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The Energy Bill May Pass..Ok so everyone is real excited and the internet is a vibrating so I put this up but TGI(WB)F shall not be ignored!
Reply
Category Archives: global warming
Last Piece On Germany – There are always nay sayers.
For those of you who want a diferent take on burning things up and energy generation besides the usual global warming debate (its happening, no its not, yes it is, no its not).
http://www.energyandcapital.com/aqx_p/3062
Its a chance to sign up for a newsletter that believes that we are running out of energy sources fast and that an energy crash is near…
In the mean time Germany is talking about cutting its carbon emissions by 40% and phasing out its Nukes! Were America only this good.
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/45020/story.htm
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Coal to Make Germany Miss CO2 Target – Green Group
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| GERMANY: October 26, 2007 |
| BERLIN – Germany has no chance of achieving its reduced CO2 emissions’ targets if it keeps building coal-burning power plants, an environmental group said on Thursday. |
Deutsche Umwelthilfe studied the impact of new plants on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government’s CO2 targets and said it should either abandon the new plants or scrap plans to cut CO2 emissions by 40 percent between 1990 and 2020.
The government’s 40-percent goal will definitely not be reachable if Germany continues to build coal-burning power plants,” the group’s managing director, Rainer Baake, said
“Building new coal-burning plants is not compatible with any serious climate protection policy.”
German utilities are building or have plans to build 26 coal-burning plants. Some will take over from older, less efficient plants, but many will replace nuclear plants
Germany needs the extra coal power to compensate for the loss of nuclear power, which now accounts for 30 percent of energy production. Nuclear power is being phased out by 2020.
And guess what? US Corporations are Investing in German Technology. George Bush has sold this country to the dogs.
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The Week in Germany: Business, Technology and the Environment July 20, 2007 Silicon Saxony: Germany at the Cutting-Edge Crossroads of the PV and Semiconductor Industries
Innovative semiconductor technologies and applications are being developed in Germany, where they are now increasingly also tapping into the immense potential offered by photovoltaic (PV) applications, the driving force behind the country’s booming solar power sector. This was the topic at Invest in Germany’s executive luncheon “Made in Germany – the Growing Success Story for Next-Generation Solar and Semiconductor Companies” on Tuesday (July 17) in San Francisco, which concluded a two-day conference attended by 140 executives from both industries. At this “Semicon West 2007” event, representatives of leading companies including Qimonda, AMD, Applied Materials, and Signet Solar discussed Germany as a location for high-tech investments and groundbreaking cooperation between the PV and semiconductor industries. A semiconductor is usually created by silicon for commercial use. Semiconductor devices, electronic components made of semiconductor materials, are essential in modern electrical devices, from computers to cellular phones to digital audio players. A DRAM (dynamic RAM) is the most commonly used semiconductor memory product. Dynamic technology hot spot Munich-based Qimonda AG, the top 3 DRAM manufacturer worldwide, operates its largest semiconductor development center in Dresden. “We are located in ‘Silicon Saxony’ – one of the most dynamic technology hot spots in the world,” said Frank Prein, managing director of Qimonda Dresden. Another leading semiconductor investor in Germany is AMD. The California-based company sees its presence in Germany, notably in Dresden, as essential to its global market success. “With over $5 billion total investment in Dresden to date, AMD continues to utilize the excellent skill base in the region to develop and optimize next-generation microprocessor solutions,” said William Haerle, vice president for worldwide government relations at AMD. Solid communication and cooperation structures among equipment makers, materials suppliers and chip makers are distinctive characteristics of the semiconductor industry. Such key relationships across the semiconductor value chain could also benefit PV cell and module makers by enhancing technical standards and production, which would in turn lead to lower prices and boost demand for solar power. “The synergies between these two industries are increasing, providing promising business opportunities. In this respect, Germany plays a key role as the European leader in both semiconductor and PV technology,” said Claus Habermeier, senior manager at Invest in Germany’s Palo Alto office. Highest density of PV producers worldwide According to Winfried Hoffmann, chief technology officer of the Solar Business Group at Applied Materials, rapid growth of the solar energy market in Germany has created an enormous market potential for international semiconductor firms. “Germany has the largest density of PV producers worldwide. Between 2007 and 2008 another 15 PV companies are planned with investments of about €1 billion in all steps of the value chain,” said Hoffmann. The success of the PV industry is still