With President Bush slated to tour the National Renewable Energy Lab today, environmentalists and local politicians say it’s time for the administration to stop talking and start supporting renewable energy.
Joining the chorus were some employees of Golden-based NREL who were laid off two weeks ago because of budget cuts and reinstated Sunday.
The lab’s budget dropped $22.5 million this year and was set to fall another $11 million next year. Two weeks ago, 32 people were laid off as $28 million was diverted from the lab for various energy-related projects earmarked by members of Congress.
Bush’s visit comes on the heels of news that $5 million had been transferred to the lab’s budget this weekend to help fund the 32 positions that had been cut.
The hypocrites running our government will probably take the money away, again — after the photo op goes away.
Why do you hate America Wayne? *wink*
Is this an election year?
As usual Reiteard, your headline has nothing to do with reality. “Orchestrated crowd”? The article says nothing about that. Actually the article reports that an agency is getting some finding due to shifting priorities. But that would be a bit subtle for you.
If there were any intent to make America energy self sufficient, it would start at the consumer level, both with encouragement and discouragement.
a) Make non-polluting generation of energy by individuals not only a money saving proposition, but a money generating proposition. Require that the main energy companies purchase excess energy generated by personal non-polluting sources. Remove all restrictions from rooftop installation of solar power and water heating generators.
b) Establish very high gasoline consumption standards and costs by multiple methods including a high minimum vehicle mileage standard at the manufacturer level, a gas-guzzler purchase tax and licensing tax based on standard mileage for vehicle model. You want to use lots of oil… fine, but you will pay much more for your choice, aside from the cost of gas.
c) Make all energy saving modifications to existing structures fully tax deductible.
d) Establish a per-person energy consumption baseline, so each person is entitled to a specific amount of electricity and gas per month, with rates exponentially rising for over-consumption. You want a huge home and there’s only two people living there? Fine… but expect to pay huge amounts (well beyond today’s rates).
e) Fully subsidize public transportation. Take the average cost of driving to a location, divide it by 2, and charge me that. It would save lots of energy, dramatically reduce the need for new road construction and maintenance. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it costs me $8.50 to ride both ways into downtown on the BART train. I have a parking spot where I work… why would I ever consider riding the train, when it costs me less than $4 to drive?
The Bush propositions amount to virtually nothing, since they are waaaaay over the horizon, and do nothing to solve the current problems in any sort of timeframe, and include no proposals for the reduction of energy usage. As always, all talk but nothing useful from this administration. They truly suck!
Awake
Excellent proposals. I’m afraid that we both know that with this Congress and Presidency being in the hands of the energy companies, it will never happen.
One problem you didn’t mention is that of infrastructure for changing to alternative energy sources.
For an example, Canada has been encouraging the use of propane powered intra-city vehicles. These are regular cars, buses and delivery vehicles with a different carburetor and a pressurized tank holding enough propane to last the day. Propane costs about 1/2 to 2/3 of what gasoline costs. The downside is propane has only about 90% the energy of gasoline, which does not present a problem unless you spin your tires a lot. It burns much cleaner then gasoline; after 3000 miles the oil is as clean as the day it went in and the exhaust is only CO2 and H2O. This also contributes to longer engine life.
I notice here in the Mid-West that the only way to buy BBQ propane is to exchange the tank. In the Southern region of Ontario many gas stations would also fill your tank on the spot. They can also fill your vehicle too. This infrastructure does not extend out into the countryside though which negates it being used for inter-city travel. Filling stations must meet stricter rules and training to dispense propane as well. Canada has an abundance of propane and can afford to tax it less then gasoline and other dirty fuels.
Since it has been a few years since I lived in Ontario, maybe a Canadian could update us on this.
Luc – did you read the article? NREL funding has been repeatedly cut since Bush was elected. $5 million was restored over the weekend before his visit. Do you suppose that “shifting priorities” results in weekend budget restorations very often without a presidential visit involved?
If it’s hard for you to believe that Bush wouldn’t buy an audience, you haven’t been paying attention.
Why is this news? Every presidential public everything has been orchestrated since Jimmy Carter was president, and probably long before.