Author: Serkadis

02.03.10 10:00 AM

WASHINGTON – El Presidente Barack Obama anunció el miércoles una serie de medidas que su gobierno está tomando como parte de su estrategia integral para aumentar la independencia energética de Estados Unidos a la vez que se construyen las bases para una nueva economía basada en la energía limpia, y su promesa de nuevos sectores industriales y millones de empleos.

En una reunión con un grupo de gobernadores de ambos partidos y de todo el país, el Presidente dio a conocer tres medidas que trabajarán conjuntamente para impulsar la producción de biocombustibles y reducir nuestra peligrosa dependencia del petróleo extranjero. La Agencia de Protección Ambiental (Environmental Protection Agency o EPA) ha establecido una norma para implementar el estándar de combustibles renovables a largo plazo de 36,000 millones de galones para el 2022 que el Congreso estableció. El Departamento de Agricultura de Estados Unidos ha propuesto una norma para el Programa de Asistencia para Cultivos de Biomasa (Biomass Crop Assistance Program o BCAP) que proporcionaría financiamiento para aumentar la conversión de biomasa a bioenergía. El Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional sobre Biocombustibles del Presidente (Biofuels Interagency Working Group) dio a conocer su primer informe, El cultivo de combustibles para Estados Unidos (Growing America’s Fuel). El informe, redactado por los presidentes del grupo, los secretarios Vilsack y Chu, y la administradora Jackson, presenta una estrategia para promover el desarrollo y la comercialización de un sector sostenible de biocombustibles para cumplir o superar los objetivos del país con respecto a biocombustibles.

Además, el Presidente Obama anunció un Memorando Presidencial (enlace más abajo) que crea un Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional sobre la Captación y Almacenaje de Carbono (Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage) a fin de formular una estrategia federal integral y coordinada para acelerar el desarrollo y la implementación de la tecnología de carbón limpio. Nuestra economía nacional continuará dependiendo de la existencia y el costo del carbón nacional durante varias décadas para satisfacer sus necesidades energéticas, y entretanto, estos avances son necesarios para reducir la contaminación. El Presidente propone de cinco a diez proyectos comerciales que sirvan como ejemplo y que estén en marcha para el 2016.

El Presidente Obama afirmó: “Ahora, creo que debemos aprobar una medida integral de energía y clima. Hará de la energía limpia el tipo rentable de energía, y la decisión de otros países de hacer esto ya les está dando a sus empresas una ventaja para generar empleos y tecnología de energía limpia. Pero incluso si no están de acuerdo conmigo sobre la amenaza que representa el cambio climático, invertir en empleos y empresas de energía limpia sigue siendo lo correcto para nuestra economía. La reducción de nuestra dependencia del petróleo extranjero sigue siendo lo acertado para nuestra seguridad. No podemos darnos el lujo de no producir resultados mientras el resto del mundo avanza a toda máquina”.

“La promoción de la producción de biomasa y biocombustible tiene el potencial de generar empleos verdes, que es una de las muchas maneras en que el gobierno del Presidente Obama está trabajando para reconstruir y revitalizar las regiones rurales de Estados Unidos”, afirmó el secretario de Agricultura Tom Vilsack. “Se deben diseñar, construir y operar instalaciones que produzcan combustible renovable con biomasa. Además, el BCAP estimulará la producción de biomasa que beneficiará a los productores y proporcionará los materiales necesarios para generar energía limpia y reducir la contaminación con carbono”.
“El Presidente Obama y su gobierno se han comprometido firmemente al desarrollo de tecnología de captación y almacenaje de carbono como aspecto clave de la economía de energía limpia. Podemos y debemos ser líderes del mundo en esta tecnología y los empleos que puede generar”, declaró el secretario de Energía Steven Chu.

