The state of Oregon has floated a trail balloon regarding a mileage tax. You see the recent gas price issues and the 3 card monte game that is hybrid vehicles (you get better mileage but it takes 13 years to recoup the investment) has lowered the taxable income expectations of states like Oregon.
Their mileage tax program would put a GPS system in every citizens car and then at the end of the year if a resident didn't drive far enough to cover the states expectations on how much gas they should have bought that year, because Oregon has a large tax on a gallon of gas, then they send you a bill.
We are all forced to choke down on the bit of hybrid vehicles and I admit my own instance that vehicles today should be able to run at 40mpg, hybrid or not, however I can not abide by my sense of conservaton or ability to 'save money' with a gas effiecent vehicle no penalizes me in the state of Oregon.
What if my car breaks down and I decide to take the city transit system instead of fixing it? Or if I decide to ride my bike to work twice a week instead of driving? In both cases, am I not becoming a better steward of my energy expediture? Lowering my energy footprint? Hasn't the point of "driving less" been drilled into my consciousness this year?
The politicians promise that these GPS units wouldn't be used as a locator device so that the government would know where you were at in any given moment but can you really believe that? Heck no. How often have we seen this slippery slope of already captured information being used for alternative purposes?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Let the farce begin with light rail in Phoenix
The light rail system in Phoenix is going to officially open for business this week. A few days prior to this city altering event citizens are allowed to ride the rails for free. This started three days ago to much fanfare and praise from local news channels. One live remote showed a long line with waits, they reported, of two or three hours.
This morning it was reported that 150,000 people rode for free during the first two days of free use. In a city of five million people that equals 1.5% of the population each day. Now what comes to mind is this; the city estimated a usage level of between one and five percent of the population on a regular basis. That being the case, why is there a wait longer than twenty minutes, if a train arrives at each terminal every ten minutes? Who is going to wait more than that when its 110 degrees outside and the stations provide little shade and no air conditioning in the summer?
No one. And this is when its free.
Some other useful knowledge that has come to light is that the tickets are purchased on a 'honor system'. Tickets are bought at a kiosk, there is no turn still to board and no ticket taker at the door. An employee will randomly verify tickets when they are on the train. You are also not allowed to lay down. You are also not allowed to eat on the train. No picking up a cup of coffee and bagel at the Starbucks and eating breakfast on the way into work. The trains will stop running at 11pm seven days week. So if you were expecting to use the train to get to and from the bars on the weekend, tough luck, unless you want to leave before the band shows up.
So if I get this right, you won't be stopped if you ride without a ticket, there is no accountability there, but if your laying down hungover at 10:30 pm, then your getting the boot sight seen? I suppose with the political clout the light rail commission has exuded, they will ask that private businesses close their bars at 10pm instead of the trains running later. They are already asking tax payers to cover the $9 difference in ticket price and operating cost and the system is brand new.I can just pay my state taxes in gum removers and graffiti covering paint now?
This morning it was reported that 150,000 people rode for free during the first two days of free use. In a city of five million people that equals 1.5% of the population each day. Now what comes to mind is this; the city estimated a usage level of between one and five percent of the population on a regular basis. That being the case, why is there a wait longer than twenty minutes, if a train arrives at each terminal every ten minutes? Who is going to wait more than that when its 110 degrees outside and the stations provide little shade and no air conditioning in the summer?
No one. And this is when its free.
Some other useful knowledge that has come to light is that the tickets are purchased on a 'honor system'. Tickets are bought at a kiosk, there is no turn still to board and no ticket taker at the door. An employee will randomly verify tickets when they are on the train. You are also not allowed to lay down. You are also not allowed to eat on the train. No picking up a cup of coffee and bagel at the Starbucks and eating breakfast on the way into work. The trains will stop running at 11pm seven days week. So if you were expecting to use the train to get to and from the bars on the weekend, tough luck, unless you want to leave before the band shows up.
So if I get this right, you won't be stopped if you ride without a ticket, there is no accountability there, but if your laying down hungover at 10:30 pm, then your getting the boot sight seen? I suppose with the political clout the light rail commission has exuded, they will ask that private businesses close their bars at 10pm instead of the trains running later. They are already asking tax payers to cover the $9 difference in ticket price and operating cost and the system is brand new.I can just pay my state taxes in gum removers and graffiti covering paint now?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Power Hour
I have a five year old son who thinks that when the sun goes down early, it must be Christmas. So in the middle of October, yes almost a month ago, he and I strung about 500 Christmas lights up on the house. I stood my ground on putting up more strands or the yard displays and tree arrangements. We will do that this weekend.
