US Cap-and-trade bill stalled in the Senate
While many of us are toiling to make the US a power player on the global economic field again, our own democratic system is bogging us down. Of course, this is how it is designed: you don't want to pass bills willy-nilly. So, there should be a bit of peace that comes with this. But time is running out in several ways. While our manufacturing base is gathering rust, other nations are building a core competency in the technologies that could be our exports.
The longer we drag our feet, the more coal will be brought into production, the more mining deaths there will be, the fewer of the fossil fuels we have will be used to produce sustainable technologies that are a net gain. That means that solar panels will be all that much more expensive, wind technology will be more expensive.
What we have to recognise is that externalities run both ways. But by not holding anyone accountable for externalities, dirtier technologies and more polluting technologies 'win' in the marketplace in the short term. If we're not the leader in this arena (and we clearly are not), we have a choice to be a follower or a defector. We've run the defector role too long. At a certain point, we will have nothing to stand on and no one will trade anything with us. Without a cap-and-trade market, we will be severely underdeveloped, both technologically and competence-wise.
Analysis: Climate change - The world is waiting - Ethical Corporation:The bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a narrow margin of 219 to 212 on 26 June amid stiff opposition from Republicans and several interest groups.
Establishing a cap-and-trade system and requiring power companies to produce 15% of their electricity from wind and solar energy are the main features of the bill passed by the house. It also binds the US to cutting carbon emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% by 2050. The Senate may change these targets, in which case the bill would be returned to the house to be approved again.
The Obama administration says the legislation will create jobs by boosting investment in green technologies. Opponents argue that jobs will be lost as energy prices rise, making US industry less competitive to rivals in China and elsewhere.
Business is divided over the bill. Carmakers, oil refiners, transporters and small manufacturers oppose it. They fear that legally requiring clean fuel will increase their costs. But utility companies support the bill. They are set to get 30% of the emission permits distributed by the government - a big chunk of what they need - for free.
Giving the carmakers, oil refiners, and that whole lot any real say in this is like asking the dinosaurs what our policy on fur growth should be. "Hey, whale oilers and newspapers, how should we handle this situation?"
Who cares what they think?! They're running outdated technology rackets, and not even running them well. Electricity is the future, as it is a fungible, nearly dollar-like common denomination of energy. You can translate coal or wind into electricity. With internal combustion engines, you need combustion fuel, and you max out at 36%. With electric motors, you can get up to 95% efficiency. It is like having Alexander Graham Bell telling mobile phone companies that they need to keep the pulse form of dialling. We're so beyond all of this.
This cannot be a solely political solution. I'm likely preaching to the choir, but we as consumers, citizens, and ecological denizens need to do the best we can with existing infrastructure to push the envelope. This means that it needs to happen at work, on your way to work, at your schools. Be a part of progress.
The longer we drag our feet, the more coal will be brought into production, the more mining deaths there will be, the fewer of the fossil fuels we have will be used to produce sustainable technologies that are a net gain. That means that solar panels will be all that much more expensive, wind technology will be more expensive.
What we have to recognise is that externalities run both ways. But by not holding anyone accountable for externalities, dirtier technologies and more polluting technologies 'win' in the marketplace in the short term. If we're not the leader in this arena (and we clearly are not), we have a choice to be a follower or a defector. We've run the defector role too long. At a certain point, we will have nothing to stand on and no one will trade anything with us. Without a cap-and-trade market, we will be severely underdeveloped, both technologically and competence-wise.
Analysis: Climate change - The world is waiting - Ethical Corporation:The bill was passed by the House of Representatives by a narrow margin of 219 to 212 on 26 June amid stiff opposition from Republicans and several interest groups.
Establishing a cap-and-trade system and requiring power companies to produce 15% of their electricity from wind and solar energy are the main features of the bill passed by the house. It also binds the US to cutting carbon emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% by 2050. The Senate may change these targets, in which case the bill would be returned to the house to be approved again.
The Obama administration says the legislation will create jobs by boosting investment in green technologies. Opponents argue that jobs will be lost as energy prices rise, making US industry less competitive to rivals in China and elsewhere.
Business is divided over the bill. Carmakers, oil refiners, transporters and small manufacturers oppose it. They fear that legally requiring clean fuel will increase their costs. But utility companies support the bill. They are set to get 30% of the emission permits distributed by the government - a big chunk of what they need - for free.
Giving the carmakers, oil refiners, and that whole lot any real say in this is like asking the dinosaurs what our policy on fur growth should be. "Hey, whale oilers and newspapers, how should we handle this situation?"
Who cares what they think?! They're running outdated technology rackets, and not even running them well. Electricity is the future, as it is a fungible, nearly dollar-like common denomination of energy. You can translate coal or wind into electricity. With internal combustion engines, you need combustion fuel, and you max out at 36%. With electric motors, you can get up to 95% efficiency. It is like having Alexander Graham Bell telling mobile phone companies that they need to keep the pulse form of dialling. We're so beyond all of this.
This cannot be a solely political solution. I'm likely preaching to the choir, but we as consumers, citizens, and ecological denizens need to do the best we can with existing infrastructure to push the envelope. This means that it needs to happen at work, on your way to work, at your schools. Be a part of progress.