTATION
Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). PNGV is a government-
industry effort that aims to develop attractive, affordable cars that meet all applicable
safety and environmental standards and get up to three times the fuel efficiency of today's
cars. Since 1993, great strides have been made in producing lower-cost, light-weight
materials, inexpensive fuel cells, and advanced internal combustion engines for use in
hybrid vehicles. The program aims to produce a prototype mid-sized family car capable of
80 miles per gallon (mpg) with a two-thirds reduction in carbon emissions by 2004. The
FY 2000 budget includes $264 million for PNGV-related work, an increase of $24 million
over the amount appropriated for FY 1999.
7
Light and Heavy Trucks. Similar government-industry efforts are aimed at developing
cleaner, more efficient diesel engines for both light and heavy trucks.
-- By 2002, DOE aims to develop advanced diesel cycle engine technologies for
pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles which achieve at least a 35 percent
fuel efficiency improvement relative to current gasoline-fueled trucks while
meeting strict emission standards.
-- By 2004, DOE, in coordination with EPA and the Department of Defense, aims
to develop engine and vehicle technologies for heavy trucks that will increase
the fuel economy to 12 mpg from the current average of 5.3 mpg.
Biofuels. Working with the Department of Agriculture (USDA), DOE will continue its
work in the biochemistry of converting wood chips, grasses, agricultural wastes, and other
products into ethanol and other potentially useful fuels.
INDUSTRY
Industries of the Future. This DOE program works cooperatively with the nation's most
energy-intensive industries -- such as aluminum, glass, chemicals, forest products, mining,
petroleum refining, and steel -- on developing technologies that increase energy and
resource efficiency. Promising collaborative efforts include improvements in the process
of making steel, pulp and paper, and other energy-intensive products that could
dramatically increase efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve
competitiveness.
Industrial Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems. DOE is developing new
industrial CHP systems to capture thermal heat would otherwise be wasted. These
systems are expected to be 15 percent more energy efficient and 80 percent cleaner than
conventional power systems and cut electricity costs by 10 percent. In addition, EPA and
DOE are also working to eliminate barriers to the rapid dissemination of combined heat
and power technology.
Voluntary Industrial Partnerships. EPA will expand its industry partnership programs,
such as Climate Wise and the Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership, to
encourage businesses to take advantage of cost-effective emissions reductions
opportunities -- including emissions of the most potent greenhouse gases, such as
methane, perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexaflouride
(SF6).
8
Agriculture and Forestry. USDA will undertake R&D and support demonstration
projects aimed at both lowering greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and forestry
and reducing their vulnerability to climate change.
--The Natural Resources Conservation Service will invest $3 million in projects
to demonstrate and test various means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in
agriculture, such as compost-based waste-handling facilities, rotational grazing
systems, and improved feed and forage systems.
-The Agricultural Research Service will devote $7 million towards climate
change related activities, including the development of new technology and
expertise for reducing agriculture's vulnerability to a changing climate. Field
experiments will seek to measure various potential effects of climate change, such
as varying amounts and patterns of rainfall on forage production.
The FY 2000 budget also includes important USDA funding for developing advanced
biomass energy technologies; R&D and demonstration projects for carbon sequestration;
research to study the role of farms, forests, and other natural or managed lands in
capturing and storing carbon; and a comprehensive U.S. soil carbon inventory (see pp. 10-
12 below).
ELECTRICITY
Photovoltaic Energy Systems. Over the past 20 years, Federal R&D has resulted in a 90
percent cost reduction in solar photovoltaics. DOE will accelerate R&D of the next
generation photovoltaic cells; increase manufacturing R&D; increase research in
buildings-integrated applications; and fund efforts to develop new, unconventional
technologies.
-- Million Solar Roofs. In June, 1997, the President announced an initiative to
encourage the installation of one million solar systems by 2010, which would
reduce carbon emissions equivalent to the annual emissions from 850,000 cars.
DOE has received commitments for over half a million solar rooftop installations.
Biomass. Biomass represents a tremendous renewable resource whose use can help
strengthen our energy security, protect the environment, and enhance our rural economy.
-- Biomass Power. DOE is testing and demonstrating biomass co-firing with coal;
developing advanced technologies for biomass gasification using paper industry
by-products; and developing and testing high-yield, low-cost biomass feedstocks.
9
-- Advanced Biomass Technologies. This year DOE, USDA, and other Federal
agencies and private partners will launch a national partnership to develop
advanced integrated biomass technologies. These technologies will enable the
production of power, transport fuels, and high-value chemicals from biomass
feedstocks.
Wind Power. DOE will continue developing a next-generation wind turbine able to
produce power at 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in good wind regions, accelerate R&D on
critical components, and accelerate testing and field validation.
