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iePolitics: Our green president not quite so green
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Category Archives: Environment
HuffingtonPost: Bloomberg Gives $50 Million To Drive American Jobs To China
Editor’s Note: For those who haven’t made the connection, Mr. Grenell is also the spokesman for Jeff Burum.
Richard Grenell
Longest serving U.S. Spokesman in the history of the United Nations
Make no mistake about it, billionaire Michael Bloomberg is a technology whiz. But his energy ideas are bankrupt. His $50 million gift to support the Sierra Club’s anti-coal agenda and to stop coal-fired power plants will undoubtedly help move American jobs to China.
As the Mayor of America’s largest city, Bloomberg should understand the overwhelming demand for affordable energy. While everyone supports alternative energy initiatives and green technology research, current energy demand cannot be met with the combination of sources we now have in place — let alone for the hyper growth predicted worldwide. Conserving energy and increasing our reliance on hydro, wind, and other forms of green energy is beneficial, but the reality is billions of people around the world have no or partial access to electricity now. Letting uber-environmentalists and billionaire elites further limit the supply of energy will only drive up costs for everyone. And limiting or stopping coal production in the United States will move jobs to China and India and give them a significant economic advantage to deliver a cheap energy source to consumers worldwide without American competition.
SBSun: In defense of our precious desert
Joshua Bunce
Posted: 08/06/2011 07:09:20 AM PDT
I am a veteran as well as someone who cares about the protection of our lands. I feel I have a patriotic duty to have my voice heard concerning the conservation of our lands.My role, the veteran’s role, is not restricted to serving overseas, but defending our land, here – and everywhere!
I would like to spend a moment to highlight one such preservation and defense of our precious land: In January, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced the inspiring California Desert Protection Act of 2011 that will help protect the deserts of Southern California, strengthen our economy, enhance tourism, and create two national monuments. It could perhaps be one of the most important pieces of legislation that Sen. Feinstein has ever authored!
NYTimes: Raw Food Co-op Is Raided in California
Editor’s Note: I think this is crazy. When is the government going to butt out of our lives? Never. I know.
This reminds me of the marijuana versus chemical drugs argument. I do not understand how homogenized milk, possible containing human growth hormone, can be safer than what comes straight out of the animals’ tits. People have been drinking unhomogenized milk for tens of thousands of years but somehow the government knows what is best for us to put in our bodies.
Nick Ut/Associated Press
Protesters outside the Los Angeles Courthouse on Thursday denounced the police’s moves against Rawesome, which offers raw milk products.
By IAN LOVETT
Published: August 4, 2011
LOS ANGELES — Raw food enthusiasts fit right in here, in the earthy, health-conscious beach communities of Venice and Santa Monica, along with the farmers’ markets, health food stores and vegan restaurants.
But this week, the police cleared the shelves of Rawesome, an establishment in Venice Beach, loading $70,000 of raw, organic produce and dairy products on the back of a flatbed truck.
And then, on Thursday, James Stewart, the proprietor, was arraigned on charges of illegally making, improperly labeling and illegally selling raw milk products, as well as other charges related to Rawesome’s operations. Two farmers who work with Rawesome were also named in the district attorney’s complaint.
Examiner.com: Environmentalists unhappy with latest CARB revision
Editor’s Note: Please click on link below to get us paid. Thank you.
The first article in this series questioned whether environmentalists will stand in the way as California gears up to meet the requirements of Assembly Bill 32, more commonly known as the Global Warming Solutions Act. With some research, it would appear that answer is “yes.”
The first round of reductions mandated by AB 32 are scheduled to be in place in slightly over six months. However, two of California’s environmental watchdog groups, or “environmental justice legal organizations” as the groups prefer to be called, sued the California Air Resources Board (CARB) over the cap-and-trade component of the Climate Change Scoping Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases in California.
