Posted on 09/25/2004 10:48:08 PM PDT by timbuck2
January 13, 2000; Thursday 5:34 PM Eastern Time
SECTION: Washington - general news
LENGTH: 397 words
HEADLINE: Clinton Wants Biofuel Production
BYLINE: JENNIFER LOVEN
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY: Aiming to replace fossil fuels with cleaner, renewable energy sources, President Clinton is proposing to more than double federal spending on efforts to turn corn husks, chicken droppings and other waste into power for cars and buildings, White House officials said Thursday.
In his fiscal 2001 budget request to Congress next month, Clinton will ask for $439 million to fund research and grants to aid the production of ''bioenergy'' and other products such as plastics and chemicals created from agricultural waste.
That is $243 million more than the $196 million Congress approved for similar efforts in the current year, said Paul Bledsoe, spokesman for the White House Climate Change Task Force.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
-T
Her eis the full article available on LexisNexis and on AP Archives.
January 13, 2000; Thursday 5:34 PM Eastern Time
SECTION: Washington - general news
LENGTH: 397 words
HEADLINE: Clinton Wants Biofuel Production
BYLINE: JENNIFER LOVEN
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
Aiming to replace fossil fuels with cleaner, renewable energy sources, President Clinton is proposing to more than double federal spending on efforts to turn corn husks, chicken droppings and other waste into power for cars and buildings, White House officials said Thursday.
In his fiscal 2001 budget request to Congress next month, Clinton will ask for $439 million to fund research and grants to aid the production of ''bioenergy'' and other products such as plastics and chemicals created from agricultural waste.
That is $243 million more than the $196 million Congress approved for similar efforts in the current year, said Paul Bledsoe, spokesman for the White House Climate Change Task Force.
The administration hopes to boost the commercial viability of alternative fuels such as ethanol toward the president's goal, set in August, of tripling bio-based energy use by 2010. The key is producing the fuel from agricultural waste or specialty crops such as switchgrass in addition to using grain, such as the corn kernels from which ethanol is primarily made now.
The administration also envisions the use of such waste as an energy source itself, without conversion into a liquid gasoline additive.
Supporters say there are four key benefits: reducing dirty emissions that contribute to global warming; turning waste into marketable products; lowering American dependence on foreign oil; and boosting the struggling farm economy with a new income stream.
''These technologies allow us to use the whole plant, and that is the huge breakthrough,'' Bledsoe said. ''What were formerly known as waste products now have significant market value.''
Biomass energy, generated mostly from lumberyard waste, is currently about 3 percent of the total U.S. energy supply.
A spokesman for GOP Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said new congressional authority may be needed for some of what Clinton wants to do. Still, he welcomed the president's commitment to the promotion of bioenergy.
''There have been major breakthroughs in the technology,'' Andy Fisher said. ''So this is sort of the right time to strike.''
Lugar has his own legislation promoting ''biomass'' development that would authorize $300 million over six years for research. Approved in the Senate, it has received a cooler reception in the House.
LOAD-DATE: January 13, 2000
March 19, 2004 Friday
EDITION: THE WEEK AHEAD
LENGTH: 101 words
EVENT: FORUM - PROGRESSIVE POLICY INSTITUTE (PPI)
SUBJECT: Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) holds a forum on "Kicking America's Oil Habit with Clean Cars."
LOCATION: PPI, 600 Pennsylvania Institute SE, Washington, D.C. -- March 19, 2004
PARTICIPANTS: Greg Dana, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; Dan Lashof, Natural Resources Defense Council; Roger Ballentine, Green Strategies, Inc. and Jan Mazurek, PPI
CONTACT: 202-547-0001; http://www.ppionline.org
LOAD-DATE: March 14, 2004
Roger Ballentine's Resume from his consulting company's website.
http://www.greenstrategies.com/aboutUs/cv_BALLENTINE.html
CURRENT POSITION
Green Strategies Inc. Washington, D.C., President.
PRIOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The White House. Washington, D.C., Chairman, White House Climate Change Task Force, and Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Initiatives. 1999 - 2001.
Headed new White House policy office with responsibilities of managing and developing Administration policy on climate change and of directing Administration strategy on its top land conservation initiative.
Reported directly to the President.
Managed and directed staff of professionals detailed to Task Force from agencies.
Participated at highest levels in Administration policymaking.
Represented the President and the White House in multilateral and bilateral negotiations and consultations around the world.
Presented Administration views to non-governmental and private sector business organizations and entities, often as keynote or featured speaker.
