EPA to Probe Threatening E-Mail Sent to Global Warming Skeptic

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EPA to Probe Threatening E-Mail Sent to Global Warming Skeptic

By Noel Sheppard | July 26, 2007 - 18:29 ET

On July 13, NewsBusters reported that Michael T. Eckhart, president of the American Council on Renewable Energy, sent an e-mail message to Dr. Marlo Lewis of the Competitive Enterprise Institute threatening to destroy his career:

If you produce one more editorial against climate change, I will launch a campaign against your professional integrity.

During a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Thursday, this matter was brought to the attention of Stephen Johnson, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as was the shocking revelation that the EPA is a part of ACORE.

Presenting this information was Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), who showed and read the following panel of the offensive e-mail message for the record (video available here):

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After reading the text of the e-mail message, Inhofe pointed out:

We have all of these people who have a stake in [promoting man-made climate hysteria] like the Weather Channel's Heidi Cullen. If the trend now in science is refuting that anthropogenic gases are a primary cause of climate change, then she is out of business, her whole weekly program is gone, her career is gone.

Inhofe then showed a chart indicating that the EPA is a part of ACORE:

Johnson acknowledged that he was aware of this, and told the committee:

Statements like this are of concern to me...I am a believer in cooperation and collaboration across all sectors. This is an area I will look into for the record.

Inhofe replied:

This is so typical of these hate filled people who threaten and use vile language. I was called a traitor by one of the extreme left, this is what happens when you lose your case and this is the best evidence of it. So I would like to have you look into this and make an evaluation, talk it over with your people and see if it is appropriate to be a part of an organization that is headed up by a person who makes this statement.

As Eckhart admitted to the Washington Times that he did indeed send this e-mail message, it will be interesting to see how the EPA responds now that it has been made aware.

Stay tuned.

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.

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About time someone did

July 26, 2007 - 18:31 ET by well99

About time someone did something about these yutts.Eckhart also should be sued for for creating a hostile work place.Prosecuted for blackmail and trying to extort someone.I not a legal eagle but I hope Eckhart gets hammered.

Bring him down

July 26, 2007 - 18:40 ET by LionKing

I hope this Eckhart guy loses his job and does time. Maybe if one of these hate-filled liberals is put in his place, some reasonable approach to issues can be utilized.

If conservatives are RIGHT, then liberals must be WRONG.
Thompson/Rice

This post might be too late

July 26, 2007 - 18:41 ET by ThisnThat

As I am writing this, I'm sure the MSM is all over ACORE and the EPA about this matter.

I'm sure.

TNT

July 26, 2007 - 18:42 ET by Noel Sheppard

TNT,

Drat. And I thought I finally had a scoop! ns

Your scoop is still safe today

July 26, 2007 - 19:04 ET by ThisnThat

Noel, I think your news scoop is safe for a while. CNN is pushing ahead with important information on "What dirty words can be said on TV"; MSNBC is reporting that "Japanese women, Icelandic men live longest"; and CNBC.com has front-page news about how "Fast Money guys are trading the latest hurricane forecast".

I just wish, though, that NB could, for once, lead with these types of important stories. It's tough being here in the slow lane and knowing the rest of the world is passing you by. :-)

There was a good scoop on

July 26, 2007 - 19:08 ET by danbo

There was a good scoop on FOX. That the best way to rape the environment is to switch to alternative energy. (I buy that one.)

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge will be shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. Albert Einstein

Is there a conflict of

July 26, 2007 - 19:02 ET by danbo

Is there a conflict of interest here? I see he also works for GE doesn't GE own something else? Should we also have a representative from Exxon.

Michael Eckhart is President of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), co-chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE), and a member of the Steering Committee of the REN 21 global policy network. Since its formation in 2001, ACORE has grown to have over 400 organizational members; producing three major national conferences per year on renewable energy business, finance and policy; and participating in international renewable energy policy affairs. Mr. Eckhart is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. He also works through Solar International Management, Inc. on the financing of solar energy (SolarBank), and on the development of a new international debt security called Global Development Bonds (GDB) for the financing of sustainable development in the developing countries.

He has over 25 years of experience in renewable energy, power generation, high technology, and finance. Previously, he was CEO of the IPP development firm United Power Systems, Inc.; Vice President of the venture capital firm Areté Ventures, Inc.; Manager of Strategic Planning for the Power Systems Sector of General Electric Company; and a Principal of Booz, Allen & Hamilton’s energy practice. He served in the US Navy Submarine Service. He received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Source

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge will be shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. Albert Einstein

aha

July 26, 2007 - 19:43 ET by UndercoverConservative

so this guy is one who's gonna get paid when the "carbon credits" tax gets pushed thru. His developement bonds company willl reap tons of cash for doing nothing.