The far-reaching legislation does not reach far enough for the liking of these environmental groups. According to the website for the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRPE), “The Board must also confront the fact that Cap and Trade violates Californians’ civil and environmental rights. The communities of Richmond and Wilmington, host communities for refineries, exemplify the fact that in California your zip code determines your health. Study after study has shown that if you are Latino, African-American, or Asian-Pacific Islander, you are much more likely to live in a zip code that hosts California’s major pollution facilities than if you are white.”
Examiner.com: As California tries to meet AB32, will “environmentalists” stand in the way?
Editor’s Note: I haven’t asked in a long time, but please click on the link below so I get paid!
Assembly Bill 32, written by Assembly members Fabian Nunez and Fran Pavley, was signed into law by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 27, 2006. It is known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
The Act requires that the level of greenhouse emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, with the first reductions required to begin in 2012. Many have argued that the Act is a job killer and will drive businesses out of California. Our new governor, on the other hand, argues the Act will create thousands of new “green” jobs in a state where so many residents are desperate for a job, any job.
Businesses in California have been packing up and moving to states such as Arizona and California in droves where they find open arms and far less regulation. With this Act, starting in slightly more than six months, businesses will have yet another set of regulations with which to comply.
However, this new set of regulations brings with it a paradox: those supporting the Act may very well be the same who oppose the business communities’ solutions to compliance. During the past couple of decades “environmental” organizations have sprung up throughout the country to fight businesses that are attempting to find innovative solutions to environmental concerns
Continue reading on Examiner.com As California tries to meet AB32, will “environmentalists” stand in the way? – Los Angeles Political Buzz | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-los-angeles/as-california-tries-to-meet-ab32-will-environmentalists-stand-the-way#ixzz1Ole63jDj
iePolitics: Two million new jobs
This is one of two very interesting articles Bill sent me today. It has to do with on-shore oil drilling in the US that is already producing results and is expected to create about two million new jobs. I think it is safe to say if this type of oil drilling is possible in California, we will not see it in our life times.
I planned to post the article here, but Bill asked me to post it to his site. So here is the link.
Congressman Kevin McCarthy: California’s man-made drought
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Examiner.com: Senator Boxer intervenes with EPA in Mecca odor issue
Editor’s note: Please keep Naomi fed and click on the link below. Thank you.
Senator Boxer intervenes with EPA in Mecca odor issue
- May 12th, 2011 1:48 am PT
- Edit article
Senator Barbara Boxer
MECCA – This week Senator Barbara Boxer issued a statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) crackdown on Western Environmental, Inc., the company that operates a waste handling facility on Native American lands in Mecca. The plant is not owned or operated by the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians.
Residents have been complaining for months about the foul odor similar to that of rotten eggs, claiming it was making them sick. South Coast Air Quality Management District officials traced the odor back to the plant and took air samples. The samples showed traces of Benzene, which is linked to cancer, but not in high enough levels to cause a significant threat.
Senator Boxer is the chairman of the Environmental and Public Works Committee. On May 5, she sent a letter to the EPA strongly urging the agency’s continued involvement. She wrote, “My understanding from EPA regional officials is that an investigation is underway and that I can expect action in the very near future to address this serious problem. The EPA has broad authority under federal environmental laws, including section 7003 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which allows EPA to work rapidly with all parties to address threats to public health from dangerous pollution.”
Examiner.com: Politicos cater to environmentalists; residents suffer job losses, higher costs
Editor’s Note: As always, Naomi appreciates it when you click “like” on an article. If you subscribe too, she may get steak for dinner!
When California Governor Jerry Brown signed the latest green energy legislation into law last week, environmentalists applauded his efforts to assure the state is on the leading edge of renewable energy. Many Californian’s, on the other hand, felt yet another drain on their already dwindling financial resources.
Brown touted the new law as job creating; critics claim it is job killing. According to research by the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, a trade group representing renewable energy companies, 100,000 new green jobs could be created as a result of the new regulations. Critics claim that for every new green job created, up to two jobs in traditional energy fields are lost. They go on to say that once government incentives go dry, even many of the green jobs will dissipate, suggesting that government support of these Wall Street companies hide their high production costs and lack of competitiveness.
