tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096372392197819712.post4956278168370737075..comments2014-05-19T03:17:51.109-07:00Comments on P. Static has got Opinions: The American Clean Energy and Security ActP. Statichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16409502147044122316noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096372392197819712.post-43947904736802862122009-07-14T09:25:25.961-07:002009-07-14T09:25:25.961-07:00I seem to remember reading somewhere that whatever...I seem to remember reading somewhere that whatever carbon regulation system some Europeans are using is a mess. I thought it was the cap-and-trade thing, but I'm not certain. Maybe it was a carbon tax. At any rate, a similar program worked in the U.S. with sulfur emissions already, so it will probably be fine.<br /><br />What worries me about the bill is the requirement of the use of certain renewable sources. Most of the sources listed are not in fact effective at maintaining a stable electric grid, and the others are not going to exist in sufficient quantities to make up the difference. For example, wind generators trip almost weekly and require constant supervision to just keep one turbine running. If the grid is already operating at near capacity, which is becoming more and more the case, then the whole thing will go down on a windless day.<br /><br />I only see our demand on the grid going up with plug in hybrids and electric cars that are coming to market. I nuclear generation isn't considered renewable, but at least it's stable and doesn't emit carbon. Why isn't that included?Ætherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858436531566791239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096372392197819712.post-22116731431697659192009-07-10T21:51:12.492-07:002009-07-10T21:51:12.492-07:00Waxman-Markey! I wonder what the Senate will do to...Waxman-Markey! I wonder what the Senate will do to it - the Senate is where progressive legislation goes to die. <br /><br />Peak oil - ironically, I was reading about that right before this. It looks like oil prices are rising again, and in a recession when many people are taking pay cuts. I suppose if prices rise high enough, we'll have to use the tar sands of Alberta. (Well, they're already being mined anyway.)<br /><br />Environment - what I'm worried about is the feedback loops. In fact, it looks like they are being initiated already in the Arctic ice cap, where the ice is now more seasonal than permanent, thinner rather than thicker. What effect will this have? I guess we'll find out. <br /><br />I'm not sure a better bill could have passed the House - given the closeness of the vote, probably not. And one option that definitely could not pass the House is the other option I hear about, the carbon tax. (Why? We really hate new taxes.) The only presidential candidate to support that was Chris Dodd. The Economist also supports the carbon tax. Some European countries have imposed them. <br /><br />This kind of leads me to mention the other blog post I've read on global warming and Waxman-Markey recently. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-james-hansen/g-8-failure-reflects-us-f_b_228597.html" rel="nofollow">Here it is.</a> Since I'm pretty convinced we're not going to get a carbon tax passed by the House let alone the Senate, I'm reminded of that XKCD mouseover text recently: "All in all, the future will be okay! Except climate; we fucked that one up."Frank Churchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10871324987973123365noreply@blogger.com