Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Good legislation on energy
Rep McMorris from Spokane has been advocating for hydropower, which is the cleanest available source of electric power. Several years ago the Gaians (with no opposition from Sultan Bush) defined hydropower as dirty and "non-renewable", because it makes life more difficult for the fucking fish.
McMorris has fixed this, and helped to fix some other things. From her press release today:
This is part of a larger positive pattern. Earlier this year HR 146 was passed and signed, making it easier to prevent fires in national forests by cutting and using excess timber. During the Bush years this process was hopelessly tied up in litigation, leading to total waste of wood and unnecessary deaths.
I'm not sure why these (comparatively!) good laws are finally being passed under a supposedly Green Democrat administration. It may be influenced by those pro-American western Democrats who were brought in by Howard Dean. Or it may be that Bush talked a good pro-American game but really didn't give a flying fuck about Americans, while Obama actually understands the purpose of his job. ¶ 11:33 AM
McMorris has fixed this, and helped to fix some other things. From her press release today:
In light of a Portland judge’s recent ruling threatening our dams, we must do everything we can to protect them. Classifying hydropower as renewable is a step in the right direction. I recently wrote about that judge's decision in this Spokesman-Review column.
I am working to promote the important role of hydropower in meeting our national renewable energy goals. Right now, hydropower represents 75% of our country’s current renewable energy production. Hydropower currently produces 6% of our nation’s electricity. We could double our use of this clean, renewable resource without building a new dam.
In addition to promoting clean, renewable sources of energy like hydropower and nuclear energy, the American Energy Act:
* Allows for the responsible exploration of energy on the Outer Continental Shelf, the Arctic Coastal Plain and in areas where oil shale exists
* Streamlines the legal process for developing new energy sources and new refineries
* Encourages homeowners and businesses through tax credits to improve energy efficiency and offers a $500 million prize for the first U.S. carmaker that sells 50,000 vehicles that get 100 miles per gallon
This is part of a larger positive pattern. Earlier this year HR 146 was passed and signed, making it easier to prevent fires in national forests by cutting and using excess timber. During the Bush years this process was hopelessly tied up in litigation, leading to total waste of wood and unnecessary deaths.
I'm not sure why these (comparatively!) good laws are finally being passed under a supposedly Green Democrat administration. It may be influenced by those pro-American western Democrats who were brought in by Howard Dean. Or it may be that Bush talked a good pro-American game but really didn't give a flying fuck about Americans, while Obama actually understands the purpose of his job. ¶ 11:33 AM
