Archive for the ‘energy’ Category
Dear Congress : Wind is good!
While I was checking my Google feed reader under the Energy section, I stumbled across a graph that looked a little too familiar. The colors and overall design instantly grabbed my attention. Was this a GE pitch?
Indeed, it was. GE Energy Financial Services is trying to politely explain to the U.S. Congress that it’s a good idea to offer incentives to build wind energy projects. (This is the same U.S. Congress who routinely gives out hundreds of billions of dollars in oil production incentives.) It seems that just as the U.S. was on the way to catching up with the rest of Europe in renewable energy production, the fightin’ 110th decided to yank away the credits.
GE’s position is simple : by creating thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenue, building wind projects makes financial sense–even if Congress must first pay out some incentives. The net gain from 2007 was $250 million. Not bad, considering that doesn’t count the environmental benefits of wind vs. coal, gas, etc.
I’m a libertarian and don’t like subsidies in principle, but this one seems to make sense. Unlike coal, oil, and other fossil fuels, wind has a very high ratio of jobs per megawatt. It’s probably one of the few subsidies that literally pays for itself. We would be completely foolish in taking a huge step backwards by repealling the production tax credits.
Oh, wait. Foolishness is what Congress does best.
Filed under economics, energy, environment, politics : Comments (0) : Jun 20th, 2008
Offshore drilling is not a real solution [Updated!]
Hot on the heels of my last post, President Bush is calling for offshore drilling as a solution to our oil woes. Just in case you were fooled, here are the facts:
BBC NEWS | Americas | Bush calls for offshore drilling via kwout
At best, we could get about 2 years worth of oil from new offshore projects. Oh, and by the way, these projects take at least 3-5 years 5 years to come online and start producing oil.
That, Mr. Bush, is not a solution.
[Update!]
Hey, look at that. The Times also picked up on the absolute foolishness of suggesting offshore drilling as a solution to current high oil prices. Just as I mentioned above, the very earliest you could drill a new offshore oil well is 2013. So, Mr. Bush, we should just sit tight until then, right? Right?
Dearth of Deep-Sea Drilling Ships Hinders Offshore Oil Search - NYTimes.com via kwout
The only solution that we can do today is conservation. I know Republicans love supply side economics, but this is one example where our only option is on the demand side. There’s no excess supply in the pipeline so we need to cut our demand.
Filed under energy, environment, politics : Comments (1) : Jun 18th, 2008
We need a new plan
To paraphrase Albert Einstein, we can’t expect to solve a problem using the same thinking that created it. I fear that this is the approach Washington is taking regarding oil prices. The suggestions come from our elected leaders is mind numbingly foolish. “Let’s drill in ANWR!” “Let’s make oil out of coal!” “Let’s tell the Saudis to open up the spigot!” These ideas are coming from the industries and their political supporters who have profited generously during our descent into total oil dependence. I think it’s safe to say they won’t be helping us dig back out.We need to change the way we think about energy if we’re going to flourish in this century. At a personal level, it’s about changing your relationship with your car and your community. Driving to the big-box store to save a few dollars doesn’t make sense if it costs you $10 to get there. Communities will contract out of necessity and we will all find ourselves walking or bicycling for our daily errands. Urban living will see a rebirth as the economic balance of life in the suburbs starts to make a turn. This transition will not come easily, or without cost, but it will come nonetheless. It’s difficult to keep the suburban dream alive at $4/gallon. It’s all but impossible at $8.
On a state and regional level, we will need to start diverting precious tax dollars from highways to railways. Passenger train service is woefully inadequate in most regions. The trains that do run are slow, outdated, and expensive. Anyone who’s traveled in Europe knows that we’re stuck with decades-old technology. From an energy perspective, trains are the most efficient transportation alternative (far better than cars & airplanes). From a time perspective, the city-to-city service of a high speed train will beat today’s air travel for all but the longest routes. Even though an airplane travels faster while in the air, it also requires slow speed travel to the airport, then hours of sitting still as you wait to board the plane. I would gladly trade a few minutes travel time for the convenience of a train.
At the federal level, what we desperately need is leadership. Jimmy Carter proved in the 1970s that we’re able to drastically reduce our energy usage through coordinated efforts. [insert interesting statistic here]. Sadly, since then we’ve been driving on cruise control without a strategic energy plan. (Unless you count the energy strategy written in secret by Dick Cheney & friends during the early 2000s.) During WWII, Americans gathered together to show genuine national pride. Food and fuel was rationed, so people compensated with novel programs such as the “Victory Garden” grown in back yards. There’s nothing stopping us from doing this again, save a near total vaccuum of leadership in Washington.
As we enter the 2008 presidential election season, you can be sure that oil and energy will play a leading role. Don’t be fooled by the short-sighted advice of the petroleum pushers who put us in this mess.
Filed under energy, politics, suburbs : Comments (2) : Jun 17th, 2008
Why you should buy a bicycle today
The simple bicycle is quite possibly one of the greatest achievements in mechanical engineering. Taking relatively simple, low-cost parts and assembling in a simple, easy to maintain system, the bicycle delivers phenomenal efficiency for human transportation. If you do not own a bicycle (or if you own one of the bicycle-imposters sold by Kmart, Target, Walmart, and the like) you should buy one today.
Think of the bicycle as the perfect intermediary between automobile travel and foot travel. If you’re going more than 1/2 mile but less than 10 miles, the bike is ideal. Consider:
- A bicycle is inexpensive. $150 buys you a nice used bike. $300 buys you a brand new bike. $600 buys you a really nice new bike.
