Lance Brown

With a packed lame-duck schedule, it appears that environmentalists’ hopes for a federal renewable energy standard have been dashed once again — and, likely, for good. Although the demise of plans for a federal renewable energy standard is good news for consumers and affordable energy advocates, Congress has some important action to take during the lame-duck session in order to ease consumers’ fears (and protect their wallets). (more)

The pundits will be analyzing Tuesday’s election results until we’re counting down to the new year, but one thing is clear: the American people are fed-up with high unemployment, the weak economy, and the government’s continued overreach into energy policy that effects the everyday lives of American families and businesses. Regardless of politics, the election is a mandate to restore fiscally responsible policies and get jobs and the economy back on track. (more)

It’s less than two weeks until the midterm elections, and high turnover of the U.S. House is all but expected by many analysts. It’s clear that, political beliefs aside, many U.S. citizens are unhappy with the accomplishments — or lack of accomplishments — Congress has logged on a variety of pressing issues. (more)

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released new and dismal unemployment numbers. Although the national unemployment rate held at 9.6 percent, the country lost 95,000 non-farm jobs overall in September. (more)

Last week, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) rejected Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) idea that the Senate could pass controversial energy legislation, like a federal renewable energy standard, during a lame-duck session after the election. “There are many choices and most of them are controversial, so to think that we could do them quickly in a lame-duck is a long shot,” said Senator Durbin. (more)

Congress adjourned this week, and members will be back in their home states through the November election. But even while they are back home — and legislation is on hold on Capitol Hill — it is important that constituents continue to communicate our staunch opposition to a federal renewable energy standard (RES) and its potentially detrimental impact on the economy. (more)

As Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and a host of special interest groups continue their relentless push for a federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), one can only hope the lack of broad-based public support for the measure will again lead to the controversial and economically unsound legislation’s rejection. (more)

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) made headlines when he said a federal renewable energy standard would “absolutely” be considered in energy legislation following the recess, adding that it would be more likely to pass during the lame-duck session following the elections. (more)

This summer, at barbecues and baseball games across America, you’ve likely heard one major complaint: it’s hot! If the heat alone wasn’t unbearable enough, many Americans have been hit by skyrocketing energy bills as they crank up the air conditioning. (more)

I’d like to re-visit a quote from Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), circa 1996: (more)

Despite the many energy plans proposed over the past year—ranging from carbon caps to renewable energy standards to gas taxes—it seems unlikely that an energy bill will be passed this year. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) put the climate bill on hold until September, and by all accounts it will be nearly impossible to pass a comprehensive bill. Congress has realized that proposals like cap-and-trade or a federal renewable energy standard will not adequately address our country’s energy problems and will do more harm than good to the economy. (more)

In the final hours, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) accepted the inevitable: an energy package was simply not going to pass before the August recess. (more)

With less than two weeks until the August recess, the U.S. Senate has a lot on its plate. In addition to Supreme Court Justice nominee Elena Kagan’s hearing, the Senate will consider a number of bills covering topics ranging from taxes to food safety to my favorite topic, energy. (more)

According to Democratic leaders in the Senate, the 60 votes needed to pass a climate bill may be a lot more difficult to come by than they originally thought. Last weekend, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said, “If you actually have a bill that puts in place a cap-and-trade system or a limit on greenhouse gases and a mandatory reduction in greenhouse gases, I think it’s difficult to see where we get the 60 votes to pass that legislation.” (more)

Since President Obama’s energy strategy meeting with Senate leaders has been postponed, the future of energy legislation remains unclear. (more)

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its review of the American Power Act proposed by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT). The analysis is conveniently rosy, and the sponsors are eagerly promoting the EPA’s finding that the average household will face an average estimated cost increase of only $79, to $146. (more)

It’s getting difficult to keep track of all the energy proposals that are on the table. We’ve got Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s (D-N.M.) original American Clean Energy Leadership Act, as well as the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act that passed the House last year with a 20 percent renewable energy standard and ambitious emissions cuts. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) released their CLEAR Act with a cap-and-dividends program shortly before Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) released their American Power Act with a cap-and-trade program. Not to mention, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is attempting to get in the game with greenhouse gas regulations, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and others are attempting to stop them. Who can keep track of all the legislative proposals in the chaos? (more)

The wind energy industry would have us believe that the industry “is on the edge of explosive growth.” (more)

“Overburdensome and unnecessary federal regulations can choke the life out of small businesses by imposing costly and often-ineffectual remedies to problems that may not exist.” (more)

On Wednesday, Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) released draft text of the American Power Act, which Sen. Kerry wrote will take the United States on a path toward “clean energy, a more stable climate, and a more prosperous economy with America back in control of our own energy generating good clean energy jobs.” (more)