strongly linked to existing government support programs. Equipment manufacturers with experience in both the semiconductor and the PV industry could offer PV producers the most effective technology to become competitive under market conditions. “In the long run integrated manufacturing of thin wafers and subsequent cell and laminate making is probably the most effective route. With this technology cell efficiency gains of up to 24 percent – or even more for Si wafer technology by introducing nanomanufacturing technologies – could become a reality by 2020,” said Hoffmann. American companies cooperate in Dresden In Germany, two leading California companies, Applied Materials and Signet Solar, are demonstrating how cooperation between both industries can work: Signet Solar’s first low-cost silicon thin-film PV module plant in Dresden will use Applied Material’s technology. “Signet Solar combines decades of semiconductor experience from Silicon Valley and Silicon Saxony to accelerate the adoption of PV thin-film silicon technology,” says Gunter Ziegenbalg, managing director of Signet Solar GmbH. “We are aiming for grid parity with solar modules made in Saxony within five years.” Invest in Germany is the official investment promotion agency of Germany. Its mandate is to assist and advise international companies about investment opportunities in Germany. (Invest in Germany/TWIG) Links: The German-Indian-Silicon-Valley Solar Solution Cloudy Germany a Powerhouse in Solar Energy (TWIG, May 11, 2007) |
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Free Trade? Germany Does Meaningful Investment Instead.
Not only does Germany invest in energy efficiency at home and export those products, they invest in them abroad as well. What does the US invest in? War. What does the US export? Jobs and Poverty.
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From: Paula Leighton, Science and Development Network
Published October 22, 2007 02:09 PM
Germany Supporting Chilean
Renewable Energy Efforts
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Santigo, Chile – The German government has pledged up to US$126 million to fund Chilean research into renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The Chilean minister of energy, Marcelo Tokman, announced the agreement during an official visit to Berlin, Germany, this month (10 October).
A spokesperson for Chile’s National Commission of Energy told SciDev.Net that the German government will donate US$11.5 million and lend up to US$114.5 million.
During the visit, Tokman also formally accepted an invitation for Chile to become one of the founder countries of the new International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
IRENA — an initiative led by Germany — aims to promote the use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind power, regenerative biomass, wave and tidal power worldwide.
It will also support national energy planning, research centres and technology transfer, especially from industrialised nations to developing countries.
“The invitation to become a member of this agency is a recognition of the work the government is doing to boost sustainable energy development in Chile by promoting non-conventional renewable energies and energy efficiency,” said Tokman in a press release.
Chile is currently carrying out research into geothermal, solar and wind energy, especially in remote areas of the country. Most research and projects receive state subsides.
Chile’s first wind power park looks set to become part of the Chilean interconnected energy system by the end of this year.
Chile is exploring renewable energy such as solar powerChile’s National Commission of Energy says the country can expect wind power capacity to increase from 2 megawatts to over 100 megawatts by 2010.
A bill on renewable energies — waiting to be approved by the Chilean parliament — aims to increase renewable energy from its current level of 2.4 per cent to eight per cent of total energy production by 2020.
Germans Think of the Future, Americans Think in the Past
I forgot all about transparency and the web on Thursday. I write very few of these blogs myself. I take them from other sources, because there is so much written about energy and the environment, I have very little to add. I have written my own posts like the ones on Asimov, but they are not even 1% of the total posts. So to that end I always try to cite my sources and very openly post the sources web site here. Well Thurday I did a lousy job. I want to do more on German Energy Advancement but before I do I used this service to find that article:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1525/is_n1_v80/ai_16111823/pg_7
and the article was from the Sierra Club magazine:
For this I apologize. Also none of the articles links work…from now on I will try to be a better linker or at least delink what I can not support. This article is from:
IGNITING IDEAS
The High-Tech Strategy for Germany
http://www.hightech-strategie.de/en/201.php#top
Environmental Technologies –
Clear Water, Clean
Air, Fertile Soil
In contrast to the 1970s and 1980s when centre stage was given to aftercare environmental engineering – such as filter systems to keep air and water clean – environmental protection considerations are today increasingly being taken into account during the development phase. With this approach, natural resources are to be used efficiently and harmful effects on the environment are to be minimised throughout a product’s entire lifecycle.