He was so excited to stand on the ladder and wrap strands around nails. He stayed by me the entire time, pointing, holding, giving directions. He promised me we would do this together every year. Every night he comes home to see his 'pretty lights' glowing.
I on the other hand worried my neighbors would think I was an idiot for putting up Christmas lights before Columbus Day. However in defense, how often is it that our children get so excited to do something with their parents. I know that maybe as soon as next year, that stringing lights will be my solitary job once again.
Christmas lights don't take up a tremendous amount of power but be smart about their usage. Turn your lights on within about 15 minutes before your family usually drives up to the house at night. If your kids are in the house before it gets dark then I'd suggest just turning them on before you get home, so you can see your handy work. Unless your having a competition with your neighbors I see no reason to keep them on past 10pm or midnight. Right now my outdoor lights are on for one hour for when the family gets home and then a few sightings as my boy runs from downstairs to upstairs.
Timers are a blessing for this task. Get a timer for the outdoor lights and one for the indoor lights and Christmas tree. There is no reason to increase your power bill with useless light comumption when no one will appreciate it.
He was so excited to stand on the ladder and wrap strands around nails. He stayed by me the entire time, pointing, holding, giving directions. He promised me we would do this together every year. Every night he comes home to see his 'pretty lights' glowing.
I on the other hand worried my neighbors would think I was an idiot for putting up Christmas lights before Columbus Day. However in defense, how often is it that our children get so excited to do something with their parents. I know that maybe as soon as next year, that stringing lights will be my solitary job once again.
Christmas lights don't take up a tremendous amount of power but be smart about their usage. Turn your lights on within about 15 minutes before your family usually drives up to the house at night. If your kids are in the house before it gets dark then I'd suggest just turning them on before you get home, so you can see your handy work. Unless your having a competition with your neighbors I see no reason to keep them on past 10pm or midnight. Right now my outdoor lights are on for one hour for when the family gets home and then a few sightings as my boy runs from downstairs to upstairs.
Timers are a blessing for this task. Get a timer for the outdoor lights and one for the indoor lights and Christmas tree. There is no reason to increase your power bill with useless light comumption when no one will appreciate it.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Sarah Palin Connection
The new vice-president nominee for the republicans, Sarah Palin, has just exploded onto the scene over the last week. I am not going to discourse her narrative, you can look that up yourself. However as a blog that is concerned about being a Green Conservative I think I want to touch on her credentials as a fighter for energy issues.
Palin is the republican governor of Alaska. Prior to that she was the chair for the states Oil commission and a two term mayor. Her husband works in the oil industry as a laborer. Palin broke a monopoly in oil and energy management by large oil companies. She increased the taxes on state oil industrys from 22.5% to 25%, which means the oil companies paid the state more money which was one method she used to create a surplus budget. This put $1,200 back into every residents pocket in the state.
While the democratic ticket can speak of their energy plan, Palin has been enacting a plan for years and been successful in getting it to work. Palin created an energy plan for Alaska that put them on a path to be the first energy independent state. It incorporates all forms of energy that is viable for them to use, not just oil. With all the debate on 1002 Area and ANWR, Palin is the only person on either ticket to have actually been to that area.
I think that when this country looks to the future for an energy plan that uses our resources and creates stable, economic alternative, Sarah Palin as VPOTUS bodes well for this country.
Palin is the republican governor of Alaska. Prior to that she was the chair for the states Oil commission and a two term mayor. Her husband works in the oil industry as a laborer. Palin broke a monopoly in oil and energy management by large oil companies. She increased the taxes on state oil industrys from 22.5% to 25%, which means the oil companies paid the state more money which was one method she used to create a surplus budget. This put $1,200 back into every residents pocket in the state.
While the democratic ticket can speak of their energy plan, Palin has been enacting a plan for years and been successful in getting it to work. Palin created an energy plan for Alaska that put them on a path to be the first energy independent state. It incorporates all forms of energy that is viable for them to use, not just oil. With all the debate on 1002 Area and ANWR, Palin is the only person on either ticket to have actually been to that area.
I think that when this country looks to the future for an energy plan that uses our resources and creates stable, economic alternative, Sarah Palin as VPOTUS bodes well for this country.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Obama ain't Right
Stepping off the conservation platform for a moment to speak my piece on Barrack Obama. I don't believe this country could make a worse choice for President of the United States. This may be hard to believe but I don't think Obama is bad guy, not like Liberals hate (underscore, underscore) George W. Bush. I just think he is incredibly naive, self absorbed, and woefully underqualified for the highest office in the land.
