Get Energy Smart! NOW!

We are less than two days out from President Barack Obama’s speech to a Joint Session of Congress and to the nation to outline proposals to help put Americans back to work. This speech could be a strident call for all-out measures to reinvigorate American employment, a more limited set of programs constructed and conceived […]

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In the State of the Union address, President Obama referred back to President Kennedy’s call for America to go to the moon. Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik¸ we had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t […]

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Since before the 2008 election, the core challenge for the incoming President was clear: JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Yes, we were amid a collapse of the economic system, it required stabilization. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Yes, our energy situation was (is) a mess and the climate is boiling. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Yes, our political system is broken. […]

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Too many of my fellow citizens are without work. All too often, this challenge cannot be laid on their doorsteps as they got caught up in the maelstrom of failed economic policies and the (continued) empowerment of Wall Street robber barons. We can, if we choose, create a set of policies to put millions back […]

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Yes we can Sadly, no we haven’t. Not that the Obama Administration with the support (and urging) of a Democratic House of Representatives and the drag of a Democratic controlled (???) Senate hadn’t tried to do tremendous things. Note that, for the most part, President Obama has filled the Administration with competent — incredibly competent […]

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Since diving into the deep end when it comes to energy issues, almost every day sees new fascinating concepts, approaches, and technologies. Fascinating … exciting … even hope inspiring at times. And, as well, as the passion builds, so many of these are truly Energy COOL. The concept of Silver Bullet solutions concerns me and […]

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Sadly, the conventional wisdom seems to be that action on climate change is a political loser. According to the Washington Post, Rust Belt House Democrats who voted for the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) bill that passed in 2009 feel abandoned by the White House’s inability (or unwillingness) to force Senate action. And, […]

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Since before the 2008 election, the core challenge for the incoming President was clear: JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Yes, we were amid a collapse of the economic system, it required stabilization. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Yes, our energy situation was (is) a mess and the climate is boiling. JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! Yes, our political system is broken. […]

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Looking 40 years out is difficult for most of us and developing effective policy taking 40 years in the future seriously is difficult for most political institutions.  Manana … demain … tomorrow … later … putting off action is natural for us procrastinators. (Note: roughly 20 percent of Americans self-identify as “chronic procrastinators and it […]

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Senators Kerry and Lieberman are, as is understood, planning to release the American Power Act Wednesday morning. Initial material has ‘leaked’, including a two-page summary (graciously transcribed from a pdf version to text by the Wonkroom) and a 21 page section-by-section “for staff use only” available on the Washington Post website. By my nature, I […]

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