Your Energy Ideas - Thanks

[peterindublin]

LIGHT BULB TAX

While still unwarranted, efficiency based tax is better than bans - for all sides.

Why?

It gives significant government income on reduced sales (currently 2 billion bulbs per year) while people keep a choice - and efficient products can have less tax than today.

It might sound good to 'ban inefficient products'

But light bulbs, cars, buildings, dishwashers etc that use more energy have performance, appearance, construction and/or price advantages as shown on Ceolas Net

.

[ezhomesolarpanels]

We all should learn to be a bit more  self reliant and self sufficient. Those "vampire devices" in the household cost money to replace. Spend some effort to take advantage of free public utilities "how to conserve" ideas on their websites (most all of them have one), then build a cheap energy producing supplement like solar panels or wind turbines and with your savings slowly replace all your "vampire devices" with energy efficient models. Eventually you will become energy self reliant.

[Xcesschick]

If the energy tax is passed, we MUST demand HEMP to the rescue!

Also, straw bail construction dwellings.

This tax will not affect those using obscene amounts of energy, ie, Gore spends $20,000 a month on energy of his private home. The BIG users will not be taxed as hard as the small guy.

Never should we concede to "electric" cars. It is DIRTY energy and will be taxed. They want Saudi Arabia profits thru tax.

[doowop62]

Senator Dorgan, It seems to me that the protection of our Capitalistic ideal may be preventing progress in technologic advancement of our nation. Protection of companies stand in the way of technological progress. Change may come when technology changes. A technology that provide free electricity to a home, helps that person's finanancial situation and increases buying power nationally. The electrical companies loss would be offset by increased spending power in other areas, more jobs.

Dabe

[sniperontheroof123]

Criticisms that gas taxes, cap and trade, or any kind of pollution penalty are regressive can be dealt with with a tax rebate to every individual, so the average consumer's income won't fall (for the average consumer, tax collected = rebate paid).

The problem with tax credits for specific items (lightbulbs, etc) is they encourage overinvestment in certain technologies. The disaster with biofuels comes to mind - it artificially raises food prices AND doesn't actually reduce carbon footprint.

[boulderbum7]

Cap and trade is effective, but regressive in nature. I'd like a program where most of the money goes back to consumers (especially the poor/middle class), perhaps in the form of vouchers for purchasing energy efficient lighting and appliances.

Tax credits for solar and wind power are nice, but what about incentives for cheaper, simpler things like CFL bulbs, energy star appliances, and insulating window shades?

Efficiency requirements for new construction would also have a huge impact.

[boulderbum7]

My REC is IREA, a gawd awful anti-environmentalist company that uses our money to fund global warming deniers and lobby against green policy in the state legislature.

I can't even take advantage of my state's renewable energy incentives since they require matching funds from the electric company which, of course, IREA doesn't provide.

The only way companies like IREA will change their ways is if you hurt their bottom line with cap and trade and renewable requirements. See my next post...

[tsandstrom1]

My idea is to tax the living hell out of all energy companies, providers, etc. That way we can ensure the lights stay turned off and everybody has socialized health care. Yippy!

[JimmerSD]

There are already companies that manufacture solar roof tiles. Focus must be put on efficiency of solar technology. A Manhattan Project for solar.

Modernizing the our antiquated power grid will save more in the long run than any movement to curtail use of 'vampire' appliances.

Power distribution in our country is based on 19th century technologies. Millions of barrels of oil and tons of coal are wasted every year due to heat loss from power lines. Superconducting Technology is a must!

[JimmerSD]

There are already companies that manufacture solar roof tiles. Focus must be put on efficiency of solar technology. A Manhattan Project for solar.

Modernizing the our antiquated power grid will save more in the long run than any movement to curtail use of 'vampire' appliances.

Power distribution in our country is based on 19th century technologies. Millions of barrels of oil and tons of coal are wasted every year due to heat loss from power lines. Superconducting Technology is a must!

[triFeral]

cool story bro

[MrMindfucker]

Cap and Trade is a bust! Designed to line the pocket's of the rich! Raise your electric ultilty 40%! It cause's higher gas,consumer good's, ultilties,closing factories, and the creation of more job's overseas! We can't practice something the rest of the world to poor to join! We must'nt have a cash bubble cast over our skies to choke us out! To Much tax payer dollar's have all ready been wasted on studies! We all know the Wind Turbines work!

[MrMindfucker]

Offshore Wind Turbine Farm's could preserve our oceans using "Seawater Electrolysis" to create Artificial Reef Habitat's, While providing a clean Renewable energy and food to our populus!

Please consider!; for this is the only real option "We the people" HAVE!

I yield the floor............

[dahlmike]

Foremost, any energy policy that assumes that the global warming hoax is real is inherently flawed. Conservation and supposed "renewable" energy are good things, but not at the expense of progress and quality of life. We are US citizens first, and world citizens second.