Coordinated and resolved inter-agency disputes over energy, air and land conservation policy.
Conducted outreach and consultation with industry, non-governmental organizations, the Congress and State and local governments.
The White House. Washington, D.C., Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. 1998 -- 1999.
Liaison between The White House and Congress.
Advised White House and Administration policymakers on legislative strategy.
Focused on environmental and energy issues.
Patton, Boggs, L.L.P. Washington, D.C., Partner (1995-1998), Associate (1988-1994).
Legal practice specializing in public policy advocacy, election and campaign finance law, congressional rules and procedures, non-profit law, and congressional investigations.
Provided strategic and political consulting to non-profit and for-profit clients.
U.S. House of Representatives. Washington, D.C., Special Counsel. 1997 - 1998.
Served as outside counsel to Democratic leadership for handling of election challenge.
Clinton-Gore '96. Washington, D.C., Fundraiser on National Finance Staff.
Extensive fundraising activities, working with Finance Director Terence McAuliffe, including fundraising from individuals, associations and corporations.
Georgetown University Law Center. Washington, D.C., Adjunct Professor of Law. 1993- 1995.
Taught course on the law of the political process, including voting rights, political speech, campaign finance and the legislative process.
EDUCATION
Harvard Law School. J.D. Cum Laude; Member, Board of Student Advisors.
University of Connecticut. B.A. Magna Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa, Honors Scholar, Paul A. Taylor Economics Prize, Louis D. Traurig Economics Scholarship.
RELATED SPEAKING AND WRITING EXPERIENCE
Extensive public speaking experience domestically and abroad on topics of energy policy, the environment, law, and politics; included frequent appearances as television commentator on national network/cable programs in the U.S., as well as numerous appearances on European television and radio.
Published articles on same topics in trade journals and news periodicals. Author, "How to Save Kyoto", Opinion-Editorial Page, The Washington Post, July 3, 2001.
BOARDS AND BAR MEMBERSHIPS
Member of the Connecticut, District of Columbia, and United States Supreme Court bars.
Board Member, Solar Electric Light Fund.
Board Member, American Bird Conservancy.
Board Member, American Council for Renewable Energy.
Senior Fellow, Progressive Policy Institute
His resume and recent contributions to Dems would indicate extensive involvement in partisan politics. His resume states:
White House Climate Change Task Force, and Deputy Assistant to the President for Environmental Initiatives. 1999 - 2001.
So, his wife was writing AP stories on his intiatives? Is that ethical?
-T
Didn't you know that media people, since they are the smartest people in the world - make the decisions for all of us about what is or what is not ethical?
***Here Jeff Seabright, who is a colleague from Green Strategies, Inc. Apparently, he also worked for Clinton on the task force.
Executive Office of the President, Washington, DC
Executive Director, White House Task Force on Climate Change, June 1999 - May 2000
Led an inter-agency staff of ten at the White House in formulating Administration policy and programs to address global climate change, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Agriculture and others.
Worked closely with White House agencies and Cabinet departments in directing budget and policy coordination.
Managed White House outreach to industry on sectoral impacts of climate policies and oversaw Administration communications efforts on climate issues. Senior member of the U.S. negotiating team at U.N. climate change meetings.
***Donations
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/index.asp
Results: 1 records found in 0.0000 seconds.
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Donor name: Seabright, Jeff
Cycle(s) selected: 1994
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Total for this search: $250
Contributor
Occupation
Date
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SEABRIGHT, JEFF
WASHINGTON,DC 20015
CIVIL SERVICE
6/29/1994
$250
Democratic National Cmte
Results: 3 records found in 0.0156 seconds.
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Donor name: Seabright, Jeff
Cycle(s) selected: 2002
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Date
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SEABRIGHT, JEFF
ARMONK,NY 10504
TEXACO CORP./VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUB
4/3/2001
$500
Shapiro, Ira S
SEABRIGHT, JEFF
ARMONK,NY 10504
TEXACO CORP./VICE PRESIDENT FOR PUB
12/24/2001
$250
Shapiro, Ira S
SEABRIGHT, JEFF B
ARMONK,NY 10504
CHEVRON TEXACO/EXECUTIVE
12/5/2001
$250
Kerry, John
A classic example of, in Reagan's words, Washinton subsidizing problems, not solving them.
Here is another Loven piece that might benefit her husband's line of work tremendously...
September 8, 2000, Friday, BC cycle
SECTION: Business News; Washington Dateline
LENGTH: 762 words
HEADLINE: Senate panel approves MTBE ban, but resolution this year unlikely
BYLINE: By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
...The EPA is seeking to outlaw MTBE. But the regulatory process could take three years, prompting Congress to step in.
