Energy & Environment: Markey Wants Answers on Rare Earths
• Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., "is pressing the Obama administration for information about alleged Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals used in defense and energy technologies, warning of threats to U.S. interests," The Hill reports.
• "Three months after BP capped its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico, the state of Louisiana is still building a chain of sand berms off its coast to block and capture oil even as federal officials and many scientists argue that the effort will prove pointless," the New York Times reports.
• An Idaho couple has "sued the state to stop the shipments by Imperial Oil and ConocoPhillips" to an oil sands site in Canada, "arguing that the" truck loads delivered there "would threaten the integrity of Idaho's historic portion of U.S. 12, as well as the safety of communities that depend on it as the main road in and out of the area," the Times also reports. "National environmental groups and climate change activists are supporting their efforts, seeing a broader opportunity to stall development of Canada's oil sands, which they denounce as a dirty source of energy. "
• "Combating climate change has long taken a back seat to coal production in West Virginia, but in the hard-fought House race in this state's 1st district, global warming hasn't even made it onto the bus," The Hill reports. "In interviews on Thursday, both the Democratic and Republican nominees for Congress voiced skepticism of the science behind global warming, and the Republican, David McKinley, flatly called concerns about climate change 'an attack on coal.'"
Contributor
Allen Schaeffer
Biography provided by participant
Since May 2000, Allen Schaeffer has served as Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum, the nation's leading advocate for clean diesel power. The Diesel Technology Forum is a not-for-profit educational organization representing the nation's leaders in clean diesel technology - engine and equipment manufacturers, fuel refiners and emissions control technology manufacturers.
Founded in 2000, the mission of the DTF is to promote the progress and potential of new clean diesel technology, highlight the economic importance and essential uses of diesel technology, and demonstrate the commitment of industry to addressing legacy products. Through its website www.dieselforum.org, high-profile outreach events and activities and innovative communications initiatives, the Forum serves as the central information resource for policymakers and the media on all things diesel. The Forum promotes advances in diesel technology and works to assure that the diesel industry perspective is included in public policy development and media reporting.
He is an often quoted expert on air pollution and mobile sources, all aspects of diesel engines, fuels and technology, health effects, energy, climate and transportation policy. In his role with the Forum, Schaeffer has forged alliances with environmental advocacy groups to pursue shared objectives and helped advance clean diesel policies and legislation on Capitol Hill, at the US EPA and a number of states around the Country.
He has represented the industry on various EPA federal advisory committees on diesel issues, co-authored op-eds with two United States Senators and the head of a national environmental advocacy group. As the official spokesperson for the DTF, Schaeffer has consistently appeared in numerous top-tier broadcast and print media around the country including CNN, CNBC, NBC Nightly News, the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Fox News. He has testified before both houses of Congress and worked directly with the White House and Senior Administration officials to promote diesel technology as part of key Administration policies and events.
He holds a Masters Degree in environmental health sciences from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD; the oldest school of public health in the country, and a bachelor of science from the University of Maryland.
Prior to joining the Diesel Technology Forum, he served in a series of progressively responsible positions at the American Trucking Associations, concluding as Vice President of Environmental Policy. In that position he, was the chief environmental and energy advisor to 50 state trucking association affiliates and a transportation research foundation.
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