Energy // Current

Bush gives away your lands as he sneaks out the back door.

On November 4th, while we were all celebrating the prospect of a brighter tomorrow, the Bush administration was quietly giving... more

apollogonzales
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1 hour ago

Keep The White House Drapes: Bring Back The Solar Panels

Remember when the McCain campaign accused Barack Obama of "already measuring the White House drapes." It was more false populism, suggesting that it was the bi-racial son of a single mother who embodied a sense of entitlement, instead of the admiral's son who couldn't remember how many houses he had. But let's take McCain's challenge literally, and ask whether Obama needs to change the White House drapes at all. Or the White House rug or furniture or décor, all of which new presidents traditionally replace when they move in. Obama could replace all this as expected, and no one would deem it exceptional. But suppose instead that he took the opportunity to break with tradition, and make a powerful symbolic stand by instead using the already allocated money to bring back additional solar panels (Bush actually brought back some in 2002 but more could be added), and make the White House more energy efficient.

Given tough economic times, we're all going to have to make hard choices, so why not begin with these symbols. Suppose Obama seized the moment by publicly saying something like "I know the President or their spouse traditionally selects a new rug and new décor. We're supposed to measure the White House drapes and change them. But these are hard times, and we're going to be careful how we spend the public's resources. So we're not going to redecorate the While House. We're certainly going to do our best to reverse the past administration's failed policies. But furniture is just furniture, and we aren't going to replace what doesn't need to be replaced."

"What we are going to do," Obama could continue, "is to use some of the money we saved to put more of the solar collectors back on the White House roof, the successors of those Jimmy Carter installed when he initiated his renewable energy programs. And we're going to build on efforts that go back to the Clinton years and do everything we can to make the White House and all our Federal buildings models of energy efficiency, because if they aren't, that's something we can fix in a way that will not only help fight climate change, but will also pay back our investment. Much as we'd love to redecorate, there are more important priorities."
By Paul Rogat Loeb
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/37743Remember when the McCain campaign accused Barack Obama of "already measuring the White House drapes." It was more false... more

dissimulator
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16 hours ago

Will the future be human-powered?

See, with all these human hamsters running along in gyms across the country, I've often wandered why something like this... more

purplefox
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20 hours ago

'Rules of the road' set for oil shale drilling

I can't think of anything kind to say...... The Bush administration on Monday issued final rules setting parameters for... more

thornyisu
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21 hours ago

Turning Boom into Bust

America has adopted anti-energy policies because of incessant environmental propaganda about “dirty” coal, out of the... more

HansGruen
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1 day ago

Fossil fuels central to EU's long-term energy security vision

The European Commission's Second Strategic Energy Review warns that net imports of fossil fuels will remain constant until... more

bmltv
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3 days ago

Commission unveils new energy-saving measures

The European Commission has proposed reinforcing existing efficiency standards on buildings and energy-using products as part of... more

bmltv
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3 days ago

Obama ties automaker rescue to regulation

The term energy efficient autos have been lingering in the back burner of these companies for at least 10 years. Unless the autos do not sell? They haven't had any insight or desire to retool and even help to keep the air cleaner by using energy efficient motors ... Should they get a blank check? "No", Obama says ... But, should they just file bankruptcy and investors reinvest into individuals that have waited 20 years trying to promote a new energy auto?

I think they held on to the skirt tale of the oil industries too long.

"Top advisers to President-elect Barack Obama are helping to draft an auto industry rescue plan that would bring new government oversight, including the possibility of an auto czar who could ensure the money was being used wisely.

Aides said Obama is also open to an oversight board that would perform the same function as one individual. The proposals come as the estimates of the cost to fix Detroit's three largest automakers continue to mount.

Any plan, however, is likely to face an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans control 49 seats until the new Congress convenes in January.

"Right now, I don't think there are the votes. I don't know of a single Republican who's willing to support" the auto bailout, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said yesterday. While Dodd said he supports a bailout, he cautioned against "bringing up a proposition that might fail" and suggested that Congress wait until Obama takes office.

A few months ago, a $25 billion loan package to boost Detroit's production of energy-efficient vehicles seemed sufficient to help automakers and suppliers get over a rough patch and steer the industry towards a greener future. The legislation was rushed through Congress. The Energy Department wrote the rules of the program in half of the time it was allotted.

Obama believes action cannot wait until his administration begins, his aide said.

"The options that you have in dealing with these problems get worse and worse. The sooner you address it, the more time you have to bring the parties to the table," the adviser said. "He really feels the sooner you act, the better"."The term energy efficient autos have been lingering in the back burner of these companies for at least 10 years. Unless the autos... more