“Las medidas que el Presidente Obama ha tomado hoy generarán empleos, reducirán significativamente las emisiones de gas de invernadero y aumentarán nuestra seguridad energética, a la vez que ayudarán a que Estados Unidos esté a la vanguardia de la nueva economía energética”, aseguró Lisa P. Jackson, administradora de la EPA. “Los estándares para combustibles renovables ayudarán a generar nuevas oportunidades económicas para millones de estadounidenses, particularmente en las regiones rurales de Estados Unidos. La EPA se enorgullece de ser parte del esfuerzo del Presidente para combatir el cambio climático y volver a poner a los estadounidenses a trabajar tanto por medio de los nuevos estándares de combustible renovable como por medio de nuestra dirección, conjuntamente con el Departamento de Energía, del Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional sobre la Captación y Almacenaje de Carbono”.
Información de trasfondo sobre el anuncio de hoy:

Estándar de combustibles renovables. La EPA ha establecido una norma que implementa el mandato de combustibles renovables a largo plazo de 36,000 millones de galones para el 2022 que el Congreso estableció. El Estándar de Combustibles Renovables requiere que la producción de biocombustibles aumente con relación a la del año pasado de 11,100 millones de galones a 36,000 millones de galones en el 2022, y 21,000 millones de galones provendrán de biocombustibles avanzados. El aumento de combustibles renovables reducirá la dependencia del petróleo en más de 328 millones de barriles al año y reducirá la emisión de gases de invernadero en más de 138 millones de toneladas métricas al año cuando se implemente plenamente para el 2022. Por primera vez, algunos combustibles renovables deben lograr una reducción en la emisión de gases, con relación a combustibles como la gasolina y el diesel que reemplacen, para que se considere que cumplen con los estándares de volumen. Para leer la norma completa, sírvase pulsar AQUI.

Programa de Asistencia para Cultivos de Biomasa. El Departamento de Agricultura (USDA por sus siglas en inglés) propuso una norma para el Programa de Asistencia para Cultivos de Biomasa a fin de convertir la biomasa en bioenergía y productos con base biológica. El USDA otorga subvenciones y préstamos, además de otra ayuda monetaria, para contribuir a la comercialización de biocombustibles y energía renovable. El BCAP ya ha comenzado a otorgar pagos de contrapartida a las personas que producen biomasa para la recolección, cosecha, almacenaje y transporte de biomasa a instalaciones de conversión de biomasa que cumplan con los requisitos. Para leer la norma completa, sírvase pulsar AQUI.

Grupo de Trabajo sobre Biocombustibles: En mayo, el Presidente Obama creó el Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional sobre Biocombustibles, presidido conjuntamente por los departamentos de Agricultura y Energía y la EPA, y con aportes de muchas otras entidades a fin de formular una estrategia integral para acelerar la inversión en biocombustibles estadounidenses y su producción, y reducir nuestra dependencia de hidrocarburos. Hoy, el Grupo de Trabajo dio a conocer su primer informe: Growing America’s Fuel, una nueva estrategia del gobierno de Estados Unidos para cumplir o superar las metas de biocombustible del país. El informe se centra en soluciones gubernamentales sólidas a corto plazo para respaldar el actual sector de biocombustibles, como también en acelerar la creación comercial de biocombustibles avanzados y un mercado viable a largo plazo para transformar la manera en que el gobierno de Estados Unidos opera por medio de sus diversos departamentos y hacer uso de sociedades estratégicas entre el sector público y el privado. Para leer el informe completo, sírvase pulsar AQUI.

Memorando Presidencial sobre una estrategia federal estratégica para la captación y el almacenaje del carbono: Fijar el curso hacia el carbón limpio es esencial para lograr los objetivos de energía limpia de la Administración, apoyar empleos estadounidenses y reducir las emisiones de contaminación con carbono. El rápido desarrollo e implementación de tecnología de carbón limpio, particularmente la captación y almacenaje de carbono, ayudarán a posicionar a Estados Unidos como líder en la carrera mundial hacia la energía limpia. El memorando del Presidente crea el Grupo de Trabajo Interinstitucional sobre la Captación y Almacenaje de Carbono a fin de formular una estrategia federal integral y coordinada para acelerar el desarrollo y la implementación de la tecnología de carbón limpio.

El Grupo de Trabajo será presidido conjuntamente por representantes del Departamento de Energía y la EPA, e incluirá participantes de por lo menos 9 agencias y oficinas distintas. El Grupo de Trabajo formulará al cabo de 180 días un plan con el objetivo de superar los obstáculos para la implementación de la captación y el almacenaje del carbono generalizados y económicos dentro de 10 años con el objetivo de poner en práctica cinco proyectos comerciales que sirvan como ejemplo para el 2016. El plan debe abordar incentivos para la adopción de sistemas de captación y almacenaje del carbono y todo obstáculo para su implementación, ya sea financiero, económico, tecnológico, jurídico institucional o de otro tipo. El Grupo de Trabajo debe considerar la mejor manera de coordinar los esfuerzos de las actuales autoridades y programas federales, como también identificar asuntos que requerirán potestad federal adicional. El presidente del Consejo sobre Calidad Ambiental le informará al Presidente periódicamente sobre los logros alcanzados por el Grupo de Trabajo. Para leer el memorando completo, sírvase pulsar AQUI.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.03.10 03:32 PM