Hydrogen. DOE will accelerate research on low-cost hydrogen production and storage,
prerequisites to the widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel.
High Temperature Superconductivity. DOE supports industry-led projects to capitalize
on recent breakthroughs in superconducting wire technology, aimed at developing devices
such as advanced motors, power cables, and transformers. These technologies would
allow more electricity to reach the consumer without an increase in fossil fuel input.
CARBON SEQUESTRATION
R&D for Sequestration. Research initiatives are being funded to find ways to sequester
(store) carbon. Examples include:
-- Enhancing Forest and Farmland Sinks. The Forest Service, in conjunction
with other USDA agencies, will spend $6 million for R&D and demonstration
projects for optimizing forest, farmland, and rangeland carbon sinks. The focus of
such projects will include storage of carbon in forest soils and increased durability
and use of wood products to sequester carbon.
-- Enhancing natural geological and oceanic processes. DOE will support
research into the feasibility of capturing and storing carbon dioxide in underground
geological structures and in the deep ocean.
10
Other Climate-Related Investments
There are a number of additional programs for which funding is proposed in the FY 2000 budget
that -- while not part of the Climate Change Technology Initiative per se -- contribute to
improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These programs include:
Cleaner Coal and Natural Gas. The FY 2000 budget includes $209 million to support
the Department of Energy's (DOE) aggressive R&D effort to develop next-generation
technologies for the combustion and use of coal and natural gas. For example, research
and development of two new coal combustion technologies -- integrated gasification
combined cycle and pressurized fluidized bed combustion -- could lead to ultra-high
efficiency coal plants with dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Low Income Weatherization and State Energy Grants. These DOE programs facilitate
energy efficiency investments at the State and local level. The Weatherization
Assistance Program, for example, delivers energy conservation services, such as
insulation, to low-income Americans, reducing energy costs for consumers, improving
health and safety, and reducing carbon emissions. The total FY 2000 budget request for
these two programs is $191 million -- a $25 million increase over FY 1999 appropriations.
Agricultural & Forestry Conservation Programs. Many Department of Agriculture
conservation programs have the co-benefit of reducing carbon emissions resulting from
agriculture and forestry and enhancing the ability of "sinks," such as forests and
farmlands, to sequester or store carbon. This includes programs such as the Conservation
Reserve Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and the Farmland
Protection Program. In general, these programs assist farmers, ranchers, and other
landowners in conserving and improving soil, water, and other natural resources
associated with rural land.
11
U.S. Global Change Research Program
The United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) seeks to provide a sound
scientific understanding of both the human and natural forces that influence the Earth's climate
system. The information produced by USGCRP's scientists is used by national and international
policy makers to make informed decisions on global change issues. This multi-agency scientific
research program coordinated through the National Science and Technology Council.
For FY 2000, the President is requesting nearly $1.8 billion for the USGCRP, an increase of $105
million, or 6 percent, above the amount enacted for FY 1999. Of the FY 2000 budget request,
$828 million is for scientific research (up $84 million) and $958 million is for NASA's
development of climate monitoring satellites and ground based observation systems. Other
important USGCRP budget highlights include:
Carbon Cycle Initiative. The FY 2000 budget request establishes a new multi-agency
initiative to improve our understanding of how carbon cycles between the atmosphere, the
oceans, and land. Included in this request are funds to study the role of farms, forests, and
other natural or managed lands in capturing carbon. Such carbon "sinks" may provide the
U.S. and other nations with new tools for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. The
initiative includes $10 million in new funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and $5 million for the Department of Energy.
Soil Carbon Inventory. The FY 2000 budget request includes $14 million (an increase of
$12 million from FY 1999 appropriations) to significantly expand efforts to conduct a
comprehensive scientific inventory of carbon stored in U.S. soils and to develop methods
to predict how soil carbon levels would be affected by different practices and policies.
The inventory will be conducted by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
3-Dimensional Mapping of Forests. The FY 2000 budget provides funding to launch
NASA's Vegetation Canopy Lidar, which, for the first time, will give scientists a three
dimensional view of the Earth's forests to help determine the contribution of forests in
sequestering atmospheric carbon.
Consequences of Climate Change. The FY 2000 budget provides funding to complete a
report on the first national assessment of the potential consequences of climate change on
the United States. The report will identify potential impacts on key economic sectors and
geographic regions, mitigation and adaptation strategies, and provide technical
information for policy makers.
Regional Variability. The FY 2000 budget request includes funding to help scientists
examine climate change and variability on a regional scale. Supported in part by the
Administration's new Information Technology Initiative, the funding will help improve
U.S. computer capabilities to run the complex models required to understand the effects of
climate change and variability at the regional level.
