Comments racc has made

Actually, resource and energy depletion are perhaps even larger issues for future generations than climate change. Oil and coal are useful resources. We have no right to use all of it up in a little more than 200 years. Climate "solutions" such as carbon sequestering that deplete energy resources even faster are not responsible at all.

No pity for the dealers. They sold and continue to sell products that are destroying the planet, the economy and killing tens of thousands of people a year. They have known this for years and still chose to stay in the business. They have been a big part of the problem and deserve no sympathty.

Both electric and hydrogen cars are disparate measures to try and preserve the status quo. With crumbling highways and bridges, we can't even afford to maintain infrastructure for the current levels of driving much less fund any increase. It is time to bite the bullet and massively invest in real sustainable transportation solutions like high speed rail, mass transit and cycling. In a world of eight billion people, there is no room for cars no matter what they are powered by.

A better place to drive in maybe but not a better place to live in. By making the cost of driving per mile less expensive, this will only encourage people to drive further, creating more sprawl, most congestion and more environmentally destructive road construction. By encouraging sprawl and large housings in remote suburbs, this will actually increase greenhouse gas emissions.

High speed trains, mass transit and electric bicycles are the transportation solutions of the future that will make the world a better place to live in.

This guy is not another Steve Jobs, he is another Henry Ford. Gas powered cars were touted as the environmentally sound alternative to the horse. Look how well Ford's vision turned out. 

Well sure if you take the country as a whole but the density among many corridors does.

Use the Tax to Fund Solutions

It is pretty simply. Implement a carbon or a gas tax and use the revenue to fund alternatives like rapid transit and high-speed so people feel they have a choice to pay the tax or not. The tax should not start until some alternatives are in place in a particular region.

More at:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/2008/12/provide-soluti ...

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

The Clean Coal of the Auto Industry

Ironic how ads for thisisreality,org which exposes the "clean coal" myth are on this page while this article spreads the myth of the "green vehicle". Electric, hybrid and alternate fuel vehicles are the "clean coal" of the automobile industry designed to perpetuate the status quo while the "green" solutions are always just a few years down the road.

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Security

Yeah, another myth from the auto industry. Dark lonely parking lots and parking garages are far more dangerous than transit.

If you are looking for stats, in Vancouver BC, at least, 30% of women take pubic transit to work while only 20% of men do. Men are a lot more emotionally attached to automobiles than women are .

For Canada 8.6% of men use public transit and 5.3% walk to work while 13% of women use public transit and 7.5% walk to work.

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ ...

Clearly, us guys have got to step up to the plate and do our part.

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Increase Funding for Transit Arnie

Now if he would only increase funding to transit rather than trying to cut it. This will reduce emissions now, not five years from now. We need an action hero, not a guy that urges others to take action while refusing to take political leader in his own station.

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Electric Vehicle Myth is the Problem Here

Great post.

This is not the change we need, this is just more of the same. The basic problem is many people are under the misconception that the electric vehicle will save us. This myth is being used as the reason to continue to waste money on highways in spite of the fact that mass use electric vehicles may never be practical or affordable replacement for gas powered vehicles.

The continued construction of highways that is fuelled by promise, fulfilled or other wise will actually increase the usage of gas powered vehicles before, if ever, electric vehicles come into wide spread use. This would be caused by both induced traffic and sprawl caused by road construction and the lack of investment in transit and rail caused by the continued funding of these highways.

More in my blog:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Electric Cars are Oh So Mid 2008

Fortunately, the people are a step or two ahead. They have forgotten all about electric cars which now seem oh so mid 2008. Back when oil prices were high and people still could afford expensive cars by taking out second or third zero percent mortgages on their McMansions. Now $40,000 cars that you have to plug-in don't seem like such a great idea.

At change.gov, people are all over rail and transit, not electric cars.
More at: http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Let Obama Know Rail and Transit Must be the Priori

Hopeful they will get the message.

High speed rail is one of the top ideas on change.gov, Obama's transition site. Show your support at:
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.ape ...

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

A Good Idea

This is how cyclists already ride. It is perfectly safe as long as people look for traffic and stop if needed.

On another cycling note, we need massive investment in cycling paths and cycle tracks to make up for the lack of invesetment over the last 100 years.

change.gov, Obama's site is asking for ideas from people. Check it out and support Billions for Bikes:
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/viewIdea.ape ...

