Climate and clean energy policy was one of President Obama's major focuses in his final State of the Union, with references to deniers both overt and subtle. First he pointed out that when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik, the US response wasn’t denial but determination that led us to the moon. Obama later pointed out that those still in denial will be rather lonely, as they’re up against the military, and most businesses, and most Americans.
Those lonely deniers are obviously not pleased at the state in which they’ve found themselves after Obama's big speech. At Breitbart, James Delingpole makes a characteristically weak attempt to debunk the speech. Delingpole's response relies heavily on rhetoric rather than fact, as well as references from the deniersphere that provide further proof of just how little mainstream pick-up denial has gotten lately.
At the other lonely bastion of denial, the Daily Caller's Andrew Follet takes a shot at green energy with the standard attack that it’s too costly. Follett's main point of reference is a report from the Koch-funded/founded Institute for Energy Research that compares new solar to existing coal power. This is, on its face, an apples-to-oranges comparison. It is about as helpful and accurate as comparing the cost of buying a new car to the price of a car one inherited from one’s father.
If you’re looking for a report on renewables that isn’t funded by fossil fuels, the Lawerence Berkeley National Lab has one out that’s worth a look. Researchers examined state renewable portfolio standards and calculated that for an estimated $1 billion in costs, the US reaped $7.2 billion in health and environmental benefits.
But let's get back to the the State of the Union. Somewhat notable is the GOP’s official response, given by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, because while climate and energy policy was one of four main pillars of Obama’s SOTU, Gov. Haley dodged the issue entirely. But with top billing (at time of writing,) Breitbart makes it impossible to dodge the fact that Obama and Haley had one thing in common: criticism of The Donald.
Now wouldn’t it be ironic if the two parties can build a bridge to compromise by their shared disdain for the man whose main policy proposal is to build a wall?
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