DISQUS

The Sierra Club will be distributing energy-saving (equals money-saving) Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) for FREE. Limit of 4 per household.
Households can save about $40 per year by replacing the 4 incandescent bulbs they use most often with energy-efficient CFLs.
By using less energy, we can also make a difference when it comes to lowering emissions of carbon dioxide - the main culprit contributing to global climate change.
CFLs do contain mercury and must be used responsibly. Everyone that gets the CFLs will also get a handout explaining how to recycle CFLs for free when they're ready to be disposed of, and how to safely clean-up a CFL if it breaks in your home.

the most recent data from florida power & light and other utilities is that the price tag to simply build 1 nuclear power plant is around $10billion. the latest figures for handling and disposal of the spent fuel rods generated by power plants is another $1billion per plant. this $11billion per plant cost is heavily subsidized by us as taxpayers - through direct subsidies as well as loan guarantees.
is this really a sensible use of taxpayer's money?
the price of uranium has been fluctuating a lot over the past 3-4 years - going through a boom and bust cycle. we would be increasing our dependency on an economically UNstable fuel source (uranium) by promoting the expansion of nuclear power plants.
i agree that we must put people first. the latest research is that dollar-for-dollar, we can create 4 times as many jobs by investing in clean energy than in the oil industry. this is because the oil industry is extremely capital-intensive as opposed to labor-intensive; the nuclear industry is very similar in that regard. the uranium processing industry (i.e., mines and mills) is moving towards in-situ leach milling which is very capital-intensive. if we want to create good-paying jobs, then the path is clear - move towards renewable energy and energy efficiency and AWAY from the old, dirty, carbon/nuclear-friendly energy policies of the past.

yes to serious, bold efficiency measures (that means we get the same output with less energy input - not that people will be forced to freeze and wander in the dark)
yes to solar, wind, geothermal and yes to massive investment to resolve the storage issues
yes to smart electrical grids to improve efficiency and transmission (and any reference to "environmentalists fighting renewable energy transmission lines in so. california" is bogus; check out http://www.sdsmartenergy.org/index.shtml)
yes to better public transportation, upping fuel economy standards, r&d; on battery technology and making low-emission vehicles affordable
yes to a clean energy future that creates good-paying jobs, lowers energy costs, AND lowers ghg emissions to solve global warming
si, se puede

to thomasjames:
i find that it helps to ask questions rather than make assumptions. perhaps matt was trying to point out that democrats came out to hear pickens even though he helped finance the swift boat campaign against kerry. at least that's how the excerpt on the nmi homepage reads...

to thomasjames:
i find that it helps to ask questions rather than make assumptions. perhaps matt was trying to point out that democrats came out to hear pickens even though he helped finance the swift boat campaign against kerry. at least that's how the excerpt on the nmi homepage reads...

Thanks for looking into the myth that increased drilling in the U.S. would mean that the oil stays in the U.S. for U.S. consumers.

To underscore the argument against increased drilling, here's an excerpt from an August 20th press release from the Sierra Club:
"In a lease sale today for drilling rights to 1.8 million acres off the western Gulf of Mexico, ninety percent of tracts made available by the federal government went without bids. The high bidder in the lease sale was a Norwegian company, Statoil."
For more details, go to: http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer...

Thanks for looking into the myth that increased drilling in the U.S. would mean that the oil stays in the U.S. for U.S. consumers.

To underscore the argument against increased drilling, here's an excerpt from an August 20th press release from the Sierra Club:
"In a lease sale today for drilling rights to 1.8 million acres off the western Gulf of Mexico, ninety percent of tracts made available by the federal government went without bids. The high bidder in the lease sale was a Norwegian company, Statoil."
For more details, go to: http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer...

Thanks for this thoughtful piece, Heath. I especially like the call for a major push from all of us to get Congress on board!

Thanks for this thoughtful piece, Heath. I especially like the call for a major push from all of us to get Congress on board!