Romney prefers to stick his head in the sand and declare there is no such thing as global warming, leaving us with the assumption that our gluttonous energy consumption is just good business.
Obama on the other hand chose to ignore advice from his former chief of staff, Larry Summers, who explained that wind developers really had "no skin in the game." The wind developers are focusing upon reaping profits from grants and subsidies.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS NOT AN ISSUE TO BE DECIDED BY SELF-SERVING POLITICIANS who seek only the power bestowed by capturing your vote and the financial resources of those who game the system that allow them to do so.
Energy consumption is OUR problem and must be addressed by those who consume it. If every person on Earth consumed as much energy as US Citizens, it would require FIVE planets equivalent to Earth to support our gluttony.
We do have answers to help us conserve. We must insist on site-based programs like PACE (property assessed clean energy). Such programs do not rob from posterity like traditional grant programs, but provide funding by relying upon increased values of property improvements repaid over extended amortization schedules that make such improvements financially feasible for everyone.
With such initiatives we do not lose generated energy by transmitting it over the inefficient transmission grid and distribution network. In fact, we reduce our demand upon the "GRID."
Can you imagine how many jobs would be created by opening the flood gates of such massive financial resources as our individual personal property values? Installing systems for on site generation across our entire nation.
PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT!
Actually, Obama does have an answer, but his Energy Bill was boogged down in Congress thanks to a Republican filibuster. As it is, he pushed a number of energy saving programs through his stimulus program. The cash for clunkers program and the subsidies for weatherizing homes both addressed energy consumption directly. He has also successfully pushed for stronger fuel efficiency ratings in the automobile industry.
ReplyDeleteThe problem remains that most Republicans refuse to recognize the energy crisis in any meaningful way, and those who do, Christine Todd Whitman, are pushing for nuclear energy. I know you're not a fan of wind power, but solar, geothermal, peat-fired power stations go a long way to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, but as yet the oil companies have lobbied against Congress investing heavily in alternative energy. It is at the state level that we see more and more alternative energy initiatives.
Good to here from you once again, my friend Gintaras.
ReplyDeleteOh no, make no mistake. I AM a fan of seeking alternative methods of generating energy. However, during the development of such alternatives, I believe we are incredibly naive to think that we are ready to jump into production on an industrial scale, particularly without more development of storage technology and reducing distribution losses.
Further, there is a great amount of difference between subsidies and collateralized loan programs. We, the people, must be responsible for our own energy future. Every building should be equipped with its own, at least partial, generation system. Certainly a major element of the solution is conservation.
Please look at the PACE program proposals and I will investigate peat-fired power stations, although I would be surprised to find that there would be any reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
It depends on the furnace. If it has a ceramic oven, as opposed to water cooled, it can reach much greater temperatures and release much fewer emissions. These wood-burning furnaces have become very popular in Lithuania. You can burn almost anything in them and heat houses or building complexes up to 10,000 square feet. You don't need to worry about a grid ; )
ReplyDeleteActually, It is important that I make a correction. Mitt Romney has not "declared there is no such thing as global warming." He said he just didn't know how much of it might be caused by human beings.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, he has expressed no interest in identifying alternative sources or conservation measures. He focuses on continued mass generation of electricity with fossil fuels, keeping the distribution of power in the hands of the elite corporations.
Both candidates seem far more interested in strengthening their own political base than
solving our nation's energy crises.
True. That is the unfortunate nature of American politics. The EU offers a great number of subsidies to promote alternative energy. Geothermal is a great source of energy but is prohibitive in cost to most users. I suppose as it becomes more popular costs will drop, but in the meantime it is great to have a program that will help cover the costs. This has allowed us to use a geothermal system in a new sports stadium we designed in Vilnius.
ReplyDelete