[Gruntol5]

You, my friend, are a dinosaur living in a dream world. The world cannot continue with the current "progress and quality of life" - it is simply unsustainable. It's all coming to a head now. People will look back at this period as the end of an era of profligate greed and waste, headed by the USA, the world's most selfish. Global warming is a reality and the "tipping point," from which there is no return, is approaching. Forget being a USA citizen, we all breathe the same air.

[Afgnwrlrd]

No, no, world citizens first. Besides, clean environment does improve quality of life and saves money in the long run which furthers progress. YAY!

[webbj123]

Totally agree, if other countries make decisions that effect their way of life it should not be our responsibility to fix their bad decisions. Most importantly you are right, the idea of global warming beyond natural trends is not supported by true science. If someone published a temperature trend plot in my field without the statistical + measurement uncertainties, they would be looking for a new job the next morning.

[dom2maui]

We should have an across the board increase in the cost of energy so we all would be more conscientious in our energy consumption.

[Geist632]

Dorgan you are a laugh. You pick & choose what comments support your agenda. Typical of a left winged democrat. You clowns fail to see drilling for oil in the states will create more jobs & make us less dependant on foreign oil. You libs fail to see doing away with oil will do away with MILLIONS of jobs through trickle down as practically everything you own comes from a barrel of crude. What a blind and easily led group you are---Delete this comment too, I expect nothing less from a coward.

[Sandman1278]

oil is old tech, we need to do away with it and work towards new tech like Europe is

[globalwarmingbears]

1. make a new housing code that solves all the energy problems in homes. Must have geothermal. Must have solar hot water and solar panels for electricity. R60 roofs, R50 walls, R50 basement. R11 windows. Seal all trim boards.

2. make all electrical switches come with a on / off button as they have in India. That stops vampire devices.

3. Get rid of the tar based driveways and roof tiles. They cause cancer and absorb heat.

4. Have the military make energy stations , 50 sq miles of solar now

[ohkeepa2009]

search the OBAMA DECEPTION

stop the New World Order

search FEMA camps

[jimmydeancarlson]

Ummm Solar...ummm Hydro....ummm Wind....ahhh hemp....ahhh that should be a start...

[jmrocker]

Nuclear energy needs to be used waaaay more.

[webbj123]

Totally agree, it has the lowest operational and construction cost in the industry. The countries largest solar plant cost $7,460 per kilowatt where a Nu.c plant only cost $2,000 per kW, plus the operational cost is less than solar and wind combined. More importantly it does not rely on the wind and sun always blowing and shining.

[Arley2011]

We need a $320 Billion Dollar Bill to build massive wind farms and solar panels to make a new national energy grid to make this country pollution free!!!!!!

[PlagueWinds]

I don't think it takes a lot of wit or intelligence to read off a few memos and reiterate what was already said. How about some original ideas?

[recompa2]

Dear Democrat Bunyon Dugan, your party will pass the bogus, unnecessary Cap and Trade carbon scam which will cost every American $3,000 more every year for energy. Algore will make billions.

[nkofron]

Legalize hemp. America is currently the only industrialized nation where hemp is banned. Hemp is a renewable resource that can be used for thousands of different applications, including biomass fuel that will cut our dependency on foreign fuel sources. Today most hemp in America is produced in foreign countries. Why not grow it domestically? If hemp was grown by American farmers it would cut our hemp importing costs. Hempseed and hempseed oil is also a very healthy food source.

[ashputtel]

the cotton lobby is blocking it and they always will.

[dmeckle]

well not energy wise...but will you please join the co-sponsors of the bill to audit the federal reserve

thanks

dan proud ND resident

[spungii117]

Ethonel produced from switchgrass

[eurogoldexchange]

Very disappointing. You are obviously bought by the oil/energy companies. I move from trust to disgust. Anybody who promotes oil has not gotten the message.

[greenteen85]

If one tries to wake up to the realities of the 21st century and say anything bad about oil in the U.S. you get called a godless communist hippy bastard. shhh don't tell anyone I'm with the green movement

[btownmxer]

Just wanna make sure

[Geist632]

Heres a revelation Senator. Drill here in the states & allow offshore drilling. We will be completely independant of foreign oil for the next centrury & think of all the jobs that will be created. Thats too simple & makes too much sense doesnt it? In case the less than "tuned in" didnt know, practically everything you own comes from a barrel of oil. Tires, plastics, nylons, pharmaceuticals, synthetics, fuel, additives for steel, heat and the list goes on and on. Lose oil? The country will die.

[greenteen85]

Book "The End Of Oil" by Paul Roberts claims any new oil discoveries takes ten years to reach consumers--and we've picked the all the low hanging fruit d00d. U.S. uses 25% worlds petroleum and produces less than 3% Yes we need it & many billions of dollars of infrastructure revolve around it, but no1 knows how long non-OPEC reserves will last, especially if demand increase goes unchecked. The Warming Debate aside, fossil fuels pollute and are finite. Wouldnt it behoove us 2 explore alternatives

[phokuzbt]

I think Natural Gas needs to be a bigger part of the transition from Imported Foreign Oil to Domesticly Produced Renewable Resources.