Joe Romm has a post up at Climate Progress that is highly critical of the U.S. oil industry, his ire no doubt triggered by the news that the American Petroleum Institute (API) is coordinating a series of "Energy Citizen" rallies by oil industry employees that target U.S.
Senators in 21 states.
Romm`s post largely focuses on past efforts by Exxon to influence the debate by emphasizing Exxon`s PAST role in funding others to cast doubt on the science of climate change - a campaign that Exxon appears to have abandoned - and the greater part of the post consists of a requote of a recent commentary by Bloomberg reporter Eric Pooley, “Exxon Works Up New Recipe for Frying the Planet“. It seems to me that neither Romm nor Pooley has done a good job of establishing a case for laying their current ire at the foot of "carbon-tax" Exxon.
I left the following comment at Romm`s blog, and look forward to his response after it slips through moderation:
Joe, I understand your suspicions of Exxon, but even as they are convenient whipping boy, they are not coal firms, which I`m sure you understand are a much greater climate threat and which are treated so favorably under Waxman-Markey.
Moreover, you and Pooley paint over your lack of substantiation with very broad brush strokes that are more fairly directed to other members of the API. Granted Exxon is a bit late, but:
- they have expressly agreed that climate risks merit mitigation policies,
- CEO Rex Tillerson has specifically advocated carbon taxes (for which he is good company with Jim Hansen, most economists - and now even Margo Thorning of the ACCF!),
- they are making substantial investments in climate research and biofuels; and
- they are not supporting the API`s fake "citizens" meetings.
Why is Exxon still Public Enemy #1 for you, and not Peabody and other coals firms - and the states and US government, who are hooked on royalties?
I agree with the many economists who strongly prefer a rebated carbon tax. I would love to hear your scientific and political calculation that leads you to favor cap and trade.