There is also a lot of support for transit and high-speed rail there.

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Not Unsual

Almost all large cities have gone through periods of rapid growth and had to adjust to lower levels of growth or no growth. I'm sure Phoenix will do what these other cities have done.

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Revenue Neutral Doesn't Work Well

That is what was tried here in British Columbia. It did not go over at all well. It is a policy wonk solution that real people just hate. What people do want is solutions. It is a much better idea to use carbon tax revenue to fund improvements such as rail and rapid transit so that people actually have a choice of either paying the tax or using an alternative.

More at: http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

Raise Gas Taxes and Invest in Transit and Rail

So use the gas tax to pay for the massive investment in high-speed rail and rapid transit. Start with a low tax and raise it as the investment in alternatives comes on board.

The worst idea would be to return the money raised by the tax to taxpayers. This was tried in BC with the carbon tax and it failed miserably.

Almost as bad would be paying the little three with stimulus money. There is no evidence that they are viable businesses and can produce fuel efficient vehicles at a reasonable price that people will buy.

High gas taxes with alternatives in place is what has worked in Europe.

It is not about us, it is about everyone. http://www.everyoneforever.org/

The Other Billions

Alexander

Agree with your 2 and 3. We forget there are other people in the world that could use a bit of energy to really improve their lives. Meanwhile, we seem to be focused on how to keep people in cars and suburbs. We need a big head shake.On Old Man Winter declares war on renewable energy posted 11 months ago 33 Responses

Lets do it Right

We need to be careful when anything is done on an industrial scale. To pretend there are not problems is naive. This is why we are in the mess we are in today. Lets take enough care to implement alternative energy right.

Again, massive conservation efforts should be our priority. Regarding transportation, lets focus on rail, rapid transit and cycling instead of electric cars which will only serve to increase the amount of electrical generation capacity we need. Problem with "green" energy is people think they can just keep on consuming and everything will be OK. Beware of the silver bullet. It can misfire.On Old Man Winter declares war on renewable energy posted 11 months ago 33 Responses

Lets do it Right

It actually was a well written piece that brought up valid issues with sustainable energy. Of course these problems can be overcome, but they do need to be dealt with. If we don't, we will end spending billions on systems that don't work that well.

This lets just go do it without thinking it through attitude is the reason why we are in the mess we are today. Remember the automobile was the "environmentally sound" alternative to the horse.

This is why it is critical we concentrate on using less energy so we have more time to do things right. Bush's depression is doing a fine job of that.On Old Man Winter declares war on renewable energy posted 11 months ago 33 Responses

Change Creates Winners and Losers

Bob

"That's not accurate.  GM stated that it would be about _ years before they expected the Volt to produce a profit.  I don't recall the exact number of years, less than five."

Sure, the Volt will  be a drain on GM until 2015 at least. Probably longer given the state of the economy.

You are assuming the transportation solutions are automobiles. In a resource and financial restrained world, that is unlikely.

Apple and Microsoft were not even around 30 years ago. IBM was king. Change creates winners and losers. GM is obviously a loser.

The scale is getting smaller and smaller. Even GM's supporters expect GM to shrink significantly. Who in their right mind is going to invest in a company that keeps getting smaller. Oh, George W. Bush.

A start up is far more likely to be able to generate the investment needed than GM who is burdened by its existing business and old ways of thinking and doing business. With much of the manufacturing outsourced to suppliers, it is not that hard to get into the business these days.On Bush pledges $17.4 billion for auto bailout, with no efficiency requirements posted 11 months, 1 week ago 28 Responses

GM Has Little Chance of Survival

Few experts that do not have vested interests in the industry think GM is a viable business.

It is the difference between pulling a band aid off fast or slow. Slow is just as painful but it takes longer. In this case, the government is wasting billions of dollars to pull it off slow.

By keeping GM alive, the government is helping to prevent innovative American companies from taking its place. Instead, companies in other countries will be the leaders in new transportation solutions. This has already happened with high-speed rail. This will cause jobs to go overseas. This will harm the country and the economy in the long term (probably the short term as well).
On Bush pledges $17.4 billion for auto bailout, with no efficiency requirements posted 11 months, 1 week ago 28 Responses

Worst Possible Action

The worse possible thing to do. This will be Bush's final big mistake and the final nail in the coffin for the US economy. With the problems we face in the world, we can't afford to waste money, time and resources on failing industries.