12
Agriculture and The President's FY 2000
Climate Change Budget
Farmland, rangeland, and forests can play a critical role in meeting the challenge of global
warming through carbon sequestration and renewable bioenergy. In his FY 2000 budget, the
President is proposing $251 million in funding for sequestration and bioenergy research,
development, and deployment. This includes $105 million for the Department of Agriculture
(USDA), a $50 million increase over the amount appropriated for FY 1999, and $146 million for
the Department of Energy (DOE), a $59 million increase over FY 1999 appropriated funds.
Highlights include:
SEQUESTRATION
Carbon sequestration refers to the storage of carbon from the atmosphere by soils, trees, crops,
and other plants.
Demonstration Projects and New R&D. The Forest Service, the Agriculture Research
Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will launch new R&D and
demonstration projects to optimize farmland, rangeland, and forest carbon sinks.
Carbon Cycle Initiative. The FY 2000 budget request establishes a new multi-agency
initiative to improve our understanding of how carbon cycles between the atmosphere, the
oceans, and land. Included in this request are funds to study the role of farms, forests, and
other natural or managed lands in capturing carbon. Such carbon "sinks" may provide the
U.S. and other nations with new tools for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. The
initiative includes $10 million in new funding for USDA and $5 million for DOE.
Soil Carbon Inventory. The FY 2000 budget request includes $14 million to significantly
expand efforts to conduct a comprehensive scientific inventory of carbon stored in U.S.
soils and to develop methods to predict how soil carbon levels would be affected by
different practices and policies.
BIOENERGY
Biomass refers to trees, crops and agricultural wastes used to produce power, fuels or chemicals.
It represents a tremendous renewable resource whose use can help strengthen our energy security,
protect the environment, and enhance our rural economy.
Biomass Power and Fuels. DOE and USDA will continue developing, testing, and
demonstrating high-yield, low-cost biomass feedstocks; testing and demonstrating biomass
cofiring with coal; and seeking to produce alternative fuels, such as ethanol, from biomass.
Advanced Biomass Technologies. This year, DOE, USDA and other Federal agencies
and private partners will launch a national partnership to develop advanced integrated
biomass technologies.
Biomass Tax Credit. The President's tax package proposes to extend for 5 years the
current 1.5 cent per kilowatt hour tax credit for electricity produced from biomass. The
proposal also expands the types of biomass eligible for the credit to include certain forest-
related, agricultural and other resources. Finally, the package includes a 1.0 cent per
kilowatt hour tax credit for electricity produced by cofiring biomass in coal plants.
MEMORANDUM
To:
Roger Ballentine
From: John Gibson
Paul Bledsoe
Date: January 13, 1999
Re:
Talking Points for John Roberts Interview (CBS)
Scientists now tell us that the case for global warming is stronger than ever. Just today the
National Research Council released a report confirming that the earth has been warming by
about 1/3 of degree per decade since 1976. Scientists also believe that the 1990s were the
warmest decade in the last 1000 years. And there's strong evidence that human activity -
greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels - are at least partly to blame.
In the face of this mounting evidence, we have a do-nothing Congress, seemingly beholden to
special interests. Oblivious to the growing scientific consensus on climate, Congress has
consistently sought to cut the President's climate change budget. What they have done is not
only in defiance of science, but also common sense. For example, they have cut back and
tried to strangle energy efficiency programs that save money for businesses and consumers -
just because they have the added benefit of addressing climate change.
Despite this resistance, the President has secured a record $1 billion each of the past two years
for clean energy technologies. And he has issued two new Executive Orders this past year -
one that directs the Federal government to cut its own energy use and another aimed at
spurring the development of bio-based technologies; that means using crops, trees and
agricultural waste to make fuels and products.
To follow through on his Executive Order, the President's budget will include an increase of
more than $240 million for bio-based technologies. This field is really taking off. Just this
week Cargill, Inc. and Dow Chemical announced a new $300 million plan to produce natural
plastic made from biomass. Meeting the President's goal of tripling U.S. use of bioenergy
and bioproducts by 2010 would be the equivalent of taking over 70 million cars off the road -
and it would also enhance our energy security and create new income and high-wage jobs for
rural America.
International Clean Energy
The President's bioenergy initiative is part of the President's larger plan to spur the development
of clean energy technologies - both at home and abroad. The President is also going to
propose a new [$100] million initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of
clean energy technologies around the world. The energy market in developing countries is
growing at an explosive rate. It is estimated to total as much as $25 trillion over the next 50
years and soon developing country greenhouse gas emissions will surpass those of the
industrialized countries. We want to help them avoid the polluting mistakes we made as they
grow their economies. The President's initiative will help remove market barriers in
developing countries to clean energy technologies and at the same time it will create billions
in new U.S. clean energy export revenues and tens of thousands of high-value U.S. jobs.