Commentary

What Boilermakers seek in Biden’s climate policy

Boilermaker Reporter / Jan 5, 2021 / 0

Way forward must include CCUS and the preservation—and growth—of good union jobs and pensions

Once President-elect Joe Biden has been inaugurated on Jan. 20, his administration will begin implementing a range of policies that will shape U.S. governance for the next four years, perhaps longer.

The Biden climate policy, above all others, will directly impact Boilermaker jobs, pensions and the future of our union. It is critical, therefore, that we remain engaged as this policy unfolds and that we strongly communicate our needs and expectations.

The dangerous delusion of ‘leave it in the ground’ proponents

The Boilermaker Reporter / Jun 25, 2020 / 0

Fossil resources remain essential to human existence

CLIMATE ADVOCATES WHO agitate for a future without fossil resources fail to appreciate — or choose to ignore — the essential, life-sustaining and life-enhancing value of the fossil-based natural resources humanity has relied upon for well over a century.

Near-term goal of 100% renewable electricity is unrealistic, misguided

The Boilermaker Reporter / Jan 28, 2020 / 0

Someday, U.S. electrical power generation may come from 100% renewable energy consisting almost entirely of wind and solar. But predictions of that happening within 10 or 20 years are unrealistic. There are simply too many obstacles standing in the way, among them: the massive investment of capital that would be required, the disruption of entire industries, technical challenges, and considerable societal and environmental impacts.

Climate solutions should (and can) save our planet and our jobs

The Washington Times / Sep 10, 2019 / 0

The urgency to mitigate climate change has pushed many to propose radical alterations to how humans exist on the planet. Some see the rapid abandonment of fossil fuels as essential to climate goals. This opinion certainly is at the core of the Green New Deal proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY 14th) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) earlier this year – and supported by some Democratic presidential candidates.

The devil's in the details: Policy implications of 'clean' vs. 'renewable' energy

Utility Dive / Mar 15, 2019 / 0

In the wake of several major climate reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the U.S. Government, climate change has taken center stage in American political discourse, encapsulated by — but in no way limited to — the Green New Deal. Many of the proposed plans for confronting the climate crisis stress the imperative of decreasing emissions by transitioning to 100% "clean" or "renewable" sources of energy.

No deal for Green New Deal

the Boilermaker Reporter / Mar 7, 2019 / 0

“Such an upheaval would throw millions out of work or push them into retraining for other jobs envisioned by the proposal — assuming those jobs existed in sufficient quantity — that may not pay as much or offer the same level of benefits.”

IBB documentary makes powerful case for carbon capture

The Boilermaker Reporter / Dec 17, 2018 / 0

A NEW IBB-PRODUCED video documentary “CCS: Bridge to a Cleaner Energy Future,” breaks ground in our quest to bring carbon capture and storage into mainstream conversation and to promote its development and deployment. The video and its companion website (www.cleanerfutureccs.org) offer a much-needed platform for viewers to learn about CCS and advocate for it around the world.