EPA manipulates the FOIA to help Big Green

Ron Arnold, Washington Examiner, Sept. 6, 2013

There they go again.

“The Environmental Protection Agency has been caught placing hurdles in the path of groups it views as hostile or inconvenient to its agenda,” veteran Freedom of Information Act hurdle-jumping attorney Chris Horner told me this week.

Ron Binz Doesn’t Seem to Like Most Power Producers

Today’s Wall Street Journal ran a Letter to the Editor signed by ATI’s Senior Fellows Chris Horner, and Amy Oliver Cooke, and Executive Director, Craig Richardson, along with the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s William Yeatman. The letter was titled: “Ron Binz Doesn’t Seem to Like Most Power Producers: The President’s nominee to chair the FERC, Ron Binz, has shown himself hostile to coal, gas and nuclear electricity generation.” Click here to view the letter.

TANTON: Casualties of the war on coal

Tom Tanton, ATI’s Director of Science & Technology Assessment, Washington Times, August 1, 2013

A war on coal is underway, instigated by a few opposition groups with powerful voices. The World Bank’s announcement to oppose the financing of coal plants overseas is only the latest development in the ongoing debate… Unfortunately, coal opponents regularly overlook the bigger economic picture: Coal provides a reliable energy resource for developing countries that is essential for public health and economic development.

Obama admin may have interfered with fracking studies

Michael Bastasch, Daily Caller, July 29, 2013

Two sources within the Environmental Protection Agency have told government watchdog groups that the Obama administration interfered with investigations of hydraulic fracturing during the 2012 presidential campaign.

Sunday Reflection: The collusion of the climate crowd

By Chris Horner, Washington Examiner, July 6, 2013

Not long ago, the American Tradition Institute initiated a transparency campaign using federal and state freedom of information laws to learn more about how taxpayer-funded academics use their positions to advance a particular agenda. On its face, this should have been welcomed by the Left, which often lays claim to the “transparency” mantle. It is instead causing great angst.

Chris Horner, master of FOIA, bedevils the White House

ERICA MARTINSON, Politico, June 28, 2013

After years of digging political dirt on the climate movement, Chris Horner has suddenly struck gold in stoking the GOP’s transparency crusade against the Environmental Protection Agency.

Global Warming Programs Force Hike in California Power Bills

ALYSSA CARDUCCI, Heartland, June 10, 2013

The California Public Utilities Commission approved large rate hikes in electricity prices due in part to high costs associated with the state’s global warming restrictions.

In Obama’s America, some are more equal than others

Daily Caller, Henry Miller, May 29, 2013

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that the federal government will not classify or treat individuals in a discriminatory manner.

Renewable energy bill gets attention in advertising, court

Megan Schrader, The Gazette, May 22, 2013

Legislation at the center of a radio and newspaper campaign urging the governor’s veto also eliminates an incentive for using renewable energy generated in Colorado. A pending federal lawsuit filed in 2011 challenged the constitutionality of the incentive. Senate Bill 252

Lawmakers to investigate EPA FOIA scandal

Michael Bastasch, The Daily Caller, May 18, 2013

Republican lawmakers are launching an investigation into claims that the Environmental Protection Agency, while giving preferential treatment to environmental groups, made it harder for conservative groups to obtain government records.

EPA inspector general investigating claims agency used fees to block FOIA requests

Michal Conger, Washington Examiner, May 16, 2013

Acting Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Bob Perciasepe has asked the Inspector General for the EPA to investigate claims the agency hindered inquiries by conservative groups by charging fees routinely waived for watchdog and media groups.

EPA addresses bias complaints

Erica Martinson, Politico, May 16, 2013

Amid allegations from House Republicans that it showed a bias for liberal groups, the EPA will audit its fee-waiver process for Freedom of Information Act requests, acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe said Thursday.

NOW BOARDING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SCANDAL TRAIN: THE EPA

John Hayward, Human Events, May 14, 2013

The Environmental Protection Agency would like you to know it can abuse its power to punish Barack Obama’s political enemies as well as the next agency, thank you very much. In this case, it’s more a question of first-class seating and concierge service for Obama’s political allies, while those nasty conservatives get stuck in economy class, behind the jet engine, in the middle seat, right next to the screaming baby…

Green-Energy Activists Declare War on Rural Coloradans

By Institute for Energy Research, May 7, 2013

Some lawmakers in Colorado want to increase the cost of electricity for all Coloradans, especially those in rural areas. Awaiting Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature, SB 252would require rural electric cooperatives to dramatically increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources to 25 percent by 2020, up from the current mandate of 10 percent. This portends unambiguously higher electricity ratesfor Coloradans.

Renewable energy and polyester leisure suits

Greg Walcher, Op-Ed, Denver Post, May 5, 2013

My generation now laughs at the fashions of the 1970s. I personally never liked bell bottoms, white belts, or double-knit polyester leisure suits. But they were all the rage; we wore them or risked appearing uncool.

Watchdog group seeks FOIA records on nonprofit EPA ‘bullied’ out of contract

Michal Conger, Washington Examiner, April 26, 2013

Environmental Protection Agency officials bullied a contractor into cutting ties with an air policy coalition designed to help states with cumbersome EPA clean air rules, the American Tradition Institute said Thursday.

Michal Conger, Washington Examiner, April 9, 2013

Acting Administrator Robert Persiacepe circulated an agency-wide warning to Environmental Protection Agency employees yesterday about complying with the federal Freedom of Information Act.

Dr. David Schnare, Director of ATI’s Environmental Law Center, appeared on The Amy Oliver Show to provide insights into the state’s attempt to “fix” its Renewable Energy Standard mandate with the introduction of Senate Bill 13-252 yesterday. In dropping the bill, members of the Colorado Senate and House admitted that the state’s law imposing a renewable energy standard is unconstitutional. This admission is of national significance and validates the lawsuit brought by the American Tradition Institute on behalf of Colorado ratepayers. In effect, Colorado is telling all states that have similar statutes that they are vulnerable to legal challenge and will have to change their laws to remove preferences for in-state producers.

Listen

Michal Conger, Washington Examiner, April 4, 2013

Allies of the Environmental Protection Agency get preferential treatment while watchdog agencies are stonewalled and charged unlawful fees for information, according to a lawsuit filed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute Thursday morning in U.S. District Court in Washington.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute and the American Tradition Institute have sued for IM chats from Jackson’s “Windsor” account related to Obama administration’s “war on coal,” which the groups say should have been part of the electronic records requests that forced EPA to release the Windsor emails.

Michal Conger, Washington Examiner, April 3, 2013

Two conservative groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for instant- message records for several top officials, including former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s “Richard Windsor” account and Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s choice to succeed Jackson.