At the same time, new environmental technologies offer economic benefits. Organic solvents pollute ground water and air, have to be separated and recovered – frequently with considerable energy input – and are also questionable in terms of occupational safety. Such solvents could, for example, be replaced in the future by supercritical fluids which – thanks to their easy-to-modify state of aggregation – are much easier to separate.The German environmental engineering sector – which includes the waste and water management industries and parts of the mechanical engineering and plant manufacturing field – employs some 1.5 million people today. At international level, German firms are particularly successful in the air pollution control, noise abatement and recycling fields.With its national sustainability strategy, the German government aims to reduce the air pollution load by 70 percent by the year 2010, double German industry’s energy efficiency and resource efficiency by the year 2020 and reduce land development from currently 100 hectares a day to 30 hectares a day. The German government has committed itself to reducing the emission levels of the six greenhouse gases cited in the Kyoto Protocol by 21 percent over 1990 levels by the period 2008 through 2012.These national sustainability goals cannot be achieved without cleaner and more efficient technology. German industry should therefore be helped with identifying and developing new R&D findings with environmental protection potential and applying them immediately in the domestic market. The German government aims to tap the global market for the German environmental engineering industry and to adapt technologies and know-how to local conditions in threshold and developing countries.
Progressively develop environmental technology for the domestic market
Economic and ecological targets can often be met simultaneously when a product’s entire life cycle is taken into account during the planning and production processes. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research funds collaborative projects in the manufacturing sector with a view to linking new research approaches with problems in actual practice.
Innovative environmental protection technologies such as self-healing surfaces and waste-free processes are a focus of surface technology and spill over into many sectors – from car manufacturing to the construction sector and furniture industry all the way to the shipbuilding industry. Surface technology has not however had a joint R&D platform because the field has a wealth of user industries and is therefore highly fragmented. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is therefore planning a comprehensive research initiative for this area.
Bionics use nature as a source of inspiration for technology. In order to make it easier to translate creative ideas into products, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is planning a new research campaign aimed at supporting work to develop such ideas to the stage where they are functioning demonstration models or production-ready prototypes.
The Ministry’s Research for Sustainability funding programme supports and funds the development of new environmental protection technologies.
Pilot projects create trust in the reliability of new technologies
In contrast to years past, when the focus of funding was on the retrofitting of systems and on downstream purification processes (so-called end-of-pipe technologies), financial assistance today is provided primarily for first use of new integrated environmental protection technologies, with priority being given to SMEs. The Environmental Innovation Programme of the Federal Ministry of Research and Development funds these industrial-scale pilot projects. These activities, which receive flanking technical support from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), establish the prerequisites necessary for defining technical standards and establishing legally binding emission ceilings.
Use Germany’s strong domestic market as a springboard for tapping the global market
Sustainability in trade and industry is not just a German aim – it is also a European aim. For this reason, Germany has joined up with Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain in the ERA-NET Sustainable Enterprise (SUSPRISE) project to co-ordinate its national research activities aimed at fostering sustainable enterprises.
Export credit guarantees granted by the federal government (Hermes guaranties) are an important instrument for spurring foreign trade, including in the environmental technology field. The OECD member states agreed in 2005 to extend the maximum permissible terms for export credits for renewable energy and for water and waste-water projects to 15 years. With the new aval guarantee that was launched in 2006, the German government will cover a share of the third-party risk borne by the guarantor. This will substantially improve liquidity, particularly for small and medium-sized exporters. The Federal Environment Agency’s Internet portal at www.cleaner-production.de offers extensive information about the capabilities of German environmental technologies and services.
Protect the global water supply
Many threshold and developing countries suffer from an inadequate supply of drinking water and – particularly in megacities – from waste-water problems that can scarcely be handled. The development and sustainability goals adopted by the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 include halving the proportion of the global population that has no access to safe drinking water or adequate sanitation services by the year 2015. This goal is a pressing humanitarian task. The development of the requisite water and waste-water infrastructure however also constitutes an enormous investment market.
