Energy Task Force

When Energy Secretary Steven Chu talks about how Americans can break their addiction to oil and coal, he starts with his hi-fi amplifier. It's so old that the on-off light burned out long ago. But inside lies a technology that -- in its day -- was as revolutionary as the changes needed to solve the nation's energy problems. Radios, telephones and other electronics once depended on fragile vacuum tubes the size of small light bulbs.

The chairman of the Sierra Club, one of the nation's most influential environmental groups, has stepped down amid discontent that the group founded by 19th century wilderness evangelist John Muir has strayed from its core principles. The departure of Carl Pope, 66, a member of the club for more than 40 years, comes as the nonprofit group faces declining membership, internal dissent, well-organized opponents, a weak economy and forces in Congress trying to take the teeth out of environmental regulations.

Re "Bright Light Must Shine on Energy Policymaking," Opinion, Dec. 21: Peabody's public offering had nothing to do with the Bush administration's energy task force, and the company was not aware of the timing or content of the report. The public offering was anticipated in May 1998 and was in full preparation during the Clinton-Gore administration. And the offering was well received in May 2001 (as were secondary offerings in April 2002, May 2003 and July 2003) because: (1)

When Energy Secretary Steven Chu talks about how Americans can break their addiction to oil and coal, he starts with his hi-fi amplifier. It's so old that the on-off light burned out long ago. But inside lies a technology that -- in its day -- was as revolutionary as the changes needed to solve the nation's energy problems. Radios, telephones and other electronics once depended on fragile vacuum tubes the size of small light bulbs.

A federal appeals court dealt a setback to the Bush administration Tuesday, refusing to stop a lawsuit delving into Vice President Dick Cheney's contacts with the energy industry as his task force was drafting the White House's energy policy. In a 2-1 ruling, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected the government's arguments that the lawsuit would be an unconstitutional intrusion on the operations of the executive office of the president.

The chairman of the Sierra Club, one of the nation's most influential environmental groups, has stepped down amid discontent that the group founded by 19th century wilderness evangelist John Muir has strayed from its core principles. The departure of Carl Pope, 66, a member of the club for more than 40 years, comes as the nonprofit group faces declining membership, internal dissent, well-organized opponents, a weak economy and forces in Congress trying to take the teeth out of environmental regulations.

A federal judge warned Bush administration lawyers Friday that he would reject efforts to block the release of records on Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force unless the White House provides specific reasons. At a hearing on two lawsuits, the Justice Department revealed that Secretary of State Colin Powell may have been invited to some of the task force meetings. The department provided no details. U.S. District Judge Emmet G.

Vice President Dick Cheney may be spending too much time in underground bunkers. His refusal to hand over information to Congress about secret meetings of his energy task force last spring with corporate executives, including Enron's, suggests that he has become blinded to the fact that democracy relies on open government.

Congressional investigators Wednesday demanded that Vice President Dick Cheney make available records of private meetings that he and other White House officials held with outside interests while crafting a national energy policy. Escalating a confrontation with the administration, the General Accounting Office warned that if the information is not provided within 20 days, the agency will take the unusual step of seeking a court order to compel the White House to release the documents.

The Justice Department urged a federal appeals court Friday to reconsider the continuation of a lawsuit seeking information about energy industry influence on a White House energy task force led by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday urged that oil company executives be summoned back to Capitol Hill to testify -- this time under oath -- about whether they participated in Vice President Dick Cheney's energy policy task force. Democrats also said they wanted to ask more questions about the industry's record profits at a time of high energy prices. But Sen.

In the latest legal challenge to the secrecy surrounding Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force, a federal judge Thursday ordered the Bush administration to release thousands of pages of records on the panel's deliberations. U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled that the "agency records" kept at the Energy and Interior departments fall outside the secrecy shield surrounding the president and vice president.

If "Democrats Look for That Winning Edge" (Jan. 13), they will find it. Only one of the Democratic presidential contenders has shown that he can stand up against mud and criticism hurled at him ceaselessly and maintain his cool and dignity. That's Howard Dean. No uncontrollable temper outbursts and wild retaliations. The eventual Democratic candidate will have to withstand the vicious, cynical onslaught being prepared by the President Bush-Karl Rove campaign machine and then hit back hard.

Re "Bright Light Must Shine on Energy Policymaking," Opinion, Dec. 21: Peabody's public offering had nothing to do with the Bush administration's energy task force, and the company was not aware of the timing or content of the report. The public offering was anticipated in May 1998 and was in full preparation during the Clinton-Gore administration. And the offering was well received in May 2001 (as were secondary offerings in April 2002, May 2003 and July 2003) because: (1)

Last month, after voices as diverse as the Wall Street Journal and the Nation magazine, the Sierra Club and the Cato Institute blasted the Bush administration's omnibus energy bill as a massive betrayal of the public trust, a group of senators led by California Democrat Barbara Boxer and Arizona Republican John McCain stalled its consideration for this session of Congress. That's a good thing.

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider erecting a shield of secrecy around Vice President Dick Cheney and the other close advisors to the president whenever they are discussing official business. The justices voted to hear the Bush administration's appeal of a judge's order that would require Cheney to turn over documents describing who participated in formulating President Bush's national energy policy in 2001.

Re "Probe of Energy Task Force Ends," Aug. 26: It is an outrage that Vice President Dick Cheney has successfully stonewalled the General Accounting Office by refusing it information on the energy task force he headed. And where does The Times put this information? On Page A17. It should be on the front page. In fact, Cheney's underhanded, willful manipulation of the energy crisis is the root cause of California's present financial disaster. We should have a special prosecutor to force Cheney to comply.

A federal judge Friday rejected efforts by the Bush administration to resist handing over documents related to a White House energy task force headed by Vice President Dick Cheney. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan approved a public interest law firm's plan for preliminary fact-finding, which seeks records relating to the workings of the task force and who it met with. Sullivan gave the Justice Department 30 days to object to or comply with the request.

Re "Probe of Energy Task Force Ends," Aug. 26: It is an outrage that Vice President Dick Cheney has successfully stonewalled the General Accounting Office by refusing it information on the energy task force he headed. And where does The Times put this information? On Page A17. It should be on the front page. In fact, Cheney's underhanded, willful manipulation of the energy crisis is the root cause of California's present financial disaster. We should have a special prosecutor to force Cheney to comply.

After more than two years and an unprecedented lawsuit, congressional investigators declared Monday that they were unable to determine how much influence industry groups wielded in shaping the Bush administration's energy policy.