Ken asks…
What are the major hidden items, loopholes, and drawbacks of the “Climate and Energy Bill”?
I’ve heard a lot of rumors, but I don’t really know. It just seems like this is the latest bill that everyone from Congress is getting pressure from Obama to pass without spending time to read first. I have heard that hydroelectric is excluded as a renewable energy source, people will perform “energy audits” on homes-hello 1984, jobs could move offshore due to the restrictions, and this will be another tax on people–except that credits will be given to low income consumers. With this, the healthcare bill, and other proposals, when do we run out of other people’s money to pay for this stuff? Does the bill really protect the environment?
The Expert answers:
Obama promised to help the poor and middle class. This energy bill raises the cost of energy. The least able to afford these price increases will suffer. I expect more people will be freezing in the future. It appears Obama is just another lying politician who sticks it to the poor, including a lot of Black Americans.
John asks…
If McCain cares about Energy, why was he the ONLY Senator not present to cast his vote?
Sen. John McCain missed two critical energy votes on H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act, in December 2007. These votes – on December 7th and 13th – would have stopped debate and allowed a vote on an energy bill that included critical tax incentives for renewable energy sources – a bill to strengthen national security, lower energy costs, reduce global warming, grow our economy and create new jobs, and increase American energy independence. These votes were critical to making a $21 billion investment in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency, including a $3,000 tax credit to help working families afford fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. On the morning of December 13th, Sen. John McCain was the only United States Senator to not vote on this measure.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/06/24/is-john-mccains-300m-battery-prize-a-good-idea-pelosi-chimes/
The Expert answers:
Feel free to pull Obama’s voting record and see all his lack of votes. It rivals his present votes.
Running for the presidency is a full time job.
Fs
Paul asks…
Are there any states that have payment for net metering beyond your usage?
If you have renewable energy generation capability such as solar or wind, and are connected to the grid and net metered for electricity, are there any states that require the utility company to continue to pay you for the power you produce beyond what you use annually? I’ve heard that they wipe your slate clean each year in every state, and you loose any credits beyond what you have used. Is that true? And if so, can you point me to an official source to find out more? MANY THANKS!!
The Expert answers:
If you produce less power than you use, you get a credit. Potentially, if the credit becomes large enough they would write you a check. On the individual consumer level, it would be extremely rare for anyone to produce a surplus in any given month let alone turn a yearly profit. So, don’t let the fear of “losing any credits” stop you.
If you go into large scale power production, you would have to go through the siting process and secure a buyer for your produced power.
Richard asks…
Is Obama the best first-year president on the environment in US history?
Carl Pope, National Executive Director of the Sierra Club thinks so. “This is by far the best first year on the environment of any president in history, including Teddy Roosevelt”. His accomplishments:
Increased gas mileage standards for cars and light trucks 40 percent, from today’s 25 mpg to 35 mpg by 2016.
Blocked Bush administration rules to open the California coast and 77 federal sites near Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands national parks to new oil and gas drilling.
Begun a process in December in which the Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, restrict the amount of greenhouse gases industry can release.
Signed a bill in March establishing 2.1 million new acres of federally protected wilderness.
Announced tougher new national smog standards from the EPA this month.
Issued EPA rules requiring large U.S. ships to cut soot emissions by 85 percent.
Signed a stimulus package that included more than $50 billion in funding and tax credits for renewable energy projects.
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_14218053?nclick_check=1
What do you think – best first year president on the environment in US history, or has there been a better one?
The Expert answers:
I’ll give him the 2.1 million new acres of federally protected wilderness. Otherwise, I think court is out; signing legislation and pleasing environmental lobbyists is not the same thing as the legislation’s goals having been achieved. Thus what I hope is, in 10 years time, we will be able to look back on what was accomplished and confirm Carl Pope’s claim.
I still like Teddy – perhaps not for his first year, but simply for his lifelong interest in conservation and naturalism, beginning with the stories of the “Roosevelt Museum of Natural History” he started as a child (a collection later donated to the Smithsonian). He had substantial credibility entering the presidency, having already helped to save Yellowstone from commercial exploitation.
I might give Teddy the nod in conservation. Environmentalism? Maybe Obama. What did others do in their first year?
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Dana, forgive me, but I can’t resist giving you this quotation:
There is an “absolute necessity of waging all-out war against the debauching of the environment… The bulldozer mentality of the past is a luxury we can no longer afford. Our roads and other public projects must be planned to prevent the destruction of scenic resources and to avoid needlessly upsetting the ecological balance.”
~ California Governor Ronald Reagan (who was unrivaled in setting aside lands for state parks)
You’re probably too young to remember the hatred and contempt people had for James Watt, Reagan’s Secretary of the Interior. Multiply whatever you have read by two.
Susan asks…
Has John McCain lost his credibility on being an earmark watchdog?
The Wall Street bailout bill – Financial Rescue resolution passing the Senate 74-25 loaded up with earmarks for House Republicans in the amount of $149 Billion in tax breaks, personal and yes corporations, including $17 Billion in credits for renewable energy. McCain who ‘suspended his campaign’ didn’t even speak on the floor of the Senate criticizing these ‘sweeteners’ nor did he motivate the House of Representatives to pass the modified version of the Financial Rescue bill.
Since the Bush Administration doesn’t cut any spending, how does adding an additional short fall in tax revenue of $149 Billion help fiscal conservatives that will now vote ‘yes’ in the House to a bailout with a net cost of $849 Billion?
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a_Em8au.tjQs&refer=home
http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=9109653&nav=menu660_1
The Expert answers:
He lost his credibility when he chose Palin. AK has the highest earmark per capita totalling $192 billion. As soon as she became gov. Palin hired a lobbiyist to represent AK for the first time in AK history.
If the only thing McCain says he’d do differently than Bush economically is end earmark spending, it’s very ironic that he chose Sarah ‘Porkbarrel’ Palin as his running mate.
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