WP,pg1: 'Blue' States Tackling Energy On Their Own: Rules Fall Short

[DeepModem Mom]

'Blue' States Tackling Energy On Their Own
Federal Efficiency Rules Fall Short, Some Say
By Justin Blum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 22, 2006; Page A01


Democratic-leaning states increasingly are regulating energy use and emissions, working around a GOP-controlled federal government that state officials say has not done enough.

The states are creating energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs and household appliances, limiting power plant and automobile output linked to global warming, and requiring the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar.

Leading the effort are "blue" states that voted Democratic in the 2004 presidential election. Even some of those states that have Republican governors, such as California and Connecticut, are making their own rules.

"In a way, the left is controlling that agenda," said Amy Myers Jaffe, associate director of the energy program at Rice University in Houston. "They're just implementing it at the community and state level."

Jaffe and other analysts said some of the policies would have to be adopted nationally to have a significant impact on the environment and energy consumption. But with other policies, such as the auto emissions limits, they said a sufficient number of big states are adopting regulations to make a significant difference nationally. "If all these giant-population states do this, does it matter that we don't have a national policy?" Jaffe asked....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101067.html?sub=AR

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. Gee - a nation dependent on other countries resources, considering change

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.
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USA could have done quite well trading with other countries - but the greed and corruption is getting too obvious

I believe there is one poster on DU named "thebacklashcometh" - or something like that

and the backlash is coming

count on it . .

[Lisa]

2. in population terms, getting California or the NE on board ...

... is equivalent to a mid-sized country. And even on the city level, when King County (including Seattle) decides to do something about emissions, that's a million people right there. Good for them!

[deadparrot]

3. 'Blue' states saving energy on their own

States that lean Democratic are finding ways to work around the GOP-controlled federal government in regulating energy use and emissions.

The states are creating energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs and household appliances, limiting power plant and automobile output linked to global warming, and requiring the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, The Washington Post reported.

Seven blue states that voted Democratic in 2004's presidential election have signed on to a regional plan to restrict power plant emissions. Eleven blue states have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, automobile tailpipe emissions requirements. Nine of the 10 states that have adopted appliance efficiency regulations also voted Democratic, the newspaper said.

In a way, the left is controlling that agenda, said Amy Myers Jaffe, associate director of the energy program at Rice University in Houston. They're just implementing it at the community and state level.

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=227375&cat=World

[MannyGoldstein]

4. As Always, Blue Works Better...

Which is the topic of my web site, http://blueworksbetter.com.

(Couldn't resist the plug)

[Lisa]

5. for these measures to be effective, they would have to be implemented

... at the state and local level, anyway -- to have any chance of becoming part of normal practice. Having strong lower-level response is actually better than having a national government that pays lip service but isn't helping much (like my federal government in Canada). The more the merrier!

[sarcasmo]

6. Proud to live Blue. I could never see myself moving to a red State.