Compared to not just to McCain but any presidential party candidate in the last fifty years, the Democratic candidate may very well be the most under qualified leader elected to the White House. Obama spent seven years as state congressman for Illinois, then 143 days as a senator before officially running for President. John McCain spent 23 years as a Naval officer, seven in captivity in the Hanoi Hilton, and then another 23 years as senator of Arizona. Where is the experience weighted?
Its hard to discern from written posts, so I encourage readers to find videos of the candidates. You will find that Obama without a teleprompter is completely inept at putting sentences together. Its not a weighting of words, but a waiting for words between the ums, uhs and ahs. Republican will concede Bush is not eloquent but he is does know his mind. Something Obama does not. Obama does not have the propre foundation of international or even national experience to competantly express his position. He is further hindered by not being able to articulately defend his extremely liberal, nay socialist, actions as a member of the state house.
John McCain has spent decades working with both parties to affect change in this country. He has solid conservative beliefs but is known as a 'Maverick' because he will not toe the party line. Obama is considered one of the most liberal senators currently serving office.
The whole concept of Obama is 'Change'. His entire campaign through this date has been platitudes without action. Slogans over new ideas. An Obama presendancy will set this country back thirty years because those are the numbers he touts when it comes to raising taxes on every American. Those making less than $14,000 a year currently pay no taxes under the 'terrible' Bush tax plan, (really its just coming back to you when you file) but even these people will people will lose that benefit under Obama.
Obama has no energy plan. He won't let us use our own oil resources and wants to sell off our strategic reserve. The only reason it will take ten years to gather newly drilled oil is because thats how long it takes to get through the lawsuits. Unstick those and with todays technology new oil production can be on the streets within five years, maybe three. In fact Obama is not even interested in letting already existing and drilled wells to be uncapped in the midwest for new oil. These existing rigs were capped in the 1990's because it wasn't profitable to use them when oil was $9 a barrel. Now it is profitable to uncap these wells, but he has said he will not allow it. His big idea is to recommend filling our tires with proper air and getting tune ups. Tune ups?
By the way, McCain will conserve more acres than Obama and his adminstration will be better stewards of the environment because they understand that to have a thriving, living forest you need to clear away the brush choking the bases of trees which spreads wildfires like a virus. McCain has said he wants to build over forty nuclear power reacters. I say, how about just one. Seeing as we haven't built a new one in thirty years and have even shut a couple down, lets not be greedy.
Notice I have not yet mentioned the attack ads. To numerous. To weak. Not worth mentioning by item.
I will mention that in his mid-fortys Obama is not very spry. Sure he looks good on a basketball court but has taken vastly more 'rest' days on the campaign trail than his nearly thirty years older opponent. McCain at 71, has the vip and vigor of a much younger man. Sure he can't lift his arms, how do you age gracefully after surviving a combat crash in enemy territory after busting both sholders and one knee then being bayoneted in the arm and groin and thrown in a torture camp for seven years. I still crike in my neck from sleeping on a plane last week.
You can hate Bush. You can say what you will about McCain. Face the facts. You know Obama hasn't got the experience to run this country. You know that compared to McCain, who you may hate for no reason other than he's a Republican, he can't hold McCains jock strap. He doesn't have the time spent in government, he does not have international connections needed on the global stage like McCain does have. Which by the way, when Obama was a simple state congressman in 2003, McCain was in the country of Georgia immersing himself in the geo-socio-politico culture and infrastructure that is now being attacked by our cold war enemy Russia. But you don't want to hear that, "Lalalalala, but Obamas better."
Don't vote on emotion, vote for experience. Don't vote for change for change sake, vote for what will make you wealthier and safer in this global economy.
Vote McCain.
Compared to not just to McCain but any presidential party candidate in the last fifty years, the Democratic candidate may very well be the most under qualified leader elected to the White House. Obama spent seven years as state congressman for Illinois, then 143 days as a senator before officially running for President. John McCain spent 23 years as a Naval officer, seven in captivity in the Hanoi Hilton, and then another 23 years as senator of Arizona. Where is the experience weighted?
Its hard to discern from written posts, so I encourage readers to find videos of the candidates. You will find that Obama without a teleprompter is completely inept at putting sentences together. Its not a weighting of words, but a waiting for words between the ums, uhs and ahs. Republican will concede Bush is not eloquent but he is does know his mind. Something Obama does not. Obama does not have the propre foundation of international or even national experience to competantly express his position. He is further hindered by not being able to articulately defend his extremely liberal, nay socialist, actions as a member of the state house.
