Obama Seeking Climate Agreement Without Senate Ratification

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In a front-page article, the New York Times reports the Administration is working to forge a sweeping international climate change agreement that requires countries to reduce fossil fuel emissions, but the White House is seeking to move forward ;without ratification from Congress. The agreement is expected to be signed at the United Nations summit meeting in 2015 in Paris. To sidestep Senate ratification, according to the Times, the Administration is devising what they call a politically binding deal that would name and shame countries into cutting their emissions.French Ambassador for Climate Change to the UN Laurence Tubiana said, There’s a strong understanding of the difficulties of the U.S. situation, and a willingness to work with the US to get out of this impasse.

Register Today for the Die Casting Congress Tabletop – Hotel Blocks Close August 29

Attendee Registration for the 2014 Die Casting Congress Tabletop is open! The Die Casting Congress and Tabletop will be held September 22-24, 2014, at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI.

This event will feature three days of Congress sessions, technical and management presentations that will be given by experts from around the world. These presentations will expose metalcasters to the latest technology, ongoing research and successful management tools that will assist companies in enhancing their competitiveness.

In addition to the Congress sessions, this exposition will feature more than 130 exhibitors, the International Die Casting Design Competition, the Die Casting Awards Lunch and a special new event, Afterhours with the Exhbitors.

The Die Casting Congress Tabletop is an exclusive event to the die casting industry and its suppliers. For more information or to register please click here.

The hotel blocks for this event close August 29. Please visit Hotel Information  for additional contact information. To make a reservation online just click on the hotel you wish to make a reservation at from the list below. Please note, availability is limited so act now.

We hope to see you there!

Washington Post: EPA Rules Cumbersome And Expensive

A Washington Post (8/25) editorial that is critical of Congress for not being proactive about passing environmental policies in response to climate change argues that President Obama has “filled the policy void with executive actions designed to cut greenhouse emissions” through rules by the EPA. The Post characterizes the rules as “a cumbersome and expensive way to slash emissions.” It suggests that “industry may press for more efficient policies that sting companies and consumers less,” and the Post says they will be adding their voice to the debate to point out strategies that work better and explain why the EPA’s efforts “are not ideal.”

NAM Urges EPA To Step Back From Emissions Regulations.The NAM ‘s Shopfloor (8/26) blog post says that the Washington Post editorial “could do worse” than to call the new regulations “cumbersome” and “expensive.” These words were “repeatedly heard” from the industries to be affected by the regulations during hearings on the rule in July. The blog also notes the likelihood of “dramatic” energy price increases as one reason manufacturers find it hard to support the policy – “particularly when foreign competitors arent paying” similar prices and are “more than offsetting” US reductions in emissions. The posting also notes “troubling…uncertainty and questions” about the new regulations legal basis, as well as the need for uninterrupted electricity. The blog finishes by saying, “its time for the EPA to take a step back…for the Administration to remove the arbitrary deadlines,” and “to explore better ways” to establish our nations environmental and energy policies.