The heated debate over a clean-fuel replacement for MTBE has resulted in a proliferation of bills on Capitol Hill. No bills have made it out of committee in the House.
Smith's bill would allow states to lift the oxygenate requirement. In its place, he proposes a new mandate that the amount of all fuel sold in the country coming from renewable sources nearly triple over the next 10 years to 1.5 percent. Corn-based ethanol or biomass-based fuels would qualify, but refiners could also get credits from the sale of clean vehicles powered by electricity, natural gas or fuel cells.
The legislation would cap the amount of toxic aromatic compounds, such as benzene and xylene, allowed in gasoline and safeguard against a drop in air or water quality.
The bill largely mirrors the Clinton administration's favored approach and EPA chief Carol Browner applauded the committee's product. "Action by Congress clearly is the best and fastest way to address this threat," Browner said.
Ethanol appears in the best position to meet all the requirements, and industry boosters were thus delighted. "It's huge," said Eric Vaughn, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. "One of the committees least positive toward ethanol made it clear they want to triple the size of the ethanol industry..."
-T
Here is a client list from Green Strategies, Inc. website. I guess somebody should see if Jennifer Loven is using the AP to boost their visibility...
-T
http://www.greenstrategies.com/clients/clients.html
Some of our past and current clients include:
The Alliance to Save Energy
Arctic Resources Inc.
Arid Technologies
Blacklight Power Inc.
The CEO Coalition to Advance Sustainable Technology
ChevronTexaco
ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures
The Coca Cola Company
The Conference Board
Citizens International
Energy Conversion Devices
The Energy Foundation
The Environmental Protection Agency
The IGCC Coalition
Ethanol de Costa Rica
Lighting Controls, Inc.
Methanex
The National Wildlife Federation
Northern Power Systems
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Puradyn Filter Technologies
SAIC
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Patnership
The United Nations Foundation
I need to buy some pajamas.
***Jennifer Loven just cannot get enough of this bio-mass stuff. Why is that? Just a personal interest? Was she covering energy policy for the AP in 1999?
The Associated Press State & Local Wire
September 9, 1999, Thursday, PM cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 314 words
HEADLINE: Ewing to lead the charge in House for "biomass" development
BYLINE: By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
Illinois Republican Rep. Tom Ewing wants the House to boost federal spending on researching ways to turn trees, plants and even animal waste into fuel.
The proposal, backed by the Clinton administration, is portrayed by supporters as a way to reduce the nation's dependence on volatile foreign energy markets, and a crucial strike against global warming. Farm-state senators hoping to boost farm incomes are behind it as well.
House Republicans have been slow to endorse the idea. But Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., the lead Senate author and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, asked Ewing to get involved, Ewing spokesman Mike Waldron said.
Ewing planned to introduce the bill today. Lugar's committee passed it in July.
"As the world population is growing, so is the need for a balance between maintaining a healthy environment and affordable power," Ewing said today. "The short-term investment of these research dollars will produce numerous benefits in the long term."
Ewing estimated the use of biomass-based fuel could add $ 30 in revenue per acre for corn farmers.
The legislation would authorize $ 300 million over six years for research into the technology needed to make the new fuels work. The Senate committee also voted, over Lugar's objections, to earmark $ 14 million of the funds for a proposed plant at Southern Illinois University's Edwardswille campus dedicated to making ethanol more cheaply.
The biomass industry is dedicated to finding more efficient ways of using trees, plants and other renewable sources - corn stalks or chicken droppings, for example - to fuel cars, light homes, and propel planes. Advances in this area could reduce emissions that are hazardous to the environment and also provide a multibillion dollar industry for loggers, chemical companies and the nation's farmers.
Reducing the U.S. oil demand is an added plus.
LOAD-DATE: September 9, 1999
***Longer version of article posted above...
-T
September 9, 1999, Thursday, AM cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 357 words
HEADLINE: Ewing to lead the charge in House for "biomass" development
BYLINE: By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
Rep. Tom Ewing, R-Ill., on Thursday became the House's lead booster of an idea being pushed by the Clinton administration and farm-state senators as a way to help clean the environment, augment farm income and reduce American dependence on foreign oil.
The measure Ewing introduced would provide federal dollars to research how to turn "biomass" such as trees, corn husks and even chicken droppings into fuel for cars.
House Republicans have been slow to endorse the measure. But Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., the lead Senate author and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, asked Ewing to get involved, Ewing spokesman Mike Waldron said.