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Pursuant to section 1255 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111-84), and in order to keep the Congress fully informed, I am providing a classified report prepared by my Administration. This report includes information on our examination of the conduct of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from June 26, 2008, through November 16, 2009, and concludes that the DPRK does not meet the statutory criteria to again be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.03.10 04:01 PM

Committee to advise on the preservation of objects in the White House’s public spaces

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House. Committee members will advise on the preservation and interpretation of the museum character of the public rooms on the Ground Floor and State Floor of the White House and on additions to the permanent White House collection of fine art and decorative arts objects.

The Committee, created in 1964 by Executive Order, is tasked with advising the President, the First Lady, and the Director of the National Park Service on preserving the museum quality of the public spaces of the White House. It works closely with the Executive Residence staff, especially the White House curator, and with the White House Historical Association, a supporting non-profit organization, that administers the White House Endowment Trust and the White House Acquisition Trust used to support the refurbishing projects and finance acquisitions.

First Lady Michelle Obama said, “One of our priorities has been to open the doors of the White House, invite more visitors in and truly make it the ‘People’s House’. When people come here for public tours and events, we want them to have a truly educational and enjoyable experience. As a partner in this effort, the Committee for the Preservation of the White House will advise us on what modifications and acquisitions need to be made so that the White House remains an historically accurate, open, living museum.”

President Obama said, “I’m grateful that such a diverse and accomplished group of people have agreed to devote their talents to ensuring that the White House provides an inspirational and enlightening experience for its visitors.”

President Obama announced today his intent to appoint the following individuals:

Pamela Bass-Bookey, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Pamela Bass-Bookey is co-developer and design consultant for the recently restored Temple for Performing Arts; an award winning historic preservation project. She is the President of the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation and is a trustee of Drake University and the Des Moines Art Center. She also is a member of the Board of Directors of numerous educational, art, and cultural institutions. Ms. Bass-Bookey co-founded the History Series at the Salisbury House; a historic century-old house museum. For 25 years, she was the owner of Bookey Fine Arts, an art consulting business.

Lonnie Bunch, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Lonnie Bunch is founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He was appointed to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House in 2002. Mr. Bunch has previously served as the President of the Chicago Historical Society, and as Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the National Museum of American History. Mr. Bunch has served on the advisory boards of the American Association of Museums and the American Association of State and Local History. In 2005, Bunch was named one of the 100 most influential museum professionals of the 20th century by the American Association of Museums.

Robert G. Clark, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Robert G. Clark is Chairman and CEO of Clayco, Inc., one of the nation’s largest, privately owned real estate, architecture, engineering, design, and construction firms. He is a member of board of directors of LaBarge, Inc., a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven companies in diverse industrial markets. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Louis University and is the former president of the Board of Managers for the Central Institute for the Deaf.

Thelma Golden, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Thelma Golden is Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, an institution devoted to artists of African descent, locally, nationally and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by black culture. Golden was the museum’s Deputy Director for Exhibitions before assuming the directorship in 2005; prior to that, she worked as a curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Golden is a board member of the Institute of International Visual Arts, a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors and was a 2008 Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. She earned a BA in art history from Smith College in 1987.

Richard H. Jenrette, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Richard H. Jenrette was a founding partner of the investment firm Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and was instrumental in taking DLJ public in 1970, making it the first publicly traded securities firm in the United States. In 1990, he became Chairman and CEO of The Equitable Life Assurance Society until 1996. Since retiring, he has continued his focus on restoring historic homes and has published several books, including Jenrette: The Contrarian Manager and Adventures With Old Houses. He has served as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received the National Trust for Historic Preservation Crowninshield Award, the National Trust’s highest honor. He currently serves as Chair of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust and as a Director of The Blackstone Group.

Lew Manilow, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Lew Manilow is founder and former President of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. He is also the Honorary President of the Goodman Theatre, a Lifetime Trustee of the Art Institute of Chicago, a member of the Board for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Manilow was Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Public Diplomacy and served on the Board of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Progressive Policy Institute, and the Chicago Community Trust. In 2000, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts for his efforts in restoring the Theater District in downtown Chicago.

