Topic Closed: May 11, 2006 - November 15, 2006
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Sustainable Energy Policy
posted by sunkissed on 11/9/2006 - This comment was recommended 2 times
America should lead the world, not lag, in energy policy. President Bush says we're "addicted to oil". OK, let’s get on a nationwide 12 step program! First, Leading requires changing our collective point of view, from lowest cost energy sources to sustainable, self sufficient energy sources. Every organization, state, city, town, company, household, all entities should set a goal and MEASURE itself on reaching a self sustaining level of energy use and creation in the next few years. Lets have national Energy Awards, the same way Japan has annual Deming prizes for quality, and recognize progress in all the different categories. CHANGE OUR SOURCES OF ENERGY We cannot go cold turkey off of oil. We CAN set a goal to use only domestic oil within 10 years, by PUTTING A LARGE TAX on imported oil. And stop sending billions of dollars to the middle east. -Oil, Coal and Gas need a CARBON TAX, reflecting their impact on global climate change. -Put those TAXES to work on research and programs to accelerate the MANY RENEWABLE ALTERNATIVES: solar, wind, ocean wave power, hydro,more. Wind and solar can be PERSONAL as well as UTILITY scale electricity systems! We need much more funding and experimentation for renewables. -10X funding for research on fusion, the SAFE NUCLEAR energy fuel. CHANGE OUR VIEWS on USING ENERGY Less use means all of the known energy saving techniques. Mostly, it is a mindset change. If Hollywood can make thin models and actresses the most attractive, surely we can make smaller cars, houses, offices, cities exciting and attractive too!
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Re: Sustainable Energy Policy SMARTER GOVERNMENT:
posted by bill f. on 11/9/2006 - Be the first to recommend this
I am sorry , you just don't get it either with regards to the how-to and this causes me to question your logic.$br$ $br$ If you want a logical answer here it is:$br$ $br$ Rebuild our industrial base, just for us, Americans, and tell the jealous watchers to follow in our foot steps and join our cause for a change.$br$ $br$ If we ever run out of all known sources of energy, and I doubt we ever will; watch how fast we can go from a 1/4 tank, back up to full with some new form of energy or transportation.$br$ $br$ Educate people and give them a chance to shine; OH, thats right you can't teach common sense? Want to bet, that is the kind of thinking that keeps us stuck on stupid with regards to an energy policy. Training by rewards is good.$br$ $br$ We just showed our government what our votes count for and if they didn't learn this time, we get another opportunity in two years. Trump training is good (YOUR FIRED) for negligent poloticians.$br$ $br$ I have no intentions of changing my energy views as I cut way back in 1-1-2005; the diference in my views is that I refuse to micromanage what other people do as it just tends to make them dig in deeper and stop thinking things thru on their own. $br$ $br$ I agree the system needs to be cleaned up, with regards to many issues; just don't throw the baby out with the bath water. thanks, Bill f.
Re: Sustainable Energy Policy
posted by LtDan on 11/9/2006 - Be the first to recommend this
Dear Sunkissed, A carbon tax only on coal, oil and gas? How about all the other sources of carbon emissions into the air? Do they get a free ride? How about firewood? Breathing? Volcanos? Many things put carbon dioxide into the air, so I think they all should be taxed if coal, oil and gas are going to be taxed. You seem to think that such a carbon tax ought to be at least roughly proportional to each fuel's "impact on global climate change." If they have no iompact at all on global climate change, should they be exempt from the tax? Your suggestion of such a tax indicates that you think there is no question at all that these three fossil fuels are causing global warming. If that is true, can you pinpoint what has convinced you? Many people seem to have an almost religious belief in global warming caused by human beings burning fossil fuels. When you ask them why they believe as they do, they usually cannot explain it. It seems to be some form of faith-based environmentalism.
