More on the 2003 Energy Plan from The Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network [action@ucsaction.org]
REJECT THE ENERGY BILL
America
needs an energy policy that increases our energy security and protects the
environment. Unfortunately, several House and Senate leaders are working behind
closed doors to craft a final energy bill that takes us backward by opening our
public lands to oil and gas drilling, letting polluters off the hook for
contaminating our drinking water, and funneling billions of dollars in taxpayer
money to polluting industries. According to Senator Domenci (R-NM), chair of
the energy conference committee, the final bill will actually weaken the Clean Air Act by needlessly extending the
deadline to achieve health-based clean air standards. The bill imposes these
risks on our communities while ignoring practical solutions that would increase
our use of clean renewable energy, reduce our oil dependence, and prevent
future blackouts. Please urge your senators to reject this destructive energy
bill.
A letter to send to your senator:
I am writing to urge you to reject the 2003 energy bill. This bill opens our public lands to oil and gas drilling, lets polluters off the hook for contaminating our drinking water, and funnels billions of dollars in taxpayer money to polluting industries. According to Senator Domenici (R-NM), chair of the energy conference committee, the final bill would actually weaken the Clean Air Act by needlessly extending the deadline to achieve health-based clean air standards.
The energy bill imposes these risks on our communities while ignoring practical solutions such as a renewable electricity standard, which 53 Senators supported to ensure an increase in clean renewable energy generation. In fact, the electricity title would take us backward on renewables by creating new barriers for renewable electricity generators that need access to transmission lines and repealing the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA), the only federal law that encourages development of renewable energy. The bill would also increase our oil dependence by making it harder to update automobile fuel economy standards and extending a loophole that allows automakers to sell more gas-guzzlers.
America deserves a smarter, cleaner energy policy that increases our energy security and protects the environment. I urge you to do everything in your power to stop this destructive legislation.
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Our feeling is that industries get most of the tax breaks and that more incentives for individuals and Independent Power producers are needed.
Wind power station developers on both sides of the
Atlantic have broken new ground by dipping into the bond market to finance
their project portfolios instead of going to the banks. "We are delighted
with the receptivity shown by the market to this new, unique financing
opportunity," says the chief financial officer behind the American deal.
He adds that the transaction is verification that wind generation is now viewed
as more than a niche business by the financial markets and the credit rating
agencies, making major project financing possible. Find out who financed what
and the volume of wind capacity involved in our full report from the US and
Britain in the November issue of Windpower Monthly.
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With a BP Solar Home Solution™, you can significantly decrease your monthly electricity costs. Renewable energy rebates and incentives are currently available in many areas to help reduce the price of your system.
Save up to 50% of the purchase price with state buy-down programs.
State sponsored capital subsidies, or 'buy-down' programs may also be available in your area. For example, the California Energy Commission is now offering a rebate of $4,000 per kilowatt, or up to almost 50% off the purchase price.
Deduct system costs with tax credits and exemptions.
Several government programs offer income, property and sales tax credits and exemptions for the purchase of residential solar energy systems. For example, the State of California currently offers a one-time income tax credit for 15% of your portion of the system cost. The amount of this credit will be reduced to 7.5% beginning with the 2004 tax year and expires altogether on January 1, 2006.
Take advantage of utility rebate programs.
Many utilities are offering their customers financial incentives to reduce consumption. For example, Southern California's Pacific Gas & Electric is currently offering a '20/20 Energy Rebate Program'. Under the 20/20 program, residential customers who reduce their consumption by 20% during the months of July, August, and September relative to the same period from the previous year, will receive a credit worth 20% of the total charges for those months.
Replace your most expensive electricity.
Many utilities have or are moving to tiered pricing structures - the more you use, the more you are charged for each kWh. If your utility has tiered rates, a BP Solar Home Solution™ can offer additional cost savings. By decreasing the amount of electricity you purchase from your utility, you could fall into a lower pricing tier. Any electricity you purchase from your utility is therefore purchased at a lower rate.
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Sharp is introducing more energy systems, check them out at www.sharpusa.com/solar/
Xantrex Technology Inc. and their Xantrex Hybrid Backup Power System (HBPS) a system that provides home power in a blackout.
BP Solar has improved solar cell efficiency.
Kyocera Solar is now among the world leaders in solar cell production.
Sanyo is also advancing solar cell production.
Hitachi is into solar panels at www.hitachi.com/inspire/ and http://www.technology-in-action.com/
Wind energy is less than 1% of U.S. Energy Production but is growing at more than 25% annually but with new pushes by GE Wind Power and others expect it to double in 2004.
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The
Lights are still going out!!!
High
winds cut power in East Lights still out for 380,000.
