Pickens: price on carbon not essential

[Mass]

http://energytopic.nationaljournal.com/2010/05/pickens-price-on.php

Pickens: Price On Carbon Not Essential
Amy Harder
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 8:20 AM
Oilman T. Boone Pickens said Monday that a price on greenhouse gas emissions in climate legislation isn't essential in the battle for U.S. energy independence.

"I don't think the cost of carbon in the bill is going to do much for you on weaning yourself off foreign oil," Pickens said Monday after a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's staff. Shifting from oil to natural gas in the transportation sector is the best way to reduce U.S. dependency, Pickens said.
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Another person that DU and Dems acclaimed without looking at the reality of the man. (happens too often, and is happening against with Crist).

I somehow doubt that the climate bill will pass as, after the oil leak, it will be difficult to get some Dems on board on the bill (and I totally agree), but so much for Pickens endorsing the Climate bill. The main element is not important for him.

[karynnj]

1. I completely agree with you - whatever chance it had before the oil spill is now gone

What this shows with Pickens - and likely with Graham - is that they will be happy to have this fracture into what will be an energy only bill.

As it was many though Kerry (and maybe Lieberman) had already given more than they should have to get the price on carbon. As you say, that was the main element. Kerry spoke of the deals taking him and others out of their zone of comfort. I assume in Kerry's case it was the off shore drilling and the nuclear plants. If they form the basis of the bill and there is no serious limitations on carbon, this is a bill that will kill efforts to legislate anything for climate change. At that point, I hope Kerry leads the effort NOT to restrain EPA or the states. (I don't know how hard Obama would fight for that himself - Remember that he voted for the energy bill that Kerry voted against.)

I can see why Kerry argued that actions for climate change could simultaneously work to achieve energy independence. Together (and with Kerry's additional goals) they made a compelling argument, though obviously not for enough people. The goal of the carbon price was obviously to reduce carbon. Long term that does lead to energy independence, but the primary goal is lower carbon emmisions. Pickens changes the goal to energy independence and with that goal in the short term he could be right- if oil, from any source, replaced coal, it lowers the carbon emissions.

[wisteria]

2. This is one mans opinion with ulterior motives. I remain optimistic that we will get a decent bill

passed. It won't be what everybody wants, but it will contain good elements and represent a major step forward.

[beachmom]

3. He never cared about climate change, but promoting the use of natural gas

and perhaps wind energy (although that went sour for him). He did endorse the whole bill, though. John Kerry said so on Twitter.

However, it is all moot. There isn't going to be a climate bill. The coalition is falling apart:

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/05/senators-pledge-filibuster-climate-bill-drilling

[Mass]

4. More here on the bill. Nothing surprising.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/95961-offshore-drilling-critics-press-the-attack

Offshore drilling critics press the attack
By Jim Snyder - 05/04/10 03:22 PM ET
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said he has urged Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) to remove provisions from climate and energy legislation that would encourage more offshore drilling.

Kerry did not commit to changing the bill, Nelson told reporters today. But the legislation “is not going anywhere” if it opens up new areas off the coasts to drilling in light of the spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatening fragile Gulf coast ecosystems, Nelson said. He also issued a warning to the administration that its proposal to expand drilling off of Alaska and Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states, and new areas in the Gulf of Mexico, faced a steep hill in Congress.

Nelson said the administration’s plan to expand drilling would be “dead on arrival” if introduced as legislation in Congress.
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