John McCain has spent decades working with both parties to affect change in this country. He has solid conservative beliefs but is known as a 'Maverick' because he will not toe the party line. Obama is considered one of the most liberal senators currently serving office.
The whole concept of Obama is 'Change'. His entire campaign through this date has been platitudes without action. Slogans over new ideas. An Obama presendancy will set this country back thirty years because those are the numbers he touts when it comes to raising taxes on every American. Those making less than $14,000 a year currently pay no taxes under the 'terrible' Bush tax plan, (really its just coming back to you when you file) but even these people will people will lose that benefit under Obama.
Obama has no energy plan. He won't let us use our own oil resources and wants to sell off our strategic reserve. The only reason it will take ten years to gather newly drilled oil is because thats how long it takes to get through the lawsuits. Unstick those and with todays technology new oil production can be on the streets within five years, maybe three. In fact Obama is not even interested in letting already existing and drilled wells to be uncapped in the midwest for new oil. These existing rigs were capped in the 1990's because it wasn't profitable to use them when oil was $9 a barrel. Now it is profitable to uncap these wells, but he has said he will not allow it. His big idea is to recommend filling our tires with proper air and getting tune ups. Tune ups?
By the way, McCain will conserve more acres than Obama and his adminstration will be better stewards of the environment because they understand that to have a thriving, living forest you need to clear away the brush choking the bases of trees which spreads wildfires like a virus. McCain has said he wants to build over forty nuclear power reacters. I say, how about just one. Seeing as we haven't built a new one in thirty years and have even shut a couple down, lets not be greedy.
Notice I have not yet mentioned the attack ads. To numerous. To weak. Not worth mentioning by item.
I will mention that in his mid-fortys Obama is not very spry. Sure he looks good on a basketball court but has taken vastly more 'rest' days on the campaign trail than his nearly thirty years older opponent. McCain at 71, has the vip and vigor of a much younger man. Sure he can't lift his arms, how do you age gracefully after surviving a combat crash in enemy territory after busting both sholders and one knee then being bayoneted in the arm and groin and thrown in a torture camp for seven years. I still crike in my neck from sleeping on a plane last week.
You can hate Bush. You can say what you will about McCain. Face the facts. You know Obama hasn't got the experience to run this country. You know that compared to McCain, who you may hate for no reason other than he's a Republican, he can't hold McCains jock strap. He doesn't have the time spent in government, he does not have international connections needed on the global stage like McCain does have. Which by the way, when Obama was a simple state congressman in 2003, McCain was in the country of Georgia immersing himself in the geo-socio-politico culture and infrastructure that is now being attacked by our cold war enemy Russia. But you don't want to hear that, "Lalalalala, but Obamas better."
Don't vote on emotion, vote for experience. Don't vote for change for change sake, vote for what will make you wealthier and safer in this global economy.
Vote McCain.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Energy, energy and not a drop to use
The presidential campaign and the price of oil have really sparked debate, or more aptly, conversation, on what the future track of this countries energy policy should be. Especially in the last month.
Republican candidate John McCain has stated he wants to run the whole gamut of energy use. Specifically he wants to build 45 new nuclear power plants. Hell, lets just build one. This country has not built any in thirty years.
Democrat candidate Barrack Obama has told American automakers that if elected he will demand cars with higher gas mileage, which I think is great. Overall though he follows the same failed liberal track of demand cut backs on personal use and invest in alternative energy, wholly ignoring the gap between now and then.
In a previous post I spoke about coal shale and just recently it was found that we have more coal shale within our borders than all the available oil in Saudi Arabia. Put congress won't less us bring it up. Nor will congress allow us to drill in the 1002 Area of ANWAR, off the Pacific coast, off the Atlantic coast, off the gulf coast or in the most of the landlocked areas of the country.
I heard an interesting segment on the radio regarding oil drilling in the midwest. Most of these companies are small, private firms that drill a few dozen to a few hundred rigs at most. There were most active rigs in the late 1980's and early 1990's but when oil was only costing $10 dollars a barrel, it was not cost effective to pull up the oil and hundreds of rigs were capped shut. Congress will not allow these small firms to open these capped wells and begin pulling the crude up again, knowing that these are established sites and no wildcatting is necessary.
Why not open up oil rigs that can produce results today?
Of all the plans I have heard, the ones that make the most sense are the ones that set up incentives for a diversificaiton of all energy sources not simply focused on one or two that may bear fruit down the road. Also ones that make sense. The current trend for fuels tends to be ethanol, yet when it costs about $1.29 for $1.00 of ethanol fuel, that makes no sense.
