Energy tsunami coming, ex - policymakers warn

[Finishline42]

27 elder statesmen sending a letter to both McCain and Obama, all memebers of Congress, and all 50 govs, Henry K and Colin Powell among the signees trying to warn of long term energy crisis facing the country.


''We must re-examine outdated and entrenched positions,'' the group says in the letter to be sent Wednesday to the campaigns of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and to his GOP rival John McCain, as well as members of Congress and all 50 governors.

''...Foremost we must rise above a partisan differences and be united in our efforts,'' they wrote.

A copy of the letter was provided Tuesday to The Associated Press.

The call to action comes amid widespread anger over high energy costs from $4-plus a gallon gasoline to the certainty of record heating costs next winter and the prospect that America's energy priorities will have to be revamped in coming decades to address global warming.

Despite volumes of rhetoric -- often on largely meaningless proposals -- partisan disagreements have stymied action on energy issues in Congress this year.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Wise-Men-Energy.html?ex=1216785600&en=6e187bd14ef398e1&ei=5070&emc=eta1

[DJ13]

1. While their goals are right on the money they forgot something

I saw no mention of any proposals to provide any viable relief now to those in the path of the coming "energy tsunami" (that would be all of us).

Goals decades out are fine and noble, but without some efforts to reign in the immediate rise of energy prices they might as well piss in the wind for all the good it will do.

[spag68]

5. There are plenty of proposals out there.

I'm a certified pv installer, and one night just for the hell of it I tried to calculate how many solar roves could be done with the Iraq war money. I won't go into all the details, but suffice it to say if we started now with one month of Iraq per year, in five years we could reduce the oil company's to a place where they rightly belong. The side affect is millions of jobs, all houses being somewhat independent of the grid , less pollution, and on and on. There are no downsides to internal investment of that sort, so just understand that the old adage applies, "follow the money" you will see why it hasn't happened.

[kristopher]

8. This should have its own thread so I can recommend it.

Please share a little more of that analysis. I'd love to hear it.

[spag68]

11. The basic premise

is 12 billion divided by about 20 thousand per roof 5k watt. That's for the pv, if you throw in a couple more thousand, you get your hot water heated by solar thermal. Don't forget that your frig. will stay cold for a long time and during the day the pv runs it again. There are websites out there that have lots of info on this so don't let the rethugs tell you it's not practical. All the computations don't take into account that year by year as more panels are manufactured the price will come down from 3$ a watt now to about 50 to 80 cents a watt quickly. 3$ times 10.000 watt system =30k. 10,000 times 50cents=5k. At this time contractors are getting 8$ a watt installed. With 50cent materiel and the advantage of many systems installed, it won't be long before even us retired people can afford it. My favorite right now is an attic system which uses attic air to heat water for pools Small fan blowing over radiator fins and installs for about 5k.

[Finishline42]

12. Could Utility Companies push PV for homeowners?

HR6049 - before the Senate this week, extends tax credits for 8 yrs on renewables. The home owner credit is 30% up to a max of $4k (twice the current benefit limit of $2k). Companies get 30% with no limit. Do you think it would be a good idea for Utility companies to offer to ratepayers long term finance deals to install PV?

What would be the advantages?

They would get the 30% ITC up front.

If a large percentage of customers enrolled, they wouldn't have to build as many new power plants for the expected growth and PV helps in delivering power when most needed - during the summer.

To your point - a large commitment by the US would increase investment and improvements in efficiency. Windmills are well along the development curve. Solar PV, on the other hand, is in the early stages with companies like IBM and Sony starting to get involved.

There was a bill in congress last year that put a requirement that Utility companies get 15% of their power from renewables. Have the installation of homeowner systems count in that total.

[liberaltrucker]

2. Get..away..from..the ...fan

x(

[tularetom]

3. The implication that BOTH parties are somehow equally culpable is ludicrous

and just another reason to ignore crap like this. Just the name Kissinger on this document puts its credibility in the shitter as far as I'm concerned. These "wise men" would do better to focus their efforts on the Dick and his oily gang.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. As are the typical fear tactics

A lot of people are going to be cold this winter. A LOT. I count myself among them as I wonder how I'm going to afford heating oil.

If we get an early onset of winter, say, October-November, it could determine the election.

And Cheney's Energy Strategy is still under lock and key some eight years gone.

Torches and pitchforks.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. We should apply for LIHEAP assistance as soon as possible this year

"We" being those of us who have "low income lifestyles".

I think you can apply in October, but you'll have to check with your state.

There is going to be a godawful rush to LIHEAP this year. And if we have a cold early Winter, then Katie-bar-the-door.

--p!

[bananas]

7. They want off-shore drilling and "Republican, pro-business approaches"

"The open letter was the idea of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, a group affiliated with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has embraced largely Republican, pro-business approaches to dealing with energy problems. The Chamber, for example, has called for expanding domestic energy development, including opening offshore areas long off limits, and criticized new taxes on oil companies."

[bananas]

9. On their website, their solution is: coal, oil, gas, nuclear

I don't know what's in the letter they sent, but on their website,
the first four items listed are coal, oil, gas, nuclear:
http://www.energyxxi.org/xxi/Resources/facts_diversity.htm

[kristopher]

10. Today the "Gang of Ten" spoke out

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$5 Dems and 5 Republicans who want more drilling offshore$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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