Your Energy Ideas - Thanks

Our energy future has to change. Senator Dorgan asked for your ideas as the Senate prepares energy legislation. He highlights some of the best ideas from YouTube viewers -- including tips on conservation, tax credits, and renewable energy.

Thanks for your responses.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• byron
• dorgan
• energy

[jimmydeancarlson]

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

[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

[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!

[Sandman1278]

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

[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.