Richard C. Nylander, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Richard C. Nylander is curator emeritus of Historic New England (formerly The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities), a Boston-based preservation organization that manages 35 historic house museums from Connecticut to Maine and maintains a collection of more than 120,000 artifacts relating to the cultural heritage of New England. He is an internationally recognized authority on historic wallpapers and has written and lectured widely on the subject. He has served as a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House since 1990 and participated in the extensive refurbishment of the Blue Room, the State Dining Room and the Lincoln Bedroom. Mr. Nylander holds a Master’s degree in Museum Administration and studied English at the College of William & Mary.

Linda Johnson Rice, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Linda Johnson Rice is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Publishing Company, Inc. which publishes EBONY and JET magazines, and is also the parent company of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, LLC. Ms. Rice serves on the Board of Trustees of The Art Institute of Chicago and is a Co-Chair of the Advisory Council of The National Museum of African American History and Culture. She also serves on the board of Omnicon Group, Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corporation, The United Negro College Fund, and the University of Southern California. Ms Rice holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism at the University of Southern California and a Master of Management from Northwestern University’s J L Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Paul Schimmel, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Paul Schimmel is Chief Curator of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. He has organized dozens of major exhibitions, such as Helter Skelter: Los Angeles Art in the 1990s; Hand-Painted Pop: American Art in Transition, 1955-62; Sigmar Polke Photoworks: When Pictures Vanish; Robert Gober; Out of Actions: Between Performance and the Object, 1949-1979; Charles Ray; Willem de Kooning: Tracing the Figure; Robert Rauschenberg: Combines, and ©MURAKAMI. Major publications accompanied each of these shows. He was the recipient of the Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies Award for Curatorial Excellence in 2001.

Michael S. Smith, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Michael S. Smith is founder/principal of Michael S. Smith, Inc., a design firm located in Los Angeles and New York. In 2008 he was chosen by President and Mrs. Obama to redecorate the White House living quarters. He is the author of two best-selling books, Elements of Style (2005) and Houses (2007). He has been named by Architectural Digest as one of the "AD 100" in 2002, 2004 and most recently in 2010. In addition, he was named “Designer of the Year” by Elle Décor in 2003. Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Trustees for the Otis College of Art and Design and is the Honorary Chairman of the 2010 Red Cross Designer’s Show House in Palm Beach, FL. Mr. Smith resides in Los Angeles and New York.

Beth White, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
Beth White is Director of the Chicago Region Office of The Trust for Public Land, a national organization dedicated to land conservation and the creation of urban parks. She was also previously the Managing Director of Communications and Policy for the Chicago Housing Authority, Chief of Staff for Chicago Transit Authority’s Chicago Transit Board, Assistant Commissioner for the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, and founding executive director of Friends of the Chicago River where she led the creation of the award winning Chicago River Urban Design guidelines. Ms. White also worked on the creation of the first landmarks protection ordinance and staffed the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Highland Park. As the former Chair of Lakewood Balmoral National Historic District Committee, she led the designation of the Lakewood Balmoral neighbood on the National Register of Historic Places. Ms. White is an active member of the Edgewater Historical Society, Landmarks Illinois, American Planning Association, and Lambda Alpha International, an honorary land economics society.

John Wilmerding, Member, Committee for the Preservation of the White House
John Wilmerding is Emeritus Professor of American Art at Princeton University, and an adjunct curator in the Princeton University Art Museum. He is a current member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. He is also as a trustee of the Guggenheim Museum and the new Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Mr. Wilmerding is a former commissioner of the National Portrait Gallery, visiting curator in the Department of American Art at the Metropolitan Museum, and has also served as Senior Curator and Deputy Director of the National Gallery.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.04.10 12:12 PM

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated David Fein and Timothy Purdon to serve as US Attorneys.

“Today, I nominate David Fein and Timothy Purdon to serve as US Attorneys on behalf of the people of Connecticut and North Dakota,” President Obama said. “Their esteemed legal careers to date leave no doubt that they will be relentless in their pursuit of justice and serve their fellow Americans with distinction. I am grateful for their selfless commitment to public service.”

