"Sawmill layoffs topple a way of life" (Page A1, May 3): Sierra Pacific Industries' closing of several of its Northern California sawmills is but the latest event in the 20-year conflict pitting the atrophying timber industry against environmentalist organizations intent on shutting down all Northwest timber harvesting – purportedly to protect spotted owl habitat.
They persuaded President Bill Clinton to close 25 million acres of federal forest land to timber harvesting, effectively shutting down 50 percent of timber mills, resulting in the loss of 30,000 logging jobs and the cutting-off of federal timber revenues to forest counties.
California Farm Water Coalition - Environmental efforts cost timber industry 30,000 jobs
PCS Phosphate announced Friday that it planned to eliminate 12 contractor jobs and reassign 12 other workers involved in mining and blamed delays in getting a federal permit to expand its mining operation in Beaufort County. Environmental advocates said the company has itself to blame.
The company said it plans to idle one of two excavation teams that strip off the top 100-foot layer of soil and rock to prepare the site for mining of phosphate ore. Actual mining will continue.
"Our mining operations are quickly approaching the end of our existing permit boundary," said Steve Beckel, general manager of the PCS Phosphate's Aurora facility. "We began the permitting process more than eight years ago in hopes of avoiding this situation."
Mine ties layoffs to permit problems - Local & State - News & Observer
“At a time when Connecticut is struggling with record high unemployment, the last thing our government should be doing is imposing tariffs that will cause higher prices and more layoffs,” said Dodd. “I am disappointed that Ambassador Allgeier ignored our request to rethink this short-sighted decision, and hope that President Obama’s USTR team will act quickly to review this matter.”
Dodd, Lieberman, Larson, Courtney, Himes Condemn New Tariff | U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd
Michigan regulators have approved adding new fees to monthly bills for customers of 40 municipal utilities in the state.
The surcharges will help the utilities meet energy-efficiency requirements under a 2008 state law.
The "energy optimization" fees range from a low of 13 cents a month in Marshall to a high of $1.26 per month in Coldwater.
Some city-owned utilities also are allowed to charge up to $3 a month to buy more wind power and other forms of alternative energy. But many of the municipal utilities will not have the $3 surcharge.
Michigan regulators OK city utility bill surcharges
Zeeland, Mich. (WZZM) - Amidst recent headlines of two Fruitport Township children passing away after a fire caused by a kerosene heater, organizations are stepping up to make sure every family can at least pay their winter utility bills.
In West Michigan the number of families looking for help with their utility bills has almost tripled.
There is help available from agencies like the Community Action Agency (CAA) and the United Way, as long as there's enough money to go around.
Saturday morning more than 150 walkers gathered in City on a Hill Ministries in Zeeland to walk to raise money for the CAA.
"It never ceases to amaze the amount of people that will get up early on a Saturday morning to come out and help a worthwhile organization," said State Senator Wayne Kuipers before the crowd hit the pavement.
Walk for Warmth raises $6000 to help pay utility bills | wzzm13.com | Grand Rapids, MI
The days when our government could be all things to all people are behind us. This is no time for
special interests or pet projects. It’s a time that demands relentless focus and discipline.
In December, we passed ground-breaking incentives to make sure the batteries that will soon
power electric cars are made in Michigan. Thank you, Representative Gonzales, for your
leadership on this legislation. Within weeks of passage, GM announced it will assemble the
battery packs for the Volt, its new electric vehicle, right here in Michigan.
And A123 Systems, a Massachusetts company, announced it is seeking almost $2 billion in
federal loans to build up to 5 million electric car batteries a year and employ some 14,000
workers right here in Michigan.<< THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON!!
First, I will ask the Legislature to make Michigan the first state in the nation to let every
homeowner, every business, become a renewable energy entrepreneur who can make money by
installing solar panels or wind systems on their home or business and selling that renewable
energy back to the power company. Through this legislation, we will create a powerful new
market for large and small turbines and solar panels made by Michigan workers.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/SOS2009_265915_7.pdf
The point of all that sealy was to show you that heavy handed environmental regulations cause companies to flee, and even in your own state WITHOUT a cap and trade bill your state is moving forward to install several of these technologies wind and solar. The other thing I wanted to show you is that people cannot afford in this economic climate to pay for a carbon trading scheme that is not needed, when they have other things to worry about namely survival. Just raising someone utility bill is one thing but cap and trade will raise, the cost, of gas,food, and just about everything that takes energy to produce and transfer in this nation. sealy, people simply cannot afford that many of the same people that cry out for healthcare, cannot afford to pay more for everything in their lives so that enviro-business can enrich themselves. You say tax the rich well if this bill passes you have a whole new set of rich people to steer your anger at. As for Seniors it is my humble opinion that a society has an obligation to take care of it's seniors and it's disabled and those that have gave their all to protect it. That is the mark of a civilized society and Seniors especially are the very shoulders on which we stand on and to forget them is to forget where we came from and to abandon where we are going.
When Nancy and Randy Borowicz bought their Campbell home, they had to replace the roof. The couple decided to put more than just a traditional wood-shingled roof over their heads. The Borowiczes chose to install a solar energy system at the same time. That decision reduced their PG&E bill from $300 to an average of $40 per month.
After doing research for several years, visiting home shows and talking to vendors, the Borowiczes knew they wanted to incorporate an efficient energy system into their lifestyle. The couple installed 22 solar panels on the home's roof, a solar water heater, and added seven panels on the garage roof to heat their swimming pool. The work was completed in June 2002 and cost the Borowiczes $25,000 before rebates and tax credits, which brought the cost down to $13,000.
They expect it to take about seven years to realize a full return on their investment. Now their 2,100-square-foot home on Monica Lane is about 60 percent solar powered, and the Borowiczes plan to increase their solar efficiency to 95 percent with the installation of additional solar panels
I don't think I have ever said I'm anti-solar in fact if you can afford the upfront costs and wait for the return on your investment then it will be cost effective after several years. How many people though do you know have 13 Grand laying around? It's basically a cost issue sealy, the average household will NEVER spend 10 to 13 K on solar even where I live where the sun shines almost year around because the upfront cost is too high. Now if the Obama Administration really wanted to do something , then they would have made that a 100% credit for all homeowners for 5 years and that could have been the whole bill. How many jobs you think that would have created much less brought down the cost of energy?
and unemployment hit 9.5% this morning.. 
when they were taxed at 39%--the highest in the WORLD. Obama wants to raise those corporate tax rates back to 39%--from their existing 33%.