The German government is supporting the development of an integrated water resource management (IWRM) system in numerous partner countries, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
In addition to its development policy projects in this field – Germany is one of the world’s largest donors in the water sector – the Federal Ministry of Education and Research also funds the continued development of IWRM methods and approaches.
German and regional partners from research institutes, government agencies, engineering offices and the water industry participate in these projects.
The International Postgraduate Studies in Water Technologies fellowship programme has been set up to train German and foreign water specialists who, as future decision-makers in their home countries, could help develop the know-how urgently needed there. The networking this will generate between participants could facilitate the German water industry’s access to the growing water markets in threshold and developing countries.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development will offer funding for ten years for a Water Decade office at the University of the United Nations in Bonn as a step to support collaborative international research activities.
More Topics
Lower Pollution Levels Lead To A Vibrant Economy
Germany is a perfect example of how producing energy with no pollution (in many case no burning) leads to an economic expansion and creates new good paying jobs. Bush and the Republicans have been wrong all along. Nixon, Reagan and Bush oh my!
Green revolution in the making –
innovative German
environmental protection efforts
Sierra, Jan-Feb, 1995 by Curtis Moore
<< Page 1 Continued from page 6. Previous | Next
The cumulative effect of all these programs is to place Germany in a commanding position as nations beset with environmental problems search for ways to reduce pollution quickly and inexpensively. Thailand, for example, decided to install scrubbers on its coal-fired power plants after a single episode of air pollution in Mae Mo District sent more than 4,000 of its citizens to doctors and hospitals. Smog-bound Mexico City has been forced to implement emissions controls on cars and factories. Taiwan is even going so far as to require catalytic converters for motorcycles. Such mandates will almost inevitably benefit Germany because, as Harvard Business School economist Michael Porter explains, “Germany has had perhaps the world’s tightest regulations in stationary air-pollution control, and German companies appear to hold a wide lead in patenting–and exporting–air pollution and other environmental technologies.”
In the United States, however, where environmental standards were relaxed by a succession of Reagan/Bush appointees, often in the name of competitiveness, “as much as 70 percent of the air pollution control equipment sold…is produced by foreign companies,” according to Porter, whose 855-page study of industrial economies, The Competitive Advantage of Nations, examines the impact of environmental regulations on competitiveness.
Germany’s actions continue to contrast sharply with those of the United States, even under President Clinton, whom most environmentalists supported as the green answer to George Bush. Germany’s emissions limits on power plants and incinerators are 4 to 300 times more stringent than those of the United States. German companies that generate electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable forms of power are reimbursed at twice to three times U.S. levels. German recycling is mandatory, while American programs are usually voluntary where they exist at all.
Still, support for Germany’s environmental initiatives is by no means unanimous. Wolfgang Hilger, for example, the chairman of Hoechst, Germany’s largest chemical company, complained bitterly in 1991 that the government had lost all sense of proportion. He claimed that regulations had jeopardized 250 jobs at his company, and threatened it with a $100-million loss. But Hilger represents a minority view. Most German citizens and businesses remain convinced both that environmental protection is essential and that the technological innovation stimulated by stringent environmental requirements will, over the long term, strengthen their national productivity and competitiveness.
Tragically, U.S. political leaders continue to embrace the outmoded and false view that the environment can be protected only at the expense of the economy, when the truth is precisely the opposite. Meanwhile, products of American genius continue to depart for Japan, Germany, and other nations, only to be sold back to U.S. industry sometime in the future. So far, the homes-from-pollution process hasn’t traveled full circle back to its place of invention in the United States. But don’t be surprised if sometime soon you see a piece of wallboard being nailed into a new office or a remodeled home only to find it boldly emblazoned: “Made in Germany.”
What Do G.E. and Chevron have in Common besides being Environmental Pricks?
When you type “Hot Environmental Topics” into google search, they are the FIRST TWO websites that pop-up. I am not kidding! So I clicked on the first link. The contradictions are amazing:
http://www.chevron.com/globalissues/emergingenergy/
The page you go in at is all gushy about the future but when you click on their global warming page whoa does the corporate speak snap into play?