Lugar's committee passed the bill in July.
"As the world population is growing, so is the need for a balance between maintaining a healthy environment and affordable power," Ewing said. "The short-term investment of these research dollars will produce numerous benefits in the long term."
Ewing, of Pontiac, estimated the use of biomass-based fuel could add $ 30 in revenue per acre for corn farmers, who now have no market for their product's stalks, leaves and husks - only its starchy kernel.
The legislation would authorize $ 300 million over six years for research into the technology needed to make the new fuels, and make them work. The Senate committee also voted, over Lugar's objections, to earmark $ 14 million of the funds for a proposed plant at Southern Illinois University's Edwardswille campus dedicated to making ethanol more cheaply.
Ethanol now is made from corn kernels, so some of the research would go toward how to produce it from other parts of the plant.
The biomass industry is dedicated to finding more efficient ways of using trees, plants and other renewable sources to fuel cars, light homes, and propel planes.
Advances in this area could reduce emissions that are hazardous to the environment, thus striking a crucial blow against global warming. It also could provide a multibillion dollar industry for loggers and chemical companies.
Reducing U.S. oil demand, and thus the nation's dependance on volatile foreign energy markets, is an added plus.
LOAD-DATE: September 9, 1999
I am beginning to sense there is a certain symbiotic relationship here...
Let's see. Loven writes incessantly about fuel additives. Her husband's colleague, Jeff Seabright, from both the Clinton Administration and Green Strategies, worked for Chevron Texaco and it just so happens that they produced just the kind of additive Loven mentions in the following article...
July 28, 1999, Wednesday, PM cycle
SECTION: State and Regional
LENGTH: 644 words
HEADLINE: Gas additive phase-out not expected to hit drivers too hard
BYLINE: By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
Energy experts cautiously predict that Americans are unlikely to see much higher gasoline prices because of the Environmental Protection Agency's wish to curtail use of a common fuel additive.
...
Another possible alternative is a blend of alkalytes and aromatics, which are derived from crude oil, though neither is an oxygenate. Aromatics are slightly less expensive than ethanol, but pose risks of increased toxic emissions. Alkalytes, though clean burning, are low-octane and would require pricey capital investment.
Here is a Chevron June 1997 press release.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=105&STORY=/www/story/6-17-97/259127
Chevron Chemical to Build World-Scale Aromatics Plant in Thailand
SAN RAMON, Calif., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Chevron Chemical Co. today
announced it has entered into a 60-40 joint-venture agreement with the
Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) to proceed with engineering for a
world-scale aromatics facility in Map Ta Phut, Thailand.
Total investment for the facility -- which would begin production in the
year 2000 -- is estimated at $1 billion. It would produce annually
675,000 tons of paraxylene and 600,000 tons of benzene.
The Thai Cabinet approved PTT's 40 percent participation in the project.
The new complex will be located in the Star Petroleum Refinery Complex (SPRC).
SPRC is a joint venture between PTT and Caltex, a Chevron affiliate.
The facility will produce paraxylene and benzene utilizing Chevron's and
Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP) Eluxyl(R) and Chevron's Aromax(R)
technologies. Paraxylene is a petrochemical feedstock used in the manufacture
of polyester fibers, plastic bottles and film. Benzene is a petrochemical
feedstock used in the manufacture of plastics, carpets, automotive parts, and
building materials.
"This plant is part of our strategy to combine Aromax(R) technology for
benzene and Eluxyl(R) technology for paraxylene and expand aggressively in the
Asia Pacific region, an area that will have the highest demand growth for
these chemicals over the next decade," said Chevron Chemical Senior Vice
President Darry Callahan.
PTT's Dr. Viroj Mavichak, executive director petrochemical sector group
stated, "This project will provide more than 200 long-term jobs for Thailand
and provide several thousand jobs during construction. It also supports PTT's
strategy to grow the petrochemical business in Thailand."
Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., Chevron Chemical is a wholly owned
subsidiary of San Francisco-based Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CHV).
SOURCE Chevron Corp.
