Green Jobs

 Last week, two conservative Republican Senators, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and John Barrasso of Wyoming, called for an independent probe of the IPCC -- the international scientific body that summarizes the latest climate science -- and asked the Senate to halt all climate action until that happens.

Via Show Me Progress, the Alliance for Climate Protection and the Climate Protection Action Fund have a cool new ad campaign featuring video messages submitted by Missourians calling for meaningful clean energy and green jobs legislation.   Here's one of several ads:

 Five Things to Say about Clean Energy in Your Address

It is that time of year again. This Wednesday, January 27, 2010, the President will glide down the aisle in the House of Representatives, greeted by thunderous applause, and encounter the usually more dignified elected officials in a slightly teen-bopper, Beatles-esque-frenzy, practically climbing over each other to shake his hand.

Tell POTUS That This Is Our Moment

Jim Lee, who first wrote about Roy Blunt's controversial taxpayer-financed mail piece last week on his BusPlunge blog, follows up today in the News-Leader's 'Roses & Thorns' section:

A THORN: To Roy Blunt for abusing his congressional franking privileges by sending a public document labeled official business that was "prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense" to selected constituents. It was nothing more than a thinly disguised piece of campaign literature. You seemed pretty defensive in the piece, congressman, did it hit a little too close to home?

University of Missouri students, faculty and alumni joined together in Columbia this afternoon to rally for comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation outside of UM System President Gary Forsee’s University Hall office. A few photos:

A new cartoon from John Darkow, posted yesterday at ColumbiaTribune.com. 

A coalition of student groups -- including Coal Free Mizzou (Beyond Coal), Greeks Going Green and the College Dems -- is joining together with faculty at 1pm tomorrow to rally for comprehensive clean energy legislation outside Gary Forsee's office at University Hall. 

More information about the event is on Facebook here. 

Following up on my post from Sunday, Janese Heavin has a story today for the Daily Tribune outlining UM System President Gary Forsee's various stock holdings and ties to corporations.  Essentially, Forsee's response to questions about his financial interest in Great Plains Energy -- an energy holding company that is actively opposing federal climate legislation --  is that he'll still be rich no matter what happens.  I don't doubt that a bit, but this quote from his official spokesman has me scratching my head:

Forsee serves on the board of Great Plains Energy, the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light, which opposes the bill that would limit greenhouse gas emissions. That’s not a conflict of interest, Hollingshead said, because board members do not lobby on legislative matters.

Why does it matter if Forsee lobbies while wearing his Great Plains hat?  The point is that he's using his official position to advance a position that would benefit Great Plains stockholders and boardmembers, like himself.  And the larger point is that his public advocacy against the legislation contradicts his previous commitments regarding clean energy, and is effectively a call to maintain the status quo.  

The Tribune: 

Faculty members were taken by surprise when they read in the Tribune that [University of Missouri System President Gary] Forsee sent a letter opposing the bill, said Dan Hooley, a professor of classical studies and chairman of MU’s Environmental Affairs and Sustainability Committee.

“He seems to be speaking unilaterally but did not consult with faculty members or the community and with no explanation of his process of thinking,” Hooley said. “It seems to me he does have every right to speak for himself, but he simply can’t speak for the community. That’s not how this campus operates.”

Jason Rosenbaum has a very interesting nugget in the Columbia Business Times blog today about UM System president Gary Forsee's decision to oppose federal climate legislation:

University of Missouri system president Gary Forsee’s letter opposing federal legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions is still attracting attention several weeks after it was released to the media.

Paul Sloca, the spokesman for U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, circulated Forsee’s letter to media outlets earlier this month. The letter came out against “Cap and Trade” legislation, which in a nutshell would cap the amount of carbon emissions an entity could produce. If that company or service wants to go over that amount, they would have to buy credits from entities that produce less pollution.

As noted Tuesday, University of Missouri System President Gary Forsee is publicly opposing the comprehensive energy legislation being debated in Congress despite his previous promises to be leader in new technologies, clean energy, and responsible environmental policies. 

In addition to questions about why he's chosen to stand down from his commitments and stand up for the status quo, Forsee also has a few questions to answer about potential personal conflicts of interest.

When Forsee isn't serving as President of the University of Missouri system or thinking about how to spent some portion of his enormous Sprint Nextel severance package, he also sits on the the Board of Directors for Great Plains Energy Incorporated, the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company. 

KCP&L, as you may know, is actively opposing the Congressional climate legislation, saying it would force them to reduce their emissions too quickly and might force them to "retire some portion of our coal-fired fleet."

Rush Limbaugh says he's made "a really gutsy and courageous move."

For more on Gary Forsee's surprising and disappointing change of heart on federal climate legislation, check out this rundown at Show Me Progress and the previous Fired Up! coverage. 

Happy to spar with Roy Blunt about their "Stain" ad, the League of Conservation Voters launched a new radio ad today titled "Forgot." Listen:

With the new spot, the LCV also breaks down Blunt's opposition to meaningful climate legislation in Congress: 

Contrary to Rep. Blunt’s claims, the American Clean Energy & Security Act, which the congressman voted against when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, would help create nearly 36,000 clean energy jobs in Missouri. [2] The legislation would also reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and place limits on harmful carbon pollution. (Rep. Blunt also voted against in the American Clean Energy & Security Act when it passed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.)