David Fein: Nominee for United States Attorney, District of Connecticut
David Fein has been a partner at Wiggin and Dana since 1997. Prior to that, Fein served as an Associate White House Counsel to President William Jefferson Clinton from 1995 to 1996. From 1989 to 1995, he was as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, serving as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division from 1993 to 1994 and Counsel to the United States Attorney from 1994 to 1995. From 1986 to 1989, Fein was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. He also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Frank M. Coffin of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1985-1986. Fein graduated from Dartmouth College in 1982 and the New York University School of Law in 1985.

Timothy Q. Purdon: Nominee for United States Attorney, District of North Dakota
Timothy Purdon has been a partner at Vogel Law Firm since 2005; prior to his promotion he also served as an associate at the firm. From 1996 until 2001, Purdon worked as an associate at Dickson & Purdon, and he became a partner in the firm in 2001. From 1995 through 1996, he was an associate at Olson & Cichy. Purdon has also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Bruce M. Van Sickle of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. Purdon is a 1989 graduate of the North Dakota State College of Science, a 1991 graduate of Moorehead State University, and a 1994 graduate of the Hamline University School of Law.

White House.gov Press Office Feed

02.04.10 12:14 PM

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama nominated Loren Carl, Kerry Forestal, Gerald Holt, Clifton Massanelli and Scott Parker to serve as U.S. Marshals.

“These nominees have spent their careers risking their own safety to protect their fellow Americans,” President Obama said. “Their courage and selfless dedication to the public good are unparalleled, and I am honored to nominate them today to continue their work as U.S. Marshals.”

Loren Carl: Nominee for United States Marshal, Eastern District of Kentucky
Loren “Squirrel” Carl has been the District Coordinator for Representative Ben Chandler since 2004. He is also a Director of the Woodford County Kentucky Bank Board. Carl was the Chief of Police at the Woodford County, Kentucky, Police Department from December 2003 to April 2004, and a detective with that agency from 1980 to 1985. From 1996 to 2003, he was the Director of the Financial Integrity Enforcement Division of the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. He served as Sheriff of Woodford County from 1986 to 1996 and was a deputy sheriff from 1978 to 1979. Prior to his law enforcement experience, Carl was a manager with the Kentucky Finance Company from 1973 to 1977. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969 to 1971. Carl received a general business certificate from Kentucky Business College in 1971.

Kerry Forestal: Nominee for United States Marshal, Southern District of Indiana
Kerry Forestal is the Chief Deputy of Marion County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana, where he oversees 1,000 employees. He joined the Department as a Deputy Sheriff in 1977, served as a Detective in the Narcotics and Vice Section from 1986 to 1991, and worked his way through the ranks to his current position. Specialized assignments during his law enforcement career include service on the Integrated Threat Analysis Group and involvement with the complex security elements of the Indianapolis 500. In addition to his extensive professional training, Forestal studied criminal justice and public administration at Ball State University and at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.

Gerald S. Holt: Nominee for United States Marshal, Western District of Virginia
Gerald Holt is the Sheriff of Roanoke County, Virginia, a position he has held since 1992. He is also the Chairman of the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority Board and is an advisor at the Roanoke County Criminal Justice Academy. Holt previously served 14 years as a deputy sheriff in Roanoke County and was employed by the Walker Machine and Foundry Corporation for 15 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration in criminal justice and psychology from Radford University in 1995, and an associate’s degree in the administration of justice, cum laude, from Virginia Western Community College in 1989.

Clifton Massanelli: Nominee for United States Marshal, Eastern District of Arkansas
Clifton Massanelli is the Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal in the Eastern District of Arkansas, a position he has held since 2006. He has risen through the ranks in the Eastern District since joining the U.S. Marshals Service as a Deputy U.S. Marshal in 1983. Previously, Massanelli served the Pine Bluff Police Department as a Patrolman from 1981 to 1982 and as a Detective from 1982 to 1983. In addition to his professional law enforcement training, Massanelli is the recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1980.

Scott Parker: Nominee for United States Marshal, Eastern District of North Carolina
Scott Parker is the Narcotics Division Commander of the Nash County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office, where he has risen to the rank of Lieutenant since joining in 1995. From 1989 to 1995, he was an Assistant Commander with the Roanoke Chowan Narcotics Task Force in Hertford County, North Carolina. Parker served with the Nashville, North Carolina, Police Department from 1987 to 1989.

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Bleeding Edge TV 335: Sonos S5 at IWSIV Blogger Party originally appeared on The Bleeding Edge on Thu, February 04, 2010 – 2:16:25