Energy Smart

There are things that you really (REALLY) don’t want to learn about and, like Mad-Cow Disease, truly do not want to encounter (nor, perhaps, wish on your worst enemy), Global Warming might be increasing the reach of a brain-eating amoeba that thrives in certain warm water conditions.

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The day after George W Bush gave a speech on climate change that has been panned by all serious reviewers (e.g., diplomats and scientists), The Washington Post did something it is doing too rarely nowadays:  it published an OPED by someone who actually knows something about the subject matter: Bill McKibben.

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One serious problem in the energy system is waste — whether CO2 from fossil fuels, methane coming up from dammed waters, waste from solar PV manufactoriting, or radioactive wastes from nuclear power.  As we strive for a Prosperous, Climate Friendly Economy around the globe, dealing with waste streams is one critical path toward success.  Courtesy of EcoGeek, here are two excellent examples to start a conversation about cleaning up waste streams.

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On the front page of today’s Washington Post business section, Recasting Big Oil’s Batter Image was subtitled “Ads by Chevron and Others Aim to Send Positive Messages”.  Whether “Beyond Petroleum” or Exxon Mobil telling us how to be more fuel efficient drivers, greenwashing efforts from the fossil fuel industry are fast and furiously growing in the face of Global Warming and potential legislative responses.  This article addresses some of these efforts, sparked by a coming $10s of millions Chevron will be spending on educational ads in the near future.

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Pat Michaels is no longer the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Climatologist. As per DeSmogBlog’s discussion,

Pat Michaels, whose utility industry funding, private research and controversial views on global warming made him a lightning rod on climate change issues, left the office too politicized, according to officials at the University of Virgina.

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Bjorn Lomborg is a reckless economist, pursuing disingenuous truthiness in arguing that fighting global warming isn’t worth the effort.  While, Lomborg has received serious criticism after serious criticism of his work all over the globe, it looks like his world is heating up a bit as the Post-Carbon Institute has put together a collection of the material shredding Lomborg’s truthiness. Recommended: Check out Putting the Heat on Lomborg.

As noted in Dingell: A dingbat proposal re Global Warming?, Representative John Dingell (D-auto industry?) has put out his thoughts re a potential carbon tax and is asking for comments.   After the fold are the comments that I have submitted (so far) for committee consideration.

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We have both good and bad signs when it comes to Global Warming coming out almost, it seems, on an hourly basis.

Well, in the real world, the situation doesn’t look so good, with bad news emerging every day, such as algae growth increases in far north lakes showing warming.

In the real world, well, we still have the Bush Administration and their Don’t Worry, Be Happy talking points when it comes to Global Warming.

Yet … yet … yet …

There are signs of hope …

One of which is that there is so much news … so many hearings … so many meetings … so much action.  UN meetings … Congressional Hearings … Al Gore winning prize after prize … citizen activism.

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Representative John Dingell (D-auto industry?) has put out his thoughts re a potential carbon tax and is asking for comments.  Dingell stated that

Because of the complexity and importance of the issue, this is the right time to open up a public discourse on a carbon emissions fee bill.

Representative Dingell has, well, been far from a friend to sensible energy policy, fighting CAFE standards and many other elements that would move the nation toward a better energy policy.

Yet … yet … let us take Dingell at face value (for a moment) and examine his concepts.

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And, well, that includes America and Americans.

World Public Opinion just released a poll(full report, pdf, here)  that show that large majorities around the world:

• Understand that “human activity IS a significant cause” of Climate Change
• Agree that is is “Necessary to take major steps very soon to Address Climate Change”
• Believe taht wealthy countries should ive financial/technical assistance to less wealthy countries that agree to limit GHG emissions

While the US is, consisently, behind other developed nations in all three categories (thank you climate deniers sound machine), even the US records strong majorities in responding to all three.

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