MClemens’s Recent Comments

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  Rationality changing

  Do you suppose that the American rationale is changing in the face of the economic + environmental crises? It seems to me that back when things were good (before this economy crashed, fuel prices rose dramatically, etc) Americans were worked into almost a spending frenzy. Buy what you want, as big as you can, and pay it off later.

  I think it was that frenzy that shook the boat up so much that it took on water and nearly capsized. It wasn't just one person/company/lender that shot the hole in it. The frenzy I think has pretty well died, we're bailing now and maybe thinking a bit more rationally. Will Americans now realize that they don't need 4,000 lb 4x4 SUV's to commute to work when they can just as easily afford a hybrid electric? I don't know but I'd say there is a better chance of it now than there ever was.

  MClemens

  On CNNMoney reports that electrification is key to Chrysler's bailout pitch posted 11 months, 1 week ago 15 Responses

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  Surprised?

  No. I'm not.On Report finds widespread meddling with species decisions posted 11 months, 1 week ago 4 Responses

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  Balance

  Richard said, "It's coming, folks" and I suppose he's right. It is. It has been for a while and I am even more confident of that with the appointment of Vilsack, the former governor of my state.

  But here's my take on it. We may now be seeing strong initiatives by auto companies (Toyota, the one in China, now Chrysler) to electrify their vehicles. Thus, maybe (and that's a hopeful "maybe") we're seeing a transition in our personal transportation sector. Big-O has promised big investment in renewable electricity generation in his proposed economic package so maybe soon we'll be able to charge those electric vehicles with renewably-generated electricity. I don't have any numbers to cite, but I can't help but assume that those two efforts alone would cut way down on CO2 emissions and they're both feasible in the near future. Couple that with an apparent shift among many of the large municipalities toward implementing some sort of sustainable public transportation system, and we've actually made some big steps toward fixing the biggest problems we're faced with today (i.e. climate change, dependence on foreign oil and over-use of coal-generated electricity).

  Granted, that's not all we should be doing but we can get that done quickly. We still have to deal with the long-distance transportation issues associated with airlines and semi-trucks. If, in the short term, we can a) use less of both, and b) power them with domestically-produced, cleaner burning biofuels while we work on developing other, more sustainable equivalent transportation systems, then I suppose we should. It continues to reduce dependence on foreign oil, and it's less polluting, albeit not by much. If we're poised to get production going quickly, then it might not be that bad of a transitional effort - so long as we keep working toward completely sustainable systems for the not-so-distant future.

  Now, don't think for one second that I'm an ethanol supporter - I'm not. However, cellulosic ethanol is better than corn-based ethanol, no doubt about that. The rub lies with our ability/inability to harvest the raw materials for it without completely degrading the land. I cringe at the bioengineering idea - we don't need any more genetically altered species out there. But here in Iowa, using switchgrass (or better, mixed grass stands) for ethanol production would be better than corn from a soil-holding and water-quality standpoint. In the timber regions of the country, maybe wood products can work. Keep it localized, and implement some conservation measures and it might be a decent way to bridge the gap between where we are today and where we want to be in future.

  MClemens

  On New energy chief's enthusiasm for cellulosic ethanol makes me uncomfortable posted 11 months, 1 week ago 61 Responses

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  Finally...

  ...it appears that one of America's auto companies gets it. If I read this correctly, Chrysler is expected to make electric vehicles available to the public at an affordable price while still producing its standard gas-powered vehicles. It then has the luxury of letting the public decide what it wants to purchase. In my eyes, this is the perfect scenario.

  I often get into debates with an uber-conservative co-worker of mine about hybrid/electric vehicles. I contend that we need to get the public to purchase them and get away from standard gas-powered vehicles - even if it requires government intervention to some degree. The problem (at least where I live in southern Iowa) has always been that hybrids were overly expensive and electric vehicles have yet to be available. He argues that government mandates whether at the consumer or corporate level are evil and result in nothing but "socialism" or a "dictatorship" and claims that markets must be the driving force behind it, regardless of its impacts on the climate (which he still claims is heading for the next ice age but that's beside the point). This Chrysler initiative makes a market-driven transition to electrics possible, and in the face of the soon-to-rise-sky-high fuel prices, very likely.

  I just hope Chrysler sticks to its guns on this one and the others either follow suit or fall flat on their face.

  MClemens

  On CNNMoney reports that electrification is key to Chrysler's bailout pitch posted 11 months, 1 week ago 15 Responses

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  2x4

  I hear ya Dr. X. We have the 2x4 in our hands and could easily wield it on Detroit through the bailout they're begging for. Unfortunately, Bush is still at the wheel and I don't see him using it as anything more than a cane. Let's hope Big-O will be able to start swinging it when he finally gets in office. There is absolutely no reason Detroit shouldn't be jumping ahead in this game. They've been making Hummers and F350's long enough and look where that got them. It's high time to actually manufacture something in this country that is more desirable to the public than a comparable good from China or Japan. If we can't/won't do it than the big-3 should fold. On BYD Auto: China's first mass-produced hybrid car goes on sale posted 11 months, 1 week ago 35 Responses