Get Energy Smart! NOW!

Let us be clear, upfront, the current Lieberman-Warner bill is inadequate and, well, potentially worse than inadequate. If passed, as is, it will (without question) fall short of the measures required to deal with Global Warming, it will give away $100s billions to polluters without requirements to use those funds to clean up their acts in a serious way, and could handicap future efforts to turn the tide on Global Warming’s rising problems. [Read more →]

We face a perfect storm when it comes to Global Warming and energy issues. There are solution paths that can help us navigate these dangerous seas, yet often the technology seems to be the least of our challenges. On October 30th, the Brookings Institution Hamilton Project had a forum entitled:  A Climate of Change: Economic Approaches to Reforming Energy and Protecting the Environment.   The event was rich, in a number of ways, with the first session focused on comparing strengths and weaknesses of Cap and Trade (or, well, Cap, Auction, Trade) and a Carbon Tax.  In shorthand:

• Cap, Auction, Trade provides some certainty as to carbon reduction levels but less certainty over revenues.
• Carbon Tax provides more certainty over tax revenue with less certainty in terms of degree of carbon reductions.

Now, personally, a CAT (the CAT’s meow, one could say) might be the right prinicipal path, with some lower direct carbon fee for some revenue certainty.  But, this is besides the point of this post.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the morning were the comments by Kathleen McGinty,  Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Environmental Protection and Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and head of the White House Office on Environmental Policy under President Bill Clinton. (See this 2005 Grist interview with her.) McGinty spoke to three “realities of the wholesale and retail electricity markets” and what that mean “in terms of actually seeing cleaner power” generation.  She highlighted these three to point out that a a price on carbon is a necessary, but not sufficient, means to change toward cleaner power generation.   These three regulatory, procedural, policy changes require changing or the move to clean power will be significantly handicapped. And, yet, these occur under the radar scope for nearly all citizens and, probably, most political leaders.

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Several days ago, Zhongke Hengyuan Energy Technology Co. Ltd broke ground on a magnetic levitation wind farm research and power production facility in China.    This generator “base” will support generators ranging from “400 to 5000 watts” (is this supposed to be kilowatts?) in 2008.  One serious benefit of MAGLEV windpower systems is the abilty to start generating power at very low wind speeds.

The problem of the traditional wind turbines was that they require high wind speeds to start, because of the friction caused by their bearings,

    The frictionless maglev generator would cut the operational expenses of wind farms by up to half,

Notable in the Presidential debates, on both sides of the aisle, has been a relative silence on such minor issues as energy and Global Warming.  Peak Oil matter?  Evidently not, based on the hours of debates.  Global Warming?  Well, Tim Russert has asked over 200 questions, not one related to this that I can find. Nor, for example, did it come up at the Yearly Kos Presidential forum in August.

And, this is the case even with every single one of the Democratic candidates having serious energy plans and concepts, all calling for far reaching change from the policies of the current mis-Administration.

Well, this relative silence might change and change significantly due to an event less than two weeks away.

On November 17, presidential candidates will gather in Los Angeles to discuss their vision for tackling the nation’s energy challenges. With less than two months before voting begins, this is a critical opportunity to find out where the candidates stand on these pressing issues.

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On the front page, above the fold, of The Washington Post this morning:

 Climate Is a Risky Issue for Democrats:  Candidates Back Costly Proposals

A misleading title to a misleading article that frames the entire discussion in a misleading light, fostering a truthiness that has impeded real movement forward in the battle to turn the tide on Global Warming’s rising seas.

In short, this title and this article is predicated on Economy versus the Environment,  that to save the environment we must somehow destroy (damage) the economy.  There is another, more fruitful, more honest way to discuss this, to frame the issues:  Economy AND the Environment. To save the economy, we must save the environment, and that saving the environment creates huge economic opportunities.

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“There are still people who believe the world is flat … you don’t go and search out people who believe the world is flat and give them equal time.”

Al Gore was on NBC yesterday and ripped the media for providing a platform for “outliers”, people who merit being taken as seriously as card-carrying members of the Flat Earth Society. People who, rather than being given soap boxes in major newspapers, in Congressional hearings, on TV programs, should be laughed into marginality.

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Earlier today, Hillary Clinton gave a speech entitled ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: Comprehensive Strategy to Address the Climate and Energy Challenge.   It is, let me say, an excellent speech to read.  Powerful in multiple ways.  In the speech, Hillary put Hillary put energy and global warming central to her agenda

In my campaign, I have defined the four big goals for our country: restore our leadership in the world, rebuild a strong and prosperous middle class, reform our government and reclaim the future for our children. Meeting the energy and climate change challenge is essential to reaching every one of those. I do not want to be part of the first generation to leave America and the world in worse shape than when we found them. It will not happen on my watch.  

The bottom line objectives, three goals:

One, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, the amount necessary to avoid the most dangerous and destructive consequences of climate change.

Two, to cut foreign oil imports by two thirds from projected levels by 2030 to move America toward energy independence.

And three, to move us from a carbon-based economy to an efficient, green economy by unleashing a wave of private-sector innovation in clean energy and energy efficiency. I believe that will create at least five million good new jobs from clean energy over the next decade.

These are real objectives, that should be taken seriously.

With this speech, the campaign released Powering America’s Future (pdf), a 16 page detailing of the energy concepts that support those three objectives.

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Well, when it comes to front pages in regards to Global Warming, it is Vice President Al Gore (and, well, elected but not sworn in President Gore) who (very legitimately) has the headlines and receives the (global) accolades.

Jimmy Carter is one of the two best ex-Presidents the United States has ever had (the other being George Washington, for walking away from the chance to be anointed King).  Bit by bit, Bill Clinton seems to be seeking to try to make this into a three-way competition.

Clinton clearly seems to enjoy himself in many ways and has smiled his way to the bank with a lot of money.

He also, since leaving the White House, has been achieving things, real things, that often are underreported and undercredited.  And, well, one of the underreported arenas is the William J. Clinton Foundation and its activities, including the Clinton Climate Initiative.

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The Value Added Tax (VAT), think embedded sales tax, is a key element of financial policy in Europe. And, well, these taxes can be high (20 percent range).  Later this month, according to news reporting, the United Kingdom and France will propose to lower VAT on “environmentally friendly” products to help “solidy  Europe’s position as a leader in the fight against global warming”.

France, under Nicolas Sarkozy, will hold the European Union Presidency for six months starting in July 2008.  This move is, evidently, a first shot across the bow for an aggressive French presidency when it comes to Global Warming.

“We want people to say that after the French presidency, Europe was transformed into a greener economy with a different kind of growth and consumption pattern, and that Europe has taken all the necessary steps to bring its partners on board,” Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the minister for European Affairs

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To go shopping, there is Walmart and, well, there are other options.  Here are a few of those other choices:

TheFindGreen “The easiest way to help the environment is to shop organic brands, green stores and environmentally-friendly products. That’s why we built TheFindGreen.”

GreenDealsDaily: “GreenDeals Daily helps consumers find bargains on environmentally friendly products and services while providing information about other ways you can save money and the environment at the same time.”

COOPAmerica: “Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.” (Well, by the way, an organization quite worth joining …)

Just some thoughts about greening shopping … just a little.