Furthermore, critics say, technology has not been perfected to make many of these schemes viable. What sounds good in concept simply does not work with the constantly changing variables and challenges Mother Nature provides. In addition, many come with their own environmental concerns such as the impacts that both solar and wind energy have on local species and habitats.
Examiner.com: Wall Street company continues to use political connections to obtain funding
Editor’s Note: Please help keep Naomi fed and click on this article.
Examiner.com reported last month that the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) voted to amend its contract with EnerTech, the Slurry-Carb facility located in the Inland Empire city of Rialto. The company has been in default of its contract with Orange County Sanitation District since it first began to accept biosolids, costing Orange County taxpayers at least $100,000 a month. Additionally, the contracts have cost three of the four other entities which also contract with EnerTech, the cities of Riverside and San Bernardino and the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, undetermined sums of money, thought to be in the millions of dollars, since ratification of the contracts.
Although there are a total of five jurisdictions which contract with EnerTech, the four listed above and the city of Rialto, the Orange County Sanitation District remains EnerTech’s key financial supporter. The taxpayers of Orange County have subsidized the company with millions of dollars in additional costs to keep the company afloat.
To read the rest of the story, click here.
Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt: County Takes Step to Develop Solar Power at Landfills
SAN BERNARDINO – Landfills owned by the County of San Bernardino could soon double as solar power plants thanks to the Board of Supervisors’ approval today of an option to lease part of the Victorville Sanitary Landfill site for solar energy development.
“At my request, the County in December 2009 began seeking companies to develop renewable energy projects on county-owned landfill sites,” said First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. “This program has several benefits. It provides another avenue for the state to meet its renewable energy goals; the county will see a steady revenue stream from leasing these otherwise unused areas, and developers of solar projects can avoid many of the problems often associated with finding suitable sites.”
Examiner: OCSD decides to subsidize Wall Street company with taxpayer money
Editor: Naomi really appreciates your clicks!
On February 23, 2011, the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) agreed to amend its contract with EnerTech, a Slurry-Carb facility in Rialto, California, allowing the plant to stay in operation. EnerTech has been in default of its contract since it went on-line several years ago.
EnerTech signed contracts with five entities in 2005: Orange County Sanitation District, Los Angeles County Sanitation District, city of Riverside, city of Rialto, and city of San Bernardino. EnerTech has never been able to provide the services its contracts require. It has continued to charge the entities the full price of the contracts despite its inability to perform. These contracts have cost Southern California taxpayers millions of dollars in the past two years.
Examiner.com: OCSD will decide today whether or not to continue with environmental boondoggle
Editor’s Note: This is one of the Examiner.com stories that I ask you to click on the link so I get paid and Naomi gets fed. It may not be as interesting as cops gone bad and crazy bloggers, but it is a story of corrupt officials wasting taxpayer money—millions of dollars for no reason, at least no reason we have dug up yet. Anyway, we both appreciation the click, and if you really want to help, click “like” while logged into Facebook. Thank you.
In a vote that affects not only the citizens of Orange County, but also Los Angeles County and the cities of Riverside, Rialto, and San Bernardino, the Board of Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) will decide this evening whether to allow EnerTech, a source for disposal of the county’s biosolids, a one-year extension to attempt to come into compliance with its contract. EnerTech’s failure to live up to its contract costs the taxpayers in Orange County alone over $100,000 a month. The company has never been in compliance since the contracts were signed in 2005.
The (OCSD) Board of Directors consists primarily of mayors and councilpersons from many of the cities throughout Orange County. Each city appoints their representative. Orange County First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen and directors from several Orange County sanitary/water districts also serve on the board for a total of 25 members.
OCSD sources, on the condition of anonymity, have told Examiner.com that the contract with EnerTech is being pushed on the entire board by several of its members for “political reasons.” So far, no one at OCSD has offered a plausible excuse for continuing to spend over a million dollars a year of taxpayer funds on a technology that has failed.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Environmental Boondoggle
iePolitics: City of San Bernardino approves increase in sewer rates while spending money on boondoggle
As expected, the San Bernardino City Council, in a 4-3 vote, approved increases in sewer rates for both 2011 and 2012. The rate increases are necessary due to mismanagement by the city’s water department.
