The Oil Drum

Green election talk heats up

The Conservative government has drawn an election battle line after opposition parties massively overhauled its Clean Air Act.

A special Commons committee that finished studying the act yesterday included a provision to punish industrial polluters with heavy fines, and Tory MP Mark Warawa said that could lead to "billions of dollars of new taxes."

The House of Commons adjourns today for a two-week Easter break, and when it returns a vote on the bill amended by the committee dominated by opposition party MPs could spark an election. There is speculation that an election could be called in mid-April for either May 28 or June 4.

This is a photo of the "Walk for Democracy" folks who walked 16 miles, the length of Staten Island, from the Conference House to Borough Hall to raise awareness about participating in the democratic process. Hats off to them, including my Dad on the right holding the "Veterans for Democracy" sign. Democracy is not a spectator sport - participate today.

It should be an interesting night here in NY State and around the country. This could be a real turning point in getting back on the path to addressing our city's, state's and nation's energy dilemma.

If you don't know where your polling site is, click here.