Serious conflict of interest here, perhaps even bordering on illegal.

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS

July 26, 2007 - 20:35 ET by danbo

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 1997--Spire Corp. (NASDAQ:SPIRSPIR - which provides products and services to customers in the photovoltaics, optoelectronics and biomaterials markets, today announced the election of Michael T. Eckhart to its board of directors.

Eckhart, 49, is a recognized expert in the field of solar photovoltaics and brings a global understanding of this important market to Spire's board. He is currently Project Director of the Solar Bank, a planned financing entity that will be a source of secondary lending for solar photovoltaic markets. From 1989 to 1996, Eckhart served as president of United Power Systems, an independent power development company he founded. From 1985 to 1989, he was principal of Eckhart and Co., a management consulting firm. Earlier, Eckhart was vice president and director of Arete Ventures Inc., a venture capital company fund, and held key management positions at General Electric

Source

Does this man make his living selling photot electric cells and systems?

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge will be shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. Albert Einstein

Yes, that became clear

July 27, 2007 - 00:00 ET by dahliatravers

Yes, that became clear when I did a little research on this guy a couple of days ago. Thanks for bringing it forward, danbo; its significance didn't hit me at the time.

The possible corrupting effects of oil money in the discussion and verification of AGW is indignantly denounced. I'll bet tax dollars and specialized industries such as Michael Eckhart's making the case for AGW outfund oil dollars ten to one. Somehow, it's not conceivable that those dollars are corrupting, however.

sounds like this guy

July 27, 2007 - 21:12 ET by PK

sounds like this guy couldn't hold a steady job.

I had some time and wanted

July 27, 2007 - 14:51 ET by danbo

I had some time and wanted to go back and check the other members of ACORE and see it's now forbidden.

Interesting.

Isn't ACORE a public agency?

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge will be shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. Albert Einstein

How'd they do that.?

July 27, 2007 - 15:34 ET by danbo

I'm not sure how they did that. But I did a web search and went straight to the board of directors page. When I try to go directly to that page now it's forbidden. But you can still get there by going to the ACORE main page-governance-board of directors.

I think it's easy to see there are a number of people here who are poised to make a lof of money over AGW.

I didn't see anyone from Exxon on the board. But there were at least 2 people connected to John Kerry.

WhoHow'd they do that. I found the data via a search and went straight to the ever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge will be shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. Albert Einstein

Global Warming reminds me

July 26, 2007 - 19:06 ET by Chris Norman

Global Warming reminds me of Marxism - it turns the "intelligentsia" into a bunch of thugs.

The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.

- Arabian Proverb

I am getting REAL tired...

July 26, 2007 - 19:08 ET by Nforce

of these Econut nazis. These people are rapidly getting out of control. Their disgusting ilk already torches new home developments and SUV dealers. These pathetic liberal neocommunist fascists already are calling for any "global warming deniars" to be arrested and put on trial in an international court. People had better start getting a backbone and start fighting back these fascist pigs. I hope Eckhart gets the holy hell sued out of him for defamation of character if nothing else. For every Al Sore man-made global warming lie chart, there's another truth chart. Like this one:

http://www.wrh.noaa....

To hell with the Jim Jones cultist global warming monger liberals.

Climate Change

July 26, 2007 - 19:17 ET by saw the light

Now that all of you have seen what will happen if you challenge consensus science, anybody dare to be a global warming denier?

Besides me, that is?

"There is a tendency for the world to say to America, 'the big problems of the world are yours, you go and sort them out,' and then to worry when America wants to sort them out." - Prime Minister

ooo, ooo

July 27, 2007 - 08:25 ET by Valendil

*raises hand smartly*

I'm with you STL! If they

July 27, 2007 - 12:36 ET by Beowulf

I'm with you STL! If they want to prove man-made GW, THEN PROVE IT!!! If not, then go sit in a corner and color quietly (but stay between the lines)...

The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers

Global Warming Zealotry

July 26, 2007 - 19:19 ET by pocomoco

"We have all of these people who have a stake in [promoting man-made climate hysteria] like the Weather Channel's Heidi Cullen. If the trend now in science is refuting that anthropogenic gases are a primary cause of climate change, then she is out of business, her whole weekly program is gone, her career is gone."