As reported here weeks ago, the city of San Bernardino entered into a long-term agreement for disposal of their biosolids at up to three times the going rate. The agreement will cost city residents tens of millions of dollars over the life of the contract.
Examiner.com: The politics of green
Editor’s note: Help me get paid! Please read this article and click on link.
Some would say the average politician is full of . . . eh . . . biosolids. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Politicians are, however, very aware of the green associated with them. We’re not talking about the green waste that is sometimes mixed with biosolids to make compost. Rather this is the greenback variety that can add up to hundreds of millions of wasted taxpayer dollars. That is where the second part of this story begins.
The average person doesn’t think of the disposal of biosolids as political or controversial. Dare we suggest, the average person doesn’t think of biosolids at all. But they should. Taxpayer money is being flushed down the toilet with those biosolids and being used to line the pockets of those promoting green technology with claims that border on snake oil. Those Wall Street-funded snake oil salesmen have been very successful in convincing government jurisdictions to buy into what they have to offer, whether it works or not. That seems especially true with entities such as the Orange County Sanitation District, the city of San Bernardino, and the city of Rialto.
Our first story centered around EnerTech, a Georgia-based firm, flush with cash from Wall Street and expecting huge profits, which built its first facility in Rialto, California. The facility collects biosolids from five local wastewater treatment plants. EnerTech is contracted to process biosolids to remove liquid and turn them into “green” pellets to be used by a local cement kiln as an alternative to coal. What sets this process apart from the traditional drying of biosolids is that it is supposed to use less energy to make the pellets than the pellets, or SlurryCarb, will produce, thus providing a net energy increase, making it “green” energy.
The process simply doesn’t work. But the snake oil salesmen have convinced jurisdictions to pay significantly more to dispose of their biosolids in this manner. Our mission was to find out how much more. And what a mission it has been.
“You’re not going to get me fired are you?” “This is very political.” As I attempted to get someone . . . anyone . . . to go on the record, those are the phrases I heard over and over. Even some California Public Records Act requests have been met with resistance or completely ignored.
To read the rest of the story, click here.
iePolitics: Proposed rate increases for city of San Bernardino
Yesterday we discussed this increase as it likely relates to the contract the city of San Bernardino entered into with EnerTech to dispose of biosolids from their wastewater treatment plant. The city (water district which is part of the city) is paying up to three times more than they would pay without the contract. Well here is the actual proposed rate increases: Continue reading
iePolitics: Water rates to rise as city wastes money on failed “green” technology
A water rate increase is in the works for residents of the city of San Bernardino. So what else is new? What makes this more alarming than most rate increases is that that very same City of San Bernardino Municipal Water Department has been wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on “green” technology that has failed miserably.
iePolitics: While we are laying off fire fighters and cops
The sludge-to-energy boondoggle is getting all the more interesting as I interview those directly involved in the technology. I had planned to post a second Examiner article today but I am waiting on some California Public Record Act requests to verify certain information.
This is truly a scandal where we have to think kickbacks are involved. As I read the contracts EnerTech convinced these entities to sign, we have to wonder if all municipal attorneys are as incompetent as San Bernardino County Counsel.
iePolitics: For Barstow Steve and Norm
Poop is just a natural part of the circle of life, not the big, bad environmental hazard you claim. If it were, we’d all be in trouble, not just the citizens of Hinkley:
iePolitics: If it’s not poop, Barstow Steve doesn’t care
Chromium 6 levels are once again at elevated and unsafe levels in Hinkley, California. As serious as the situation is, outside of the residents of Hinkley and surrounding communities, probably no one would have cared or noticed had the original discovery a couple decades ago not spawned an Academy Award-winning movie, Erin Brockovich. And in that sense, Hinkley lucked out.