Q. What is Chevron’s position on The Kyoto Protocol?
A. The Kyoto Protocol assigns mandatory emission limits of greenhouse gasses to signatory nations. We support the intentions of Kyoto in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and respect the individual countries that have made the decisions to sign. However, while we support the global engagement that it envisions, we believe it focuses on signing up many countries rather than truly engaging the 10 – 12 critical emitting countries. Further, we think it asks for emission reductions that are too aggressive too quickly, given the technologies that are currently available. Finally, we don’t think the economic consequences are fully outlined.
Q. Does Chevron support measures such as California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32)?
A. In 2006, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. The legislation seeks to cap California’s greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020.
Again, we support the intentions of the state in reducing GHG emissions. But we believe that effective mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions can only occur at a global level, given that climate change is a global issue. This requires coordinated national frameworks, and fragmented actions by individual states have the potential for undue economic costs without effectively mitigating the climate change risk.
We have experience with state–by–state and region–by–region regulatory approaches, and these have not been favorable to consumers.
Bottomline “YOU CAN’T TELL US WHAT TO DO”
When you click on General Electric’s web site you get very pretty animated stuff. Do these guys have bucks or what?
http://ge.ecomagination.com/site/index.html?kw=environmental%20issues&c_id=environmental#home
But the first thing they offer up is CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY! Sorry Caz I wish I was a good enough blogger to put up the video but this is the link:
http://ge.ecomagination.com/site/index.html?kw=environmental%20issues&c_id=environmental#tampa
Everyone should ask google how this is possible? Especially after they announce that they are going to spend big bucks on clean energy production??????
Springfield Has A New Architectural Standard
A new standard has been set for any new buildings in Springfield and Central Illinois in general. While I think they should have included some generation capacity, its pretty good. Please see the specifications below:
Melotte Morse Leonatti, Ltd.
213’/2 South Sixth Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701-1502 (217)789-9515 FAX (217)789-9518
illinois municipal electric agency headquarters
building fact sheet
features:
• project team:
o owner: illinois municipal electric agency o architect: melotte morse leonatti, ltd. o engineer: eta engineers o contractor: o’shea builders
• prairie style influences• 2.5 acre lot, 75 stall parking lot• 33.OOO gross square feet• s-bay garage• 36 seat board room with integrated AV and voting, 25 seat gallery• executive conference facility with integrated AV & phone• 24/7/365 CONTROL CENTER IN 3,53O SQUARE FOOT TORNADO SHELTER (DESIGNED FOR
category F5 storms) with 72 hour generator backup
green features:
• alternative transportation (Bus rte, car pools, Low CO2 cars)• bicycle storage/shower
•—»- “cool” roofing/paving, light pollution reduction
• goal of 3o% water use reduction• building envelope 16% better than code• 10o% geoexchange (geothermal) heating/cooling:
o 82 tons capacity – 54 tons = bl_dg. 28 tons = data racks
o methalene solution in > 5o,ooo feet of polyethelene piping
o 1 1 high efficiency heat pumps — each heat pump a zone
o 6 loops (thermal exchange zones) of (1 2) 4″ diameter holes, 3oo feet deep
— reverse return system
o fossil fuel consumption = O at the building o energy savings: 84,601 kwh/year over similar water source heat pump
system. $6,10o estimated annual energy savings over conventional
system (as defined by ashrae 9o: electric boiler for heat and air-cooled
chiller/vav system for cooling) — 3o%
• fundamental & enhanced commissioning• goal of 5o% construction waste diversion• goal of 2O% recycled content a 2O% regional materials• automatic lighting controls:
o interior based on available daylight and occupancy o exterior based on astronomical time clock
• daylighting/views, operable windows• Low VOC finishes/indoor air quality• goal of silver level LEED certification
Rails C. Melotte, A.I.A. • Richard R. Morse, A.I.A. • David J. Leonatti, A.I.A. • T. David Parker, A.I.A., Principals
Darrell R. Schaver, Associate
Why Ray Lahood is not running for the 18th District?
Here is the real reason that Ray Lahood is not running for Congress again. He sent me this letter after I wrote him to support increases in the CAFE Standards. When he finally gets around to it in the letter below…it turns out he supports a much lower CAFE Standard than I was asking for. In fact its the “Floor” or the lowest standard that President Bush Proposed!