Whatever road this country travels towards energy indepedence or foriegn energy marginalization, it must do so with realistic, un-hyped means. Solar, wind, keneitc, biofuels, coal shale, oil, nuclear, recycling, grain based, hydrogen; all need to be looked at for their true potential and allowed immediate clearance to market, the regulations are there to protect us but right now they hamper us in this cause.
Republican candidate John McCain has stated he wants to run the whole gamut of energy use. Specifically he wants to build 45 new nuclear power plants. Hell, lets just build one. This country has not built any in thirty years.
Democrat candidate Barrack Obama has told American automakers that if elected he will demand cars with higher gas mileage, which I think is great. Overall though he follows the same failed liberal track of demand cut backs on personal use and invest in alternative energy, wholly ignoring the gap between now and then.
In a previous post I spoke about coal shale and just recently it was found that we have more coal shale within our borders than all the available oil in Saudi Arabia. Put congress won't less us bring it up. Nor will congress allow us to drill in the 1002 Area of ANWAR, off the Pacific coast, off the Atlantic coast, off the gulf coast or in the most of the landlocked areas of the country.
I heard an interesting segment on the radio regarding oil drilling in the midwest. Most of these companies are small, private firms that drill a few dozen to a few hundred rigs at most. There were most active rigs in the late 1980's and early 1990's but when oil was only costing $10 dollars a barrel, it was not cost effective to pull up the oil and hundreds of rigs were capped shut. Congress will not allow these small firms to open these capped wells and begin pulling the crude up again, knowing that these are established sites and no wildcatting is necessary.
Why not open up oil rigs that can produce results today?
Of all the plans I have heard, the ones that make the most sense are the ones that set up incentives for a diversificaiton of all energy sources not simply focused on one or two that may bear fruit down the road. Also ones that make sense. The current trend for fuels tends to be ethanol, yet when it costs about $1.29 for $1.00 of ethanol fuel, that makes no sense.
Whatever road this country travels towards energy indepedence or foriegn energy marginalization, it must do so with realistic, un-hyped means. Solar, wind, keneitc, biofuels, coal shale, oil, nuclear, recycling, grain based, hydrogen; all need to be looked at for their true potential and allowed immediate clearance to market, the regulations are there to protect us but right now they hamper us in this cause.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
ANWAR vs. Solar
I got to thinking last night. Enviro-wonks counter the drilling in ANWR as too little oil, to long to wait. It will take ten years to get a drop into the pumps. In my opinion it may take ten years if the business of building the project is stalled with lawsuits and threats. I doubt there will be anyone chaining themselves to the landscape in a barren area like that.
However, I am constantly reminded that I could decrease my carbon footprint if I switched over to solar power for my house. If I generated a surplus I could even sell it back to the grid! I live in Phoenix and figured with as much sun as we get year round that it would be fairly cost effective.
Wrong. Even with rebates and tax incentives, out of pocket costs run well over ten thousand dollars. When I compared the various bids with my three year average energy bill, it would take me between ten and twelve years before I recouped that money. With the housing and oil market being what it is and portends to be there is no way I will do this.
Its not cost effective. To put another way, its well known that if you want a pool in this town, you buy a house with one already installed. You don't put one in yourself. The investment does not increase the value of home.
Lets start ramping up oil production that we can get to inside our walls. Lets start putting solar panels on new houses like England has done for several years. Lets build nuclear reacters and wind farms. Lets do it all. But lets do it now because when it comes to being green, you need to have green. And the future still ain't all that rosy for the pocketbook.
However, I am constantly reminded that I could decrease my carbon footprint if I switched over to solar power for my house. If I generated a surplus I could even sell it back to the grid! I live in Phoenix and figured with as much sun as we get year round that it would be fairly cost effective.
Wrong. Even with rebates and tax incentives, out of pocket costs run well over ten thousand dollars. When I compared the various bids with my three year average energy bill, it would take me between ten and twelve years before I recouped that money. With the housing and oil market being what it is and portends to be there is no way I will do this.
Its not cost effective. To put another way, its well known that if you want a pool in this town, you buy a house with one already installed. You don't put one in yourself. The investment does not increase the value of home.
Lets start ramping up oil production that we can get to inside our walls. Lets start putting solar panels on new houses like England has done for several years. Lets build nuclear reacters and wind farms. Lets do it all. But lets do it now because when it comes to being green, you need to have green. And the future still ain't all that rosy for the pocketbook.
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