Comments on: D.C.’s clean-energy conundrum

By: Samrch

Samrch — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:25:44 +0000

Production tax credit will support uneconomic options and are subject to corruption. The government’s roles should be to fund research and provide loans to build infrastructure. Possibly build large infrastructure projects that make economic sense but may not get done other wise. An example would be national electric grid projects if indeed a national grid would make various alternative energy sources economic. It is unlikely the Hoover Dam would have got built without government finance.

It must be remembered that we have the best politicians money can by. Two of the costs of lack of public morals of those in power is you cannot trust them appoint technically capable people and you can assume anything approved was on the the basses of what is good for the approver personally.

By: EthicsIntl

EthicsIntl — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:53:30 +0000

@brotherkenny4;

You’ve nailed it.

Oil & coal interests will never allow serious competition.

Big Oil is the Boss, and we the consumers are responsible for creating this monster.

We Americans, & most developed countries, are addicted to oil, and we alone use 25% of the world’s resources.

We have been brainwashed in constantly buying & owing things that we really do not need & with credit card debt above our heads, because this is what capitalism is based on, and it only benefits the 1% elite.

Maybe we should look up to the Chinese, where wind energy is their priority and where they have taken the lead in, and to their spending habits…NO CREDIT CARDS..only debit cards are used by the Chinese…very wise indeed.

By: Sanity-Monger

Sanity-Monger — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:46:29 +0000

Climate Change represents the most significant challenge that humans have ever faced. Not because it’s technically difficult to solve (it is, but the technical issues are not what’s holding us back), but because we need to finally look at the world in an un-blindered way, look reality square in the face, and find a way to deal with it. This means that we can no longer continue to act as though we can solve this by striking a bargain between nature and “the economy”. Nature IS the economy, except for a bit of human labor and ingenuity added on that is of minor significance relative to the actual value of the raw materials. Nature is not at the negotiating table. Nature doesn’t give a hoot how much suffering we inflict. Nature doesn’t care a fig whether we go extinct.

The crux of this particular problem is that we have spent several centuries exploiting highly potent energy sources while never paying anything close to the actual cost. The difference between the price we’ve been paying and the actual cost is a debt, and we have passed that debt to future generations. The bill is coming due.

Repeat often and to as many people as you can: nature does not negotiate, nature does not negotiate, nature does not negotiate.

By: brotherkenny4

brotherkenny4 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:25:16 +0000

The conundrum happens to be how does one do what is right for the country (and therefore bad for oil and coal companies) and still get re-elected? We would have gone in many different directions by now if it weren’t for the political influence of huge corporations. Those are your true leaders. Our politicians cater to them. There is no energy crisis. More energy drops out of the sky every day than can be used by a hundred times the number of people that live on earth today. We are brainwashed and led by the lackies of industry.

By: KORourke_AWEA

KORourke_AWEA — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:39:24 +0000

Newspapers and politicians from various regions around the country continue to line up in support of an extension of the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC).

In fact, over the last few months major news outlets such as the Des Moines Register, Denver Post, Daily Oklahoman, Toledo Blade, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Sun-Times, and The New York Times have all written editorials in support of the PTC.

Their voices join a vocal bipartisan chorus of governors, senators, and representatives, including such notables as: Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mark Udall (D-CO); Governors Sam Brownback (R-KS) Mary Fallin (R-OK), Lincoln Chafee (I-RI), and John Kitzhaber (D-OR); and Representatives Steve King (R-IA) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA).

It’s no surprise that the PTC has such broad bipartisan support–it’s helped the wind industry create over 75,000 jobs, lower consumer energy costs, and revitalize the U.S. manufacturing sector in a time of overall weak economic growth.

Despite these benefits, wind power could be singled out as the only energy source to lose its federal tax credit this year if the PTC is allowed to expire December 31, 2012. Please support American wind power by contacting your federal representatives and asking them to pledge their support for a PTC extension.