What would today probably receive a paragraph or two in the Desert Dispatch has spread to newspapers throughout the country and again, Hinkley should be grateful for the publicity the situation is receiving. One would think local environmental activists would be equally grateful. See “Brockovich returns to Hinkley.”
iePolitics: So where are Barstow Steve and Norm Diaz now?
The discovery of the spreading plume of tainted water in Hinkley has been receiving a bit of publicity largely because of the movie Erin Brockovich. The issue with Chromium 6 and its devastation to the people of Hinkley was chronicled in the movie back in 2000. And it’s back.
After all the lies and misinformation about Nursery Products, LLC over a compost facility that would do nothing to harm the people of Hinkley or their water, one has to wonder where Barstow Steve and Norm Diaz, the agitators of HelpHinkley.org, are at now. Both Steve and Norm seem to be missing in action.
SFGate: Hinkley water tainted by chromium 6 spreading
Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer
San Francisco Chronicle November 8, 2010 04:00 AM
Monday, November 8, 2010
The creeping plume of chemically laced drinking water that plagued the Mojave Desert town of Hinkley and led to a major motion picture about the scandal has continued to spread despite a long-standing order for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to clean up the mess.
Higher than normal levels of cancer-causing hexavalent chromium, or chromium 6, have been detected over the past year in groundwater more than a half-mile beyond the previous boundary of contamination in the San Bernardino County farming community, water quality regulators revealed last week.
SbGrapevine: Mitzelfelt Gains Statewide Profile with Global Warming Suspension
AB32, written by Assembly members Fabian Nunez and Fran Pavley, was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 27, 2006. It is known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
The Act requires that the level of greenhouse emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, with the first reductions required to begin in 2012. Greenhouse gases include:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
It is estimated that, based on levels in 2006 when the bill was passed, greenhouse gases would have to be reduced by 25 percent. Opponents to the Act argue this is an impossible goal at this time with today’s technology without forcing a number of industries to move out of California. The Act is considered a “job killer” in a state where unemployment has reached near all-time highs.
iePolitics: Nursery Products – Being a good neighbor
As I researched the science and history behind the composting site proposed by Nursery Products, LLC, I think what stood out most was that hysteria and hatred completely replaced logic and common sense. It seems many of those who so adamantly oppose this project have likely never read a scientific study regarding the safety of biosolids, visited the nearest composting site outside Bakersfield, or even been to the Hinkley site to observe its isolation for themselves. If they had, they would see what Nursery Products is doing to be a good neighbor and protect the environment, including that of Hinkley. Instead they prefer to direct their deep-seated hatred at those who are easy targets rather than looking for the real evildoers.
iePolitics: Consumed by human waste – The good news
It is natural for us to be suspect of new technology and scientific discovery. We know from experience that there can be unintended negative results when new concepts are rushed through for approval and widespread use without proper vetting. At the same time there is some awesome work being done to make our planet greener that is based on years of solid scientific study.
We discussed the windmills in Sam’s Club parking lots, which are so darn cute and such an unobtrusive way to generate electricity, not too long ago. Our local Kohl’s get much of its power from solar panels installed at the store. More and more yard lighting can now be accomplished also through solar energy.
iePolitics: Consumed by human waste
Dairy farm situated across from the Hinkley store and just down the street from the Hinkley Elementary School
In recent weeks we have been exploring the environmental movement in California in general and one company’s attempt to build a green project in San Bernardino County specifically. As I have researched the issues surrounding the compost facility Nursery Products LLC has proposed to build in a remote desert location eight miles west of Hinkley, I am left wondering why anyone wants to do business in county of San Bernardino or the state of California.
Entrepreneurship in California seems to be a four-letter word. Businessmen are at the mercy of far-reaching, overstepping regulations and zealous regulators as well as environmental wackos and other fringe groups. But what is particularly odd in this case is that the project proposed is a green, good-for-the-environment type of project yet it is the environmental do-gooders who have been the biggest and most vocal opponents. We have learned that the only “green” environmentalists care about is that found in a Benjamin.
iePolitics: Environmentalists and the Environment – Part 4
Hinkley's southeast side just down the street from PG&E
In 2003 Los Angeles’ most popular radio talk show hosts, KFI’s John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, broke wide open a shake-down scheme by the Trevor law firm. Trevor used a little-known section of California’s Business and Professions Code to file or threaten to file lawsuits against small businesses, especially auto repair shops and restaurants, and then offer to settle if the businesses agreed to pay up.