posted by Ronald David on 11/9/2006 - Be the first to recommend this
Hello sunkissed, What are the "sustainable, self sufficient energy sources" you mention, that are so practical, even collectively, they can replace our addiction to fossil fuel sources? It is heartening that you support CONSERVATION and finding ways of REWARDING conservation efforts. Read comments made within the past couple days and weeks and you will find CONSERVATION has been well covered including reward programs. No one has suggested we go off oil, ‘cold turkey’. Doing so will cause irreparable damage to our economy. Setting time tables is a buzz word some politicians use that also may cause irreparable damage. It is heartening you agree we stop sending billions of $$ to the middle east to buy oil; however, CONSERVATI0N will do that. Increasing taxes on oil will only serve to hurt American citizens. Market forces, demand, and supply, will take care of that. You have suggested what ‘sounds’ like a good idea – imposing a carbon tax, but you obviously have not thought it through. Such a tax would immediately be passed along to consumers. Moreover what isn’t used for R&D will be siphoned off by politicians to support pork barrel projects. Governments are not and should not be in the R&D business; that is the purvue of entrepeneurs, inventors, engineers, scientists – not governments! Solar generation of electricity, personal or by private enterprise, remains a very costly alternative, one I cannot afford (yet), and it won’t power cars or aircraft or innumerable other oil fueled engines. The very best of your ideas, the last one, is closer to the mark. We don’t need to spend money on R&D, rather we need simply to cut the red tape and build many nuclear power plants across the nation. The question was asked recently on TV, would you object to building a nuclear plant in your neighborhood? Of course I would object, but I wouldn’t have any objection to building one a mile or two downwind of the city. Since the 1960’s, here we are surrounded by scores of Peacekeeper ICBM silos and many Launch control facilities – making us ground zero when nuclear war begins! Smaller isn’t necessarily better – it means many more buildings and roads sprawling over more land, longer trips to the grocery store, hospital, and work places. Read all the comments made in this forum for the past couple months or more, take notes, think it through, then let's hear from you again.
Re: Sustainable Energy Policy SMARTER GOVERNMENT PART 2:
Saying we are addicted to OIL is just blame game tactics to cover up a lack of alternatives that are long overdue because of governmental and business procrastination. How long does it take the earth to whip up a tanker full of crude oil VS how long it takes AMD to do the same with Animal, plant and etc waste products? Why even contemplate cutting off foreign oil, when we just need to be better traders and geological explorers. There are so many products that we can make and sell to everybody that will garner premium prices just like their oil does now. Take food for instance, ships, finished lumber And military hardware to our friends to name a few. Tarrifs should be reserved for punishing people playing games with their trading partners or for illegal product dumping. Using some taxes from a robust economy is one thing; However, taxes that will diminish our economy are counter productive and must be avoided. If we aren't trying to build a better economy for us, where will the money and ideas come from to help others. Hollywood is great, I love to watch the terminator but we are facing real problems in a real tough world; Our quality of life depends on how we handle all our future problems. MORE USA PRODUCTS + MORE WORKERS = MORE MONEY FOR EVERY US CITIZEN! If you can sell it, sunkissed, we can make it and some things just sell themselves, lets work harder at working smart. Thanks, Bill f.
posted by lookingforpositive on 11/10/2006 - Be the first to recommend this
Bill, Your logic drives me crazy at times. If you advocate a laizzes-faire (hands off and let be what will be) style of government, just how exactly has the government been procrastinating on energy policy. By attempting some form of resource management of the commonwealth?
Re: Sustainable Energy Policy SMARTER part 3:
posted by bill f. on 11/10/2006 - Be the first to recommend this
Here is some new ideas, I think: Do what it takes to turn home heating oil into our # 1 refining product. Alter existing aircraft, diesel trucks, construction equip., farm equip. and cars to burn the same product. To avoid theft and the loss of federal and local road taxes color code each product and enact the appropriate cheater laws. In times of dire need the bans could be temporarily lifted. There are many import 2 cyl, 3 cyl and 4 cyl compact tractor diesel engines that could be installed by qualified people and would cut down on gasoline usage while improving mpg. If the transportation manufacturers won't cut prices and produce more efficient vehicles; make where we can just up-grade our old friends that are paid for. This could wind up as a national chain, just like transmission repairs. Some existing laws would have to change to eliminate existing protectionism with current manugacturers and EPA requirements; In very short order the manufacturers would compete vigorously. In the mean time some progress would be made. RSVP Bill f.