The politicians have been told for years by the coal, oil, gas and nuclear industries that:
1. renewables are “years” away from being able to helpay LaHood Member of Congress
2. nuclear will have to be part of the mix
3. that we must drill and mine on environmentally sensitive areas to be energy self sufficient
4. people who say other wise are out to destroy our economy
They have said it for so long that the politicans came to believe it. Now that the world is changing the energy companies can’t say “oh we were lieing to make more money”. So they are just mum and as the Environmental Storm brews all the dinosaurs are running to get out of the road.
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
select intelligence oversight panel ranking member
subcommittee onagriculture, rural development,
food and drug administration,
and related agencies CONGRESSMAN RAY LAHOOD
subcommittee onlegislative branch 18TH DISTRICT, ILLINOIS
November 14, 2007
Mr. Doug Nicodemus
948 E. Adams
Riverton, IL 62561
Dear Doug:
Thank you for contacting me and sharing your concerns about global warming and our nation’s energy supply. It was good to hear from you on these important issues, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
America must take responsibility for its energy needs, decrease our dependence on foreign oil, promote clean renewable energy sources, and implement a plan to keep our economy growing and our nation safe. It is my understanding that, even though the United States is the world’s third largest crude oil producer, less than 40 percent of the crude oil used by U.S. refineries was produced in the United States. About 50 percent of our petroleum imports are from countries in the Western Hemisphere, with 20 percent from the Persian Gulf, 15 percent from Africa, and 15 percent from other regions. Given these facts, I believe that we need to continue to research and develop alternative fuel choices, reduce our consumption of oil through conservation, and work to increase our domestic petroleum supply.
Any energy policy that addresses our petroleum needs must look at increasing our domestic supply. Several areas in the country offer opportunities worth exploring to increase domestic petroleum production, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), other areas in Alaska, the Rocky Mountain region, and along the continental shelf. The technology exists where we can safely extract oil and natural gas from these areas and not adversely affect the local and regional environment. Increasing efficiencies and technological advancement allow us to capture more resources from a smaller footprint.
Two bills aimed at reforming our energy laws, H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007, and H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act, both recently passed the House of Representatives. However, a number of concerns have arisen with both of these pieces of legislation.
The unfortunate reality is that neither of these bills does anything to help develop our own domestic supply of oil, but rather punishes America’s oil and gas workers by raising taxes, imposing new fees, and putting the brakes on energy exploration, making us even more reliant on foreign oil. Other concerns arose from the amendment offered by Representative Tom Udall of New Mexico. His amendment, which was accepted and included within the final legislation, requires electric suppliers to provide 15 percent of their electricity using renewable energy resources by the year 2020. The intentions of this amendment are good; however, it unfortunately implements a standardized requirement for the entire country without taking into account the specific needs of individual states. While this new mandate may be easily fulfilled by certain areas of the country that have readily available access to renewable energy sources, such as wind, water, and solar, it becomes more difficult and costly to implement these requirements for other parts of the country where such amenities are not easily found. At the same time, I am also concerned that this legislation
respond to:
1424 longworth house office building fj 100 NE monroe O 3050 montvale drive D 209 west state
washington, DC 20515 peoria, IL 61602 springfield, IL 62704 jacksonville, IL 62650
(202)225-6201 (309)671-7027 (217)793-0808 PHONE/TTY (217) 245-1431
FAX (202) 225-9249 FAX (309) 671-7309 FAX (217) 793-9724 FAX (217) 243-6852
INTERNET: WWW.HOUSE.GOV/LAHOOD/
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Mr. Doug NicodemusNovember 14, 2007
Page # 2
excludes nuclear energy from being defined as renewable. This would make it increasingly difficult for states such as Illinois to meet these new energy restrictions where nuclear is the dominant form of energy used.