As I commented on a previous NB/GW article - "FOLLOW THE MONEY."

AGW Crowd

July 26, 2007 - 19:40 ET by pbthinker

This is the sort of e-mail you get from someone who fears losing the argument. This is what you get when, before the game is over, you stand on the sidelines and start high-fiving everyone for the victory, you're sure is going to come, and then things start to happen.

There is little doubt that the AGW crowd is on the defensive right now, even though Al Gore is trying to stay on offense and push is doom and gloom forecasts. The scientists, who Al Gore and the AGW crowd have said have formed a consensus, are beginning to rebel and say, "That's not what I meant."

Just this week, they had a concerted effort to point out, in certain areas, how much warmer it is "as compared to the last 30 years" and they might get away with it, since the media are pushing it and there has been little to point out that, for every area they say has been warmer, there are others that have been cooler.

As Mark Twain once said, "There's lies, damn lies, and statistics." This appear to match up with the AGW crowd.

Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

I was watching a show on

July 27, 2007 - 09:38 ET by ahusser

I was watching a show on one of the history/science channels about archaeological excavations at Jamestown VA. There was mass starvation during one of the winters. A paleo-climatologist did some core sampling on cypress trees which were around back then. It showed that there was a four year period which coincided with the founding of Jamestown. He concluded that it was the driest four year period in over 700 years! Which may have led to a poor harvest. It just shows that unusual weather can seemingly randomly occur after very long periods of time, that weather patterns change and sometimes forever (i.e. the Sahara desert). It's a cinch the folks in Jamestown VA didn't sign on to Kyoto.

".....If you produce one

July 26, 2007 - 19:57 ET by winston smith

".....If you produce one more editorial against climate change, I will launch a campaign against your professional integrity...."

Ahhhh, I see now! This is how the global warmists have been reaching their much-ballyhooed "consensus" ---- threats and intimidation! Nice to get a little glimpse of what goes on behind the smoked-glass solar windows of 1 obsessed enviro-nut. Eckhart's been watching way too many mob movies.

Jeepers, when did this cross

July 27, 2007 - 00:04 ET by dahliatravers

Jeepers, when did this cross from science to organized crime?

I'm not so sure a cross over

July 27, 2007 - 08:16 ET by rimsky

I'm not so sure a cross over was ever necessary.

It's part of the liberal

July 27, 2007 - 09:40 ET by ahusser

It's part of the liberal "Jihad".

A republican congressman

July 27, 2007 - 10:27 ET by buddyc

A republican congressman with brains and courage. What a wonderful thing.

Another fine example of :

July 27, 2007 - 10:27 ET by djvang

Another fine example of :

"SHUT UP !!!", he explained.

It shouldn't be a surprise.

July 27, 2007 - 11:38 ET by c5then

With billions of dollars at stake, is it any wonder that these AGW hypsters and frauds religiously try and protect their interests? This is the same mentality that the mafia use to protect their illegal operations and, on a lower more primal level that drug dealers use to protect their area of control.

The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic

I think Eckhart should have

July 27, 2007 - 16:11 ET by Beowulf

I think Eckhart should have his career destroyed as a liar. If he produces one more editorial for climate change, a campaign should be launched against his professional integrity. He should be called a liar and charlaton to the Harvard community of which he is a member. He should be called out as a man who has been bought by global warming extremists.

How would this play out in the biased, Globull Alarming MSM? What's is good for one side of the issue is good for the other. Let's see who, if this issue were looked at scientifically and objectively, would come out vindicated. The loser should have all his credentials revoked and never be heard from again.

I have no problem with someone being wrong on an issue if they truly believe in their position. I do have a problem with someone vehemently promoting a position they know is wrong, then threatening anyone who has the temerity to challenge him. This is no longer an issue of inexact science and standing one's ground. One side or the other in this issue is clearly wrong, and they know they are. Whichever it is should be made to pay a steep price for their hypocrisy.

The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers

hey if this scheme goes

July 27, 2007 - 21:20 ET by PK

hey if this scheme goes through he dosen't need a career. he just needs to sign the tab at some "protected" countrys' luxury spa.

I guess this is part of how

July 27, 2007 - 21:50 ET by danbo

I guess this is part of how they get their consensus. Seems people are getting fed up.

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge will be shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. Albert Einstein

I guess hate speech and

July 27, 2007 - 14:03 ET by katlee

I guess hate speech and threats come from both sides -
billoreilly.com is being investigated by the Secret Service for threats to Hillary on his website, even tho he tried to deny it just last night - ha