Congressional Energy Bill Farce
The Energy Bill adopted by the Congress has many problems and provisions that will make the US poorer. For example, requiring that we use more expensive, less efficient sources of energy. This discussion in the NY Times caught my attention:
The utilities provision, or the so-called renewable electricity standard amendment, was among the most contested measures in the energy bill. Sponsored by Representative Tom Udall, Democrat of New Mexico, and several others, it will force utilities to make a significant share of their electricity from solar, wind, geothermal, water and other nonfossil fuel sources, although they can meet part of the requirement through conservation measures.
The standard applies only to investor-owned utilities and exempts rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the state of Hawaii from the mandate. . . . .
If cutting back on carbon dioxide is so important, why do these rules only apply to "investor-owned utilities"? Surely municipal utilities should also count? What about Hawaii? Carbon dioxide is being added to the atmosphere every place. Why does the administration only threaten to veto based upon the lack of oil production in the bill?
The standard applies only to investor-owned utilities and exempts rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the state of Hawaii from the mandate. . . . .
If cutting back on carbon dioxide is so important, why do these rules only apply to "investor-owned utilities"? Surely municipal utilities should also count? What about Hawaii? Carbon dioxide is being added to the atmosphere every place. Why does the administration only threaten to veto based upon the lack of oil production in the bill?
Labels: Economics, Energy, Environment
posted by John Lott at 3:53 PM
1 Comments:
What may be considered "cheaper" fosil fuels may not be cheaper in the long run. We get most of our oil from foreign countries and are trading our hard assets for a ride around around town or a warm night. We are spending billions keeping the oil shipping lanes open. Acid rain is costing our farmers untold millions in liming the soil to conteract acid rain from coal. We have children dying and many others becoming sick from mercury poisoning from burning coal. We subsidize nuclear by guaranteeing against financial losses from nuclear catastrophic events. Let's face it, we are not in Iraq because they help control the world's fresh water supply. Anything we can do to free us from being slaves to foreign energy supplies, will in the long term,be helpful. I am not a tree hugger, or liberal democrat, I am simply an American concerned about our future and our grandchildren's future.
FH-Alabama
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