Palin refuses the gift that keeps on giving

image from http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/hate_is_a_strong_word

image from http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/hate_is_a_strong_word

I wish I could “say it ain’t so” (to quote the subject of this post), but it is.  In an event that demonstrates the way of the maverick, Sarah Palin has become the only Governor in the United States to refuse economic recovery funds for energy.  Why?  Because it promotes energy efficiency.  Perplexing?  You betcha.

Sure other state Governors are turning down economic recovery money, like for education, but money to invest in energy efficiency is totally the gift that keeps on giving.

Basically, the federal government wants to give Alaska $29 million for energy projects.  What does Alaksa have to do?  Spend the money on renewable energy and energy efficiency, adopt the latest building codes for energy efficiency, and begin looking at policies that allow utilities to make money selling less electricity instead of more.  I think if you read the statute closely, it even says Gov. Palin could shoot a wolf out of an airplane along the way (I guess, as long as that plane’s running on renewable fuel), but instead the trigger happy maverick decided to shoot the goose that laid the golden egg.

Remind me why our country rejected such stellar executive leadership?

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Posted by Colin on May 1st in Dumb, Environment, Television | Comment |

Energy Bill Passes the House (235-181)!

And we thought they weren’t working. Just minutes ago, the House of Representatives passed a landmark bill that takes a few steps toward promoting clean, renewable energy.

The House Energy Bill contained several important provisions. Chief among them, however, were the renewable energy standard, which requires utilities to provide 15% of their electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2020, and an increase in CAFE (fuel economy) standards to 35 mpg. This is the first increase in fuel economy standards in my lifetime!

To see how your Representative voted, click here.

A strong energy bill is an important first step in helping us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80% by 2050, which is what scientists say we need to do to avert the worst of global warming.  This bill is expected to save us all money at the pump (by increasing fuel economy) and creating new jobs by promoting the development of clean, renewable electricity sources.

Up next: the Senate will vote on this bill in a few weeks. Then (if it passes the Senate), on to the President, who will definitely veto the bill. Isn’t politics fun, ya’ll?

Posted by Colin on Dec 6th in Environment, News | 2 Comments |