The “wrongdoing” by these businesses was trivial in nature and often only wrong due to odd or restrictive interpretations of the law. For example, one suit was threatened because a nail salon used the same bottle of fingernail polish on more than one client.
Businesses found it was less expensive to pay up than to retain legal counsel and fight the lawsuits. Trevor would have extorted over $20 million from these businesses had Attorney General Bill Lockyear not become involved and shut down Trevor’s scam.
As I have researched the “environmental” movement behind the opposition to the biosolids component of composting and recycling, I have been reminded often of the Trevor scam of a few years ago. What is good for the environment and taxpayers alike has taken a backseat to the financial gain of so-called “environmental” activists and their greedy lawyers who use loopholes in environmental law and the permitting process to extort large sums of money from California companies even when those companies are creating a green product.
iePolitics: Biosolids
I am in the process of writing the next article in the series entitled “Environmentalists and the Environment” and came across the article below. I thought it was interesting and it also in a roundabout way underlines the need for facilities other than McCarthy Farms.
Los Angeles Honored for Converting Biosolids Into Green Power
LOS ANGELES, California, April 1, 2009 (ENS) – An demonstration project by the City of Los Angeles that turns biosolids into clean energy has been named as a semi-finalist for the 2009 Award for Innovations in American Government. The award is presented annually by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
The Terminal Island Renewable Energy, or TIRE, project is the nation’s first aimed at producing green energy from a renewable bio-resource. The resource is biosolids – the organic materials remaining after treatment of domestic sewage at a wastewater treatment facility.
The TIRE project is the nation’s first and only full scale application of deep well injection technology to convert biosolids into green power while simultaneously sequestering greenhouse gases. The Earth’s high temperature biodegrades organic compounds to generate methane gas to produce renewable energy.
iePolitics: Josie Gonzales: Is she stupid or just plain dumb?
Almost two years ago I argued with a chief or staff or two as to why it would be wrong and unethical for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to bypass Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales and give the vice-chairmanship to newcomer First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. Josie had paid her dues; it was her turn in the rotation; and it would look bad, not only because she was the only minority and woman on the board, but also because the corruption scandal was just heating up and no one really knew at that time if Mitzelfelt would be dragged into it as Postmus’ chief of staff. We wrote a number of articles chastising the board for even considering not electing her to the position she earned.
Today, I will tell you that was the dumbest position we ever took on this blog. I don’t believe that Brad is justified in hating me for most of what he hates me for, but I have to admit I deserve his animosity on this one.
iePolitics: Hinkley vs. Havasu Lake
The center of town, Hinkley, California
The post below is so long, I thought I would respond separately. The biggest thing for me in this issue is that the HelpHinkley people try to make it sound as though Nursery Products is dumping raw sewage in the middle of their school yard. Nothing could be further from the truth.
First, technically, the town of Hinkley doesn’t even exist. It is an area outside of Barstow, near Lenwood. There are no “Welcome to Hinkley” signs on any of its borders nor is there a traditional government-supplied sign indicating population, elevation and boundaries. So where Hinkley begins and ends is subject to interpretation.
iePolitics: From Supervisor Mitzelfelt’s Favorite Havasu Lake Resident
Dear Sharon
At first impression the similarity between the situations at Hinkley and Havasu Lake appears to be Supervisor Mitzelfelts complete disregard for the will of the people.This quasi disenfanchisement has reached a new level in First District, both Havasu lake and Hinkley provide insight into Brads self serving motive of Pandering to Corporate interests at the expense of small town residents that Brad was elected to represent.