- Maintenance is easy and cheap. If you keep air in your tires, lubricate your chain, and clean off the frame once in awhile your bike will stay in great shape. You’ll also replace brake pads yearly and maybe get a tune-up at the local bike shop, but on balance a bike is incredibly easy to maintain.
- The fuel is free (or better). With gasoline at $4/gallon, the “free” fuel of your legs is mighty appealing. Add to this the health benefits of aerobic exercise and you could argue it’s even better than free.
- Zero pollution. Even the electric car produces pollution at the power plant. Bikes are the closest thing to zero pollution we’re likely to see in our lifetimes.
- Bicycles last a long time. A well cared for steel frame bike will easily last 20+ years with proper maintenance (see above). Unlike an automobile, there’s very little performance degradation over that lifespan. (The main incentive for bike upgrades is a newer, lighter, faster, models.)
So there you have it. Get a bicycle.
Filed under culture, energy, environment : Comments (5) : Jun 5th, 2008
Proof that we both need and want mass transit :
Gas Prices Send Surge of Riders to Mass Transit - New York Times via kwout
Filed under Milwaukee, economics, energy, environment, suburbs : Comments (0) : May 19th, 2008
Wisconsin : Wake up!
Having lived in Madison for 4 years and Milwaukee for 2, I’m beginning to understand the Wisconsin scene a little better. From what I gather, the state legislature does not like Milwaukee. In fact, they seem to act with contempt towards Wisconsin’s largest economic center. Curious. Here’s an example : Wisconsin LOVES to build highways.
Holy smokes we’ve got highways. But public transit? No thanks. Passenger rail between Milwaukee and Madison? No way. Regional rail linking Milwaukee, Chicago, and the Twin Cities? Nope. Modern buses or light rail? Not on your life. Eight lane super-highways? YES PLEASE!
Milwaukee’s mayor is pleading for a sensible transportation strategy. I’m not holding my breath.
Barrett asks state to divert funds from I-94 project to mass transit - Small Business Times via kwout
Filed under Milwaukee, culture, energy, environment, politics, suburbs : Comments (0) : May 5th, 2008
Clinton, McCain share dillusion; Obama chooses reality
I saw this in the news :
(my commentary below)
Clinton Joins McCain in Criticizing Obama on Gas Tax | The Trail | washingtonpost.com via kwout
What planet are these people on? Are gas prices going to magically fall come fall? What about the winter heating oil? Or next summer?
Will India and China politely decline from growing their economies so we can enjoy $2.00 gas?
Is OPEC sitting on a giant oil field that they’re waiting to tap until oil gets really expensive?
These gas-tax-relief plans are built on pure fantasy–the fantasy that we can all keep driving our cars a few hundred miles a week and not change a thing. Those days are over. Gone. Not coming back. We have exactly two choices at this point : either embrace this change and start rapidly planning for a low-energy lifestyle, or invest our remaining national wealth in a vestigial enterprise that should have gone out with the 1970s.
For Clinton & McCain, it’s cheap gas or bust. For the sake of our country, I hope they don’t win.
Filed under economics, energy, politics : Comments (4) : Apr 28th, 2008
It’s happening
Over the past few years, esteemed blogs (such as tadfad.com) have espoused at great lengths why suburbs are not a wise investment for our nation in general. Now, as gas prices are on the way to $4/gallon and the credit markets are tightening up, home buyers seem to agree.
Home Prices Drop Most in Areas with Long Commute : NPR via kwout
The part that’s sad about this is that almost everyone is going to lose in the end. We’ve spent trillions of dollars building not only the suburban homes themselves, but all the infrastructure to support them. As these areas become less and less desirable (and hence, less valuable), much of this investment will simply go to zero. The negative effect to the U.S. economy will be significant.
Fortunately, there’s hope. In cities all across the U.S., there’s plenty of space to expand. After decades of suburban flight, many neighborhoods are living with low population density and ample opportunities for improvement. We’ll need to act wisely as we re-urbanize and ensure that low income families aren’t forced out to the fringes. Again, history is a wise tutor as most cities dealt with mixed income housing quite well prior to WWII.
The key to this equation will be wise investment. There will be enormous pressures on state and federal governments to prop up the suburbs with cheap loans and road building. We need the forethought to gradually close the book on the great suburban experiment and rediscover what city life can be.
[Side note : Anyone looking for an investment opportunity? Check out the Riverwest neighborhood in Milwaukee. ]
Filed under Milwaukee, culture, economics, energy, environment, suburbs : Comments (3) : Apr 23rd, 2008
Happy Earth Day
Filed under climate change, energy, environment : Comments (1) : Apr 22nd, 2008
Roundy’s does organic
Roundy’s is a supermarket megapology in the Midwest area (they own Pick N’ Save, Copps, and Rainbow Foods). They also sell store brand foods under the Roundy’s brand.
Imagine my surprise when I was cruising the organic dairy case (looking for my favorite Silk soymilk) and discovered that Roundy’s now offers organic milk. Huzzah!
This tells me a few things :
- Organic is officially mainstream (+)
- Organic appeals to people outside the lefty tree hugging crowd (+)
- Organic is done on the industrial scale just like conventional (-)
So with two (+)’s and one (-), this is a good thing. I’m walking the organic line; some things I like to buy organic (like my Silk) while others I go conventional. Let’s hope that we all continue to realize that energy intensive farming is not a winning strategy and keep moving the needle.
Filed under Milwaukee, economics, energy, environment : Comments (5) : Apr 20th, 2008