Okay, so Jeff Seabright left the Clinton administration in May of 2000 to work for ChevronTexaco, Inc. ChevronTexaco, Inc. happens to make fuel additives. It also happens ot be a client of Green Strategies, Inc. founded by Loven's husband. Loven rights tons of articles about the outlawing of MBTE and the need for a substitute technology... Hmmmm...
http://www.greenstrategies.com/aboutUs/bioSeabright.html
Jeff Seabright serves as Director of Green Strategies. Jeff joined the U.S. State Department in 1981 on special assignment to NATO. Following positions in the offices of Sen. John Rockefeller in 1985 and Tim Wirth in 1988, he accepted a position with the Agency for International Development in 1993, later serving as its Director of Energy, Environment & Technology. He moved to the White House in 1999 as Executive Director of the Climate Change Task Force and subsequently joined Texaco as Vice President for Policy Planning. Reporting directly to the Chairman, he had overall responsibility for key areas of public policy and corporate governance, including sustainable development, human rights and corporate social responsibility.
With the merger of Chevron and Texaco, Mr. Seabright led the enterprise-wide planning effort on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development. He currently is a partner with Green Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm focused on energy and environmental issues. He earned a Master's degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics, and serves on the Boards of the Keystone Center, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Houston Advanced Research Center.
http://www.greenstrategies.com/aboutUs/cv_SEABRIGHT.html
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
ChevronTexaco, Inc., San Francisco, CA
Principal Adviser, Corporate Social Responsibility, October 2001 - Present
Responsible for leading multi-disciplinary, enterprise-wide strategy review of corporate social responsibility and sustainable development policies for the corporation.
Lead executive for corporate representation on corporate responsibility and sustainable development issues with external stakeholders, including NGOs, governments, trade associations, and peers and competitors.
Responsible for corporate planning and participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development
Texaco, Inc., White Plains, NY
Vice President, Policy Planning, May 2000 - October 2001
Reporting directly to the Chairman and CEO of a Fortune 100 company, responsible for establishing corporate policies on key environmental, public policy and governance issues, including climate change, security, human rights, and sustainable development.
Work closely with business units to assure alignment of corporate policy with business practices, including training programs, and with Communications and Investor Relations to benefit image and reputation/shareholder value on sensitive public policy issues.
Serve as Chair of "Global Issues Council" of senior executives responsible for identifying and analyzing key issues impacting the corporation. Member of senior executive "Operations Council" tasked with operational excellence in safety, security and performance.
Led transition planning team on Corporate Social Responsibility for ChevronTexaco.
Executive Office of the President, Washington, DC
Executive Director, White House Task Force on Climate Change, June 1999 - May 2000
Led an inter-agency staff of ten at the White House in formulating Administration policy and programs to address global climate change, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of State, Department of Agriculture and others.
Worked closely with White House agencies and Cabinet departments in directing budget and policy coordination.
Managed White House outreach to industry on sectoral impacts of climate policies and oversaw Administration communications efforts on climate issues. Senior member of the U.S. negotiating team at U.N. climate change meetings.
U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, DC
Director, Office of Energy, Environment & Technology, November 1994 - June 1999
Directed U.S. government programs in energy and environment in Asia, Africa and Latin America with a Washington-based staff of 24 employees.
Managed environmental programs in over 20 countries, providing technical, policy, legal, financial and regulatory assistance to a wide range of public and private partners.
Designed a U.S. $1 billion environmental five -year program announced at the United Nations. Served as Co-chair of the Environmental Technology Export Initiative.
http://www.hillnews.com/lobbying/012203.aspx
LOBBYING WORLD
• Green Strategies Inc., the energy and conservation consulting firm founded in 2001 by former Clinton White House advisor Roger Ballentine, has added two new consultants to its roster. Jeff Seabright, who worked with Ballentine on the White House Climate Change Task Force, was named managing director, and Genevieve Cullen was named senior vice president for government affairs.
Seabright joins the firm after a stint as vice president for policy planning at Texaco. Cullen comes from Capitol Hill, where she served as energy counsel in the office of Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.).
Again, I am not an expert, but is it ethical for a journalist to be writing about the companies with which her husband dealt while a member of government and then in his capacity as a paid consultant? Seems a bit odd to me. It would appear Jennifer Loven has used her husband or his associates as sources for dozens of her AP stories over the years. Is this not a conflict of interest? Can somebody from the journalism world help me out on this one?
-T
It's pretty obvious why she didn't take her husband's name--it would give to much away.
Nice work rounding all this stuff up, btw; further evidence that the internet is going to be the death of the left-wing dinosaur MSM outlets.
As for the ethics, I wouldn't have a problem with her reporting on stuff like this, but she should disclose the facts that give rise to a potential bias. The problem here is the extent to which she and the AP went to cloak who she was.
Great work. I'm not an expert either, but it sure smells unethical to me. How does a "reputable" news organization let stuff like this go on unabated? Someone here will be able to give you a definite answer on the ethics question.
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