InlandPolitics: Lack of investigative reporting reflected in local news stories
- Written by Administrator
- Posted July 12, 2010 at 10:52 am
Reporter Joe Nelson
Sun / Daily Bulletin
Monday, July 12, 2010 – 10:45 am
One thing is obvious these days. Investigative reporting by local newspapers is long gone.
More and more local newspaper reporters are becoming increasingly pliable to ignoring facts when it suits them. A prime example today is a one-sided story in the Barstow Desert Dispatch related to action by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on the Nursery Products LLC – Hawes Composting Facility near Hinkley.
iePolitics: Environmentalists and the Environment – Part Three
It is said that the love of money is the root of all evil and human behavior certainly suggests that the adoration of the almighty greenback brings about the demise of many a man. When we come across a panhandler on the street, some of us will throw change his way while others will look in the opposite direction, assuming he is trying to get something for nothing.
The same goes for charities and non-profits. Some of us take the good works these organizations tout at face value while others look at all who ask for money with skepticism. And casting a critical and inquisitive eye towards non-profits is a wise decision.
iePolitics: Environmentalists and the Environment – Part Two
A view of Hinkley, California from Highway 58
I spent a better part of two days this past week exploring Hinkley, California, trying to get a feel for the community and those who live there. It seems to be an area without definition and little has been written about it, which left me with a lot to learn.
What brought me to Hinkley was research on Nursery Products LLC, a company specializing in organic fertilizer, which is created by combining biosolids and green waste. The company has been going through the permitting process for several years so that it can open a facility in the middle of uninhabited desert 8 miles west of Hinkley. See map: Continue reading
iePolitics: Environmentalists and the Environment – Part One
Anyone who listens to John and Ken on the Los Angeles-based radio station KFI 640 may be left with the impression that all environmentally friendly ideas are costly, with little or no positive effect on the environment. From depletion of the ozone and global warming to Cap and Trade and diesel emissions, environmental concerns are controversial and often seem to be based on less-than-sound scientific data and hypothesis. The environmental do-gooders force upon us an extensive array of rules and regulations with little concern for economic consequences or our ability to implement stringent standards without readily available technology or yet-to-be-made scientific discovery.
Most people do not realize how much we are impacted by environmental regulatory agencies. One of the most powerful in southern California is the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which is not only charged with regulating smoke stacks at the factories of high-polluting industries and the emissions from our automobiles, but also involves itself in almost every aspect of our daily lives, from the cost of our dry cleaning to our romantic interludes (think a cozy dinner at a nice restaurant or cuddling up in front of the fire place on a cool evening). Continue reading
iePolitics: An Exciting New Project in the High Desert
Long-time readers of the blog know that I am a ultra-conservative Reagan Republican except when it comes to animals and the environment where I morph into tree-hugging liberal wacko. So when I was first told about a project here in the desert that had just been approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors but was being met with a great deal of resistance by local environmental activists, I immediately thought this was going to be yet another project achieved through payola of local politicians by big-time developers and the like. Poor Supervisor Mitzelfelt was on the verge of getting ripped a new one on the blog for his callous attitude about the environment.
However, another supporter of the project asked me to take a closer look and read the research before reaching any conclusions. I have read hundreds of pages of material on the project. As it turns out, the project is a win-win-win situation for the citizens of the high desert and even more so for our environment. It will even save the taxpayers money in the long run. I am going to be writing a several-part series about all that I discovered. The first entry will be posted in a couple of days.
So why would our local “environmentalists” be so hostile about the project? Well that answer became apparent with some background checks and a look at 700s/460s. It seems our “environmentalists” are the ones with ties to developers and the competition hundreds of miles away. Also seems some payola has been involved, not in getting the project approved, but instead, in attempting to keep this much-needed project out of the desert. We will provide all the details over the next few weeks, but for now, take a look at the video. You too, keep an open mind as we discuss the science involved as well as the benefits for our local environment, our cities and county, and our residents. This really is a win-win-win situation for everyone but big developers looking to add thousands of new homes in the Silver Lakes area. Brad, you did good on this one!