A Practical, Affordable (and Safe) Clean Electric Energy Plan
A Practical, Affordable (and Safe) Clean Electric Energy Plan
by Craig Severance
March 14, 2011
The President of the United States has chosen to make the goal of 80% clean electricity generation by 2035 the first priority in his move to make America more competitive. In his recent State of the Union Address, Barack Obama compared this project to the 1960's moon shot program, noting we are at another "Sputnik moment" where we must innovate or be left behind.
(Unexpected editorial note: In the midst of the current events surrounding the Japanese nuclear reactors, it will be helpful to know how we can devise a practical and affordable clean energy plan without new nuclear power. This article presents just such a plan -- not because of safety concerns, but because new nuclear power fails the "practical and affordable" test. -- CS)
Investment, or Runaway Spending? While many applauded the President's call for innovation and investment, "eyes were rolling" among many fiscal conservatives. The President's call for investment in the future was immediately labeled as simply a call for increased government spending. This is a critical concern when we are already running a $1.6 Trillion U.S. budget deficit.
In my article from one year ago I noted the problems of both deficit spending and high unemployment were "paralyzing the nation's political life, as Americans are worried about both high unemployment and record deficits." I wrote the solution to this conundrum is investment -- "to invest money now, into projects that when completed will help us individually and as a nation to save more".
The difference between investment and runaway spending is that investment pays for itself. One way it can pay for itself is to help us spend less. Another way it can pay for itself is to bring in more revenues -- more sales to other countries, and more job creation.
The Way to a Fail. A profligate "Clean Energy Plan" that invests in very expensive technologies will fail. Americans won't save -- we will be forced to pay more. Also, other countries won't be attracted to buy costly boondoggles -- we must have something to sell that makes sense.
Past forays of the government into supporting specific energy technologies -- such as corn ethanol -- give pause that government can prop up exactly the wrong "solutions". Those with the best lobbyists and the most campaign contributions get the government gravy.
A Clean Energy Plan for the electric power industry is an even bigger prize and will have lobbyists all over it. If Democrats are not to be seen supporting high rollers, and Republicans are not to be RINO's (Republicans In Name Only) wasting taxpayer dollars, then a practical and affordable Clean Energy Plan must be devised.
Click here to read entire article.
Article originally published at www.EnergyEconomyOnline.com
by Craig Severance
March 14, 2011
The President of the United States has chosen to make the goal of 80% clean electricity generation by 2035 the first priority in his move to make America more competitive. In his recent State of the Union Address, Barack Obama compared this project to the 1960's moon shot program, noting we are at another "Sputnik moment" where we must innovate or be left behind.
(Unexpected editorial note: In the midst of the current events surrounding the Japanese nuclear reactors, it will be helpful to know how we can devise a practical and affordable clean energy plan without new nuclear power. This article presents just such a plan -- not because of safety concerns, but because new nuclear power fails the "practical and affordable" test. -- CS)
Investment, or Runaway Spending? While many applauded the President's call for innovation and investment, "eyes were rolling" among many fiscal conservatives. The President's call for investment in the future was immediately labeled as simply a call for increased government spending. This is a critical concern when we are already running a $1.6 Trillion U.S. budget deficit.
In my article from one year ago I noted the problems of both deficit spending and high unemployment were "paralyzing the nation's political life, as Americans are worried about both high unemployment and record deficits." I wrote the solution to this conundrum is investment -- "to invest money now, into projects that when completed will help us individually and as a nation to save more".
The difference between investment and runaway spending is that investment pays for itself. One way it can pay for itself is to help us spend less. Another way it can pay for itself is to bring in more revenues -- more sales to other countries, and more job creation.
The Way to a Fail. A profligate "Clean Energy Plan" that invests in very expensive technologies will fail. Americans won't save -- we will be forced to pay more. Also, other countries won't be attracted to buy costly boondoggles -- we must have something to sell that makes sense.
Past forays of the government into supporting specific energy technologies -- such as corn ethanol -- give pause that government can prop up exactly the wrong "solutions". Those with the best lobbyists and the most campaign contributions get the government gravy.
A Clean Energy Plan for the electric power industry is an even bigger prize and will have lobbyists all over it. If Democrats are not to be seen supporting high rollers, and Republicans are not to be RINO's (Republicans In Name Only) wasting taxpayer dollars, then a practical and affordable Clean Energy Plan must be devised.
Click here to read entire article.
Article originally published at www.EnergyEconomyOnline.com
Posted by Craig Severance at 3/14/2011 12:26 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Clean Energy Plan Nuclear Power Japan Nuclear Power Barack Obama Electricity renewable energy Solar Wind Geothermal Hydro Power Energy Storage Energy Policy
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Clean Energy Plan Nuclear Power Japan Nuclear Power Barack Obama Electricity renewable energy Solar Wind Geothermal Hydro Power Energy Storage Energy Policy
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