GM, by first eliminating street cars, then by resisting emissions regulations, then by conning people into buying gas guzzling SUVs have contributed more to environmental destruction than any other organization on the planet.

The better action would have been to provide retraining and extended unemployment benefits for workers while providing loans to new or existing companies willing to develop new transportation solutions that are financially viable.On Bush pledges $17.4 billion for auto bailout, with no efficiency requirements posted 11 months, 1 week ago 28 Responses

Move Forward Instead of Standing Still

Bob

I'm not talking about going back to horses, I'm talking about moving forward instead of standing still.

Switching to batteries is standing still. Kind of like feeding horses oats instead of hay.

Lets figure out better ways of getting around rather than being stuck in expensive, environmentally damaging cars that are getting getting slower and slower all the time due to congestion.

And the car is real freedom. The average person has to work several months to pay for a car. Looks like the billions of dollars the industry spends on advertising has worked quite well.On BYD Auto: China's first mass-produced hybrid car goes on sale posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago 35 Responses

When I was a Boy...

...back in the seventies, my mom didn't have a car. We were not taxied everywhere and some how managed to turn out fine.

Ironic that kids are used as the excuse to continue driving when it is their oil you are burning and their future you are risking through climate change. Time to get some perspective.On BYD Auto: China's first mass-produced hybrid car goes on sale posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago 35 Responses

These are not Affordable

So wages are plummeting, people are paying off debt and jobs are evaporating, yet somehow people can be expected to buy expensive plug-in hybrids.

Even worse, the money will go overseas creating no jobs here. Another fine idea. People, you need to give your head a bit of a shake on this one.

The solution is to build massive amounts of high-speed rail, rapid transit and cycling facilities to stimulate the economy and provide people with cost-effective transportation solutions that are also environmentally friendly.On BYD Auto: China's first mass-produced hybrid car goes on sale posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago 35 Responses

More Bad News

Great. Get people off their bikes and out of transit to sit for hours in traffic. Another bad idea.On BYD Auto: China's first mass-produced hybrid car goes on sale posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago 35 Responses

The Republicans Save the Environment

It may not be intentional but the Republicans have just made the boldest environmental protection decision ever.

GM, by first eliminating street cars, then by resisting emissions regulations, then by conning people into buying gas guzzling SUVs have contributed more to environmental destruction than any other organization on the planet.

The way forward is to provide people with a variety of better transportation choices that have less environmental impact. This includes high-speed rail, rapid transit, cycling and walking as well as building communities that don't force people to walk and cycle.

Instead of wasting money bailing out the failed auto makers, it would be far better to provide loans to new, innovative companies that can provide transportation solutions for the future. Funding should also be provided to help transition auto workers to new jobs.

The world marches on. By desperately hanging on to sunset industries, we will far even further behind other countries.On U.S. auto bailout bill dies in Congress posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago 2 Responses

One or the Other

"If we can save the hummer, we can save America."

Well yes, but they are mutually exclusive. The effort required to save the Hummer will be similar to that required to save America but we don;t have the resources to do both.On Colbert on the Hummer Club posted 11 months, 4 weeks ago 3 Responses

No

Its a perfect time to be building green infrastructure like transit, high-speed rail and cycling facilities. Save cap and trade for when the economy recovers.On Is an economic downturn the perfect time for cap-and-trade? posted 12 months ago 6 Responses

Stop the Bailout

2222

GM has fought tooth and nail against higher fuel efficiency standards destroying not only the environment but the US economy as well. You are right though. GM is well on its way to becoming a very green company by going out of business. Hopefully the government has the courage to not bail GM out.On How my intern stood up to Big Auto posted 1 year ago 13 Responses

Other Companies Create Opportunity

The big three are monolithic non-functional organizations. There is practically no chance they could succeed in any other endeavour.

Some of people working for them may be able to work in other companies creating buses and rail.

Companies come and go. It is time the big three went. This will create opportunities  for other companies to create the transportation solutions of the future.

Trying to save them will only make things worse by delaying the transformation required in our transportation systems and the economy.