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Short Notes:
While the federal government provides subsidies to train individuals we need to create training programs for those interested in renewable electrical generation.
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More corporate corruption with regard to our finances, this time many fund managers are raiding funds for their own advantage. Another reason to invest in renewable energy! Look at the many corporations dropping 401K plans and reducing or eliminating benefits, especially health plans.
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Looking for a battery backup power system for homes. One that can be expanded and recharged when the grid is available. Check out the latest issue of “Home Power”, page 34.
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Everyday we hear about major technical advances in many areas but where are they in electrical systems?
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How much energy would be saved by people quitting work to start an Energy Farm! How much time would you save in travel costs and time.
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Many Venture Capital firms are entering the Independent Energy Field taking advantage of the incentives in Renewable Energy. Some are saving startup money by teaming up with farmers and other landowners to the benefit of both parties. Farmers are thus gaining another money crop that will provide them with additional long-term income with little to no involvement on their part.
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CBS’s 60 Minutes, on 10/26/2003, will inform people about the danger of radioactive shipments from the east traveling throughout the USA to get to Yucca Mountain
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U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau Of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are checking into the use of public lands for generating electric.
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The USA Energy Plan has been out for reviews and we will welcome comments from our readers on their review:
Per the USAToday Editorial (10/22/2003):
Defenders of the energy plan say it meets pressing national needs the include promoting conservation, reducing reliance on foreign oil and creating new jobs.
Parts of the plan could booster U.S.A. energy independence.
But the cost is needlessly high because too many provisions aim to improve local economies rather than the U.S. Energy picture.
Our Viewpoint:
Little additional funds for Renewable Energy efforts and incentives for Venture Capitalist to move deeper into the creation of Wind and Solar Farms. We would like to see more of the state and local control and less Federal intervention.
More national incentives for people to become energy independent and to sell excess renewable electric back to the grid
We need to promote more distributed energy sites to create the incentives and jobs that will promote energy independence and alleviate more pollution from fossil fuel power plants.
No organized effort to improve the power grid, prevent wide spread power outages, or to create a portal between the three national grids in case of emergencies and to share lower electrical costs from other areas.
No support for upgrading and reopening hydroelectric sites.
We need further support to become energy independent, improve the balance of payments and to go after polluters that costs all taxpayers.
How about more oversight on energy companies to prevent corruption and energy price fluctuations?
Some areas of the plan:
Renewable Energy - Provides some incentives for biomass, wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectricity.
Nuclear – Federal insurance for nuclear plants have
been renewed. Funds for the construction of a new experimental reactor in Idaho
that will generate hydrogen fuel and electricity.
Synthetic fuels – More funds for research.
Ethanol – The corn belt would get more than $2 billion per year, double its past subsidy, to promote the production of ethanol.
Alternative vehicles – Many incentives will disappear for buyers due to aging out of previous incentives. The plan includes $2 billion program to allow hydrogen-fuel-cell cars compete in the marketplace by 2020.
Notes:
Oil imports are growing and are currently 62% of domestic consumption.
Natural gas is the primary fuel source for 90% of new power plants.
During the oil embargo of the ‘70s’ we were 30% dependent of foreign oil and today w are 60% dependent.
What an Energy Farm could provide for you, your family, locality, state, the nation, the world and businesses:
Personal:
A small business opportunity for you that can provide income for a career,
No need travel to work, additional cars, childcare, boss,
Security,
No dress code or additional costs for clothes,
No strict schedule,
No boss or glass ceiling,
Increased income with additional growth and new technology,
No discrimination from age, race, color, creed, disability, education, or financial background,
Or height, weight, sex, nationality, personality, politics and no glass ceiling
A family business that could be sold,
Long-term and stable income,
After the equipment is paid for it will all be income,
Retirement income,
Increased property values,
A legacy for future generations.
Locality and state:
Cheaper and more reliable electric costs,
More availability of electric,
Less energy lost over grid due to distances,
Less need for high power lines,
Cleaner environment,
Increased tax base,
More opportunities for financial markets and businesses,
Better land values,
Less pollution and related overhead,
Incentives for business to relocate,
Nation:
Self-dependent energy costs,
Less military intervention,
Cleaner environment,
Improved balanced of payments,
Better grid reliability due to distributed electrical costs versus centralized power plants,
Less reliance on older and polluting fossil fuels power plants,
Less impact from terrorism.
World:
Cleaner environment,
Higher standard of living,
Less military actions over oil
Jobs,
Electric,
Support for greater food production,
Fewer deaths from heat and cold weather.
Business:
Incentives for electric automobiles,
More availability of electric,
More customers with disposable incomes,
New technologies,
Home ownership and new products to support the scenario.
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