Reducing My Utilities Bills

Enviromental priorities a bit messed up.

Here is another case of the environmentalists having the wrong priorities. In the case of coal do not block the building of plants mandate their emissions if they can make a truly clean coal plant I am all for it.

Never mandate how just a minimum result.

Controversial offshore wind farm clears hurdle

Coal power goes on trial across U.S.

Aaron

50%+ of our trade deficit is oil

If the US was to become energy independent which it could do if we gave it our national commitment while not messing up the enviroment. That money along with the savings from all the consumers in the US would be better than any tax deal.

Some ideas (some old and new)...

• 75 MPG+ (prefer even higher) with a minimum of 40 MPG by 2025 or even higher. This will not give an undo advantage to the foriegn auto companies. The higher we raise the standard the less advantage 1 car company has over another.
• More home based Solar Electric Power. This way the consumer is keeping their money and not giving it to the electric utilities.
• Clean coal power or similiar technologies.
• More biofuels. Corn based ethanol is close to its limits until cellulose based ethanol comes online. We need other domestic options.
• Safe nuclear power.
• Plug in hybrids. Desiel/Plug in hybrids. Until we can move entirely to an electric car economy or similiar.
• Tax incentives to retire old gas guzzlers. Pay to get them off the road and scrapped. Like the police pay for guns. Similarly for AC and heating equipment.
• A clear federal mandate that gives ALL states permission to increase MPG standards and tighten emissions controls without the insanity of asking for a waver and it taking years.

Removing specific technology mandates only mandating the emissions and the consumption. Also remove regulations that make it harder for individuals to produce solar and wind power at home.

Why would a vehicle that gets 60+ MPG that does not need a catalytic converter to meet emissions requirements require one? What if it was a plugin hybrid that could run 100 miles on its charge and then got 60+ MPG (net 100+ MPG).

These should also limit the ability to slow projects down like wind farms on and off shore. They are of both national and enviromental interest. Yes, some birds may be hurt. But, for the overall benefit of the planet and the economy these projects should not be held up in legal limbo.

To envimentalists you can not play both sides of this equation.

I want the politician to answer this one.

If our recuring fuel costs and utilization were to rapidally drop that would give the US a great economic advantage in the world.

Personally if I could afford it in 10 years I would like to have my house be 100% electric (AC, heating and hot water all be electric) have a plug in hybrid who battery range would exceed that of my mormal driving and a solar and/or wind system that would have NO recurring cost to supply power to all of this and have enough extra to sell some back and make a bit of money. Good for me, the US and the envirment no matter where you stand on global warming.

Aaron

Since the primary season is under way...

I would like to see the polical canidates say where they stand on CAFE and the EPA decision against California. This should be something both parties agree on since it an enviromental issue and/or a national defense issue as well as an economic issue.

The more we reduce oil consumption the better off the economy our wallets and it would do more to reduce the funding of rouge states and terrorism world wide and well as improve the air and reduce CO2.

I would also like to see ALL specific pollution technology mandates removed. Catalytic converters and other equipment should not be required. Only the expected tailpipe emissions and MPG mandates and let the creativity and technology control how to get there.

One suggestion is to look at marring hybrid technology with a modern clean deasel.

If you are running for office no reteric please just a specific plan.

Similiarly COAL works for me if technology allows it to be clean. But, what technology power companies need to use should not be required just that it be clean to a specific level.

Aaron

Car choices

I am right now balancing the financial impacts of buying a new car versus maintaining my Subaru.

Over the holiday I test drove the Camary and the Altima Hybrids. I liked the Altima more, it is a family sized car with a bit a spunkiness and nearly 40 MPG (personal preference).

What is the enviromental impacts of getting rid of the car possibly sooner then needed versus saving gas and fuel?

Aaron