This legislation also failed to address an important issue which I have consistently been concerned with, the promotion of fuel efficient vehicles. Of the 20 million barrels of oil the U.S. consumes in a day, 67 percent is used to power our cars. If Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were increased by only three miles per gallon, not only would it save you money, but it would steeply reduce the amount of oil consumed each day by our country. We already have the technology to increase CAFE standards, and it is the single most important thing we could do to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Consistent with this goal, in the new 11 Oth Congress, I have signed onto legislation, as I have done in the past, which would increase our automobile fuel efficiency standards in the United States, H.R. 656. This legislation, introduced by my colleague from Washington, Representative David Reichert, would prescribe CAFE standards for automobiles manufactured after 2016 of at least 33 miles per gallon. This legislation has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. While I am not a member of this committee, I will closely monitor the progress of this legislation, hopeful that it will reach the House Floor for a vote so that I may continue to show my support for it.
As a result of my dedication to decrease America’s dependence on oil, while researching alternative forms of energy, I was happy to vote to support and pass H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007, by a vote of 264-163, earlier this Congress. This bill will repeal a number of tax credits given to major oil corporations in the hope that this would generate investment and research in new and renewable energy alternatives. It will also amend certain deepwater oil and gas leases, issued during 1998 and 1999, to incorporate specified price thresholds applicable to royalty suspension provisions. The funds generated from this legislation would then be put into a ‘Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewable Reserve Fund’. The money in this fund would go to researching and developing new and renewable alternatives to petroleum energy in order to wane America’s dependence on foreign oil.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I will continue my dedication to promoting alternative and renewable fuel choices to help lessen our dependence on foreign oil as we continue to work through the 110th Congress. Please feel free to contact me again should you have any further thoughts or concerns.
Sincerely,Ray LaHood Member of Congress
RHL/mjr
Unity in Springfield – Environmental Harmony
While I was doing national posts, I over looked some local things. I have been very bad and apologize. On November 4rth there was a very important meeting of all the environmentalists in Springfield and led to the next blog.
GREEN LIVING
Meeting yields ways to locally battle climate change
By AMANDA REAVY
STAFF WRITER
on Natemeyer attended a town hall meeting devoted to climate issues Sunday afternoon, ready to learn ways he and other citizens can make an immediate impact.
But as some participants asked for more direction, Natemeyer decided to pitch his own idea of planting Illinois native species along blighted alleyways.
It started when Natemeyer began cleaning the alley behind his house. Soon, he saw one of his neighbors was planting native species behind his garage.
Natemeyer liked the idea and thought it could lead to a sponsorship program in which seed heads are collected and then planted in alleys that have been cleared of litter and other debris.
“It’d be simple, easy, and doesn’t cost anything except time,” Natemeyer told the crowd.
A representative of the Illinois Native Plant Society expressed interest in the project.
“I will talk to them next and see if they want to help. Maybe we can pick one alley or something and experiment,” Natemeyer said after the meeting.
Such networking is what “Cool Town Meeting: Facing Global Climate Change Locally,” was all about, said Diane Lopez Hughes, the event’s chief organizer.
“We want to hear from people and get great ideas from people who live in the community,” Hughes said.
About 150 people attended the gathering in Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church, 321 S. Seventh St.
The meeting featured a discussion as well as presentations by University of Illinois at Springfield professor Jim Bonacum, an evolutionary geneticist, and State Journal-Register Outdoors Editor Chris Young.
Representatives from 10 community environmental organizations were also on hand to ex- plain their initiatives. Those represented were: Community Energy Systems, Cool Cities Springfield, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Jubilee Farm, Sangamon Valley Group of the Sierra Club, the St. Joseph Parish Environmental Justice Committee, Sustainable Springfield Inc., UIS Students Allied for a Greener Earth, Justice and Peace Office of the Franciscan Sisters and Pax Christi.
Ideas presented during the discussion included adjusting tax rates to discourage city residents from using too much electricity and water, providing course credits for homeless people and troubled youths who participate in clean-up projects and creating a database or Web site where the environmentally conscious can find information on resources in Springfield.
Lindsay Record, local food coordinator for the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, said she was particularly inspired by Natemeyer’s suggestion.
“It’s a simple idea, but I liked it so much when someone stood up and said, ‘Why don’t we do something here…. I’m willing to do something, here’s an idea, who wants to do it?'” Record said. “I think it’s all these little things that add up to making our community the way we want it to be.”
Amanda Reavy can be ro—’-
7CO im^