odograph’s Recent Comments

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  no "additional" bailout?

  Don't forget they got $25B in October.On Republicans refuse bailout; Obama wants auto czar posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 13 Responses

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  Shifts

  The Mess That Greenspan Made has a post on the IEA's (International Energy Agency's) 2008 World Energy Outlook.

  Here's the opening paragraph of the Executive Summary:

  The world's energy system is at a crossroads. Current global trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable -- environmentally, economically, socially. But that can -- and must -- be altered; there's still time to change the road we're on. It is not an exaggeration to claim that the future of human prosperity depends on how successfully we tackle the two central energy challenges facing us today: securing the supply of reliable and affordable energy; and effecting a rapid transformation to a low-carbon, efficient and environmentally benign system of energy supply. What is needed is nothing short of an energy revolution. This World Energy Outlook demonstrates how that might be achieved through decisive policy action and at what cost. It also describes the consequences of failure.

  They are probably largely just responding to the recent unpleasantness with prices ... but it does also seem a bit of a cultural shift.On Why taxes can't get us where we need to go on transportation posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 17 Responses

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  BTW

  I can't believe you say "hydrogen."On Why taxes can't get us where we need to go on transportation posted 12 months ago 17 Responses

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  economics

  I've been reading the "economic efficiency" arguments for a carbon tax for years, I thought it was more a reference than a novel assertion.

  I have no problem with an economy-wide carbon tax, which would apply to transportation. I'll push for that alongside everyone else. I just don't think it will have a large effect on the transpo sector.

  That's what I'm suggesting.  Economic efficiency means that you minimize payments to people who are doing the right thing anyway, and only burden those who insist on continuing a bad practice.

  A carbon tax does that.  We hope that more elaborate schemes will add up to the same result ... but it's will always be a "check in the mail."  Designers of a cap & trade or whatever scheme only promise that it will add up "economy-wide" to more savers than emitters.

  Would it be hard?  It's a new world.  Give a science-based administration a couple years to sink in.  Let the flat-earthers retreat a bit.

  And then yeah, I think it's possible.  I don't think you should set your compass by what was mainstream in the Bush years.On Why taxes can't get us where we need to go on transportation posted 12 months ago 17 Responses

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  coal is essential?

  what for?  the solar folks claim they can supply 90% of US electricity and the wind and geothermal folks make claim for much more than the remaining 10%On A real path to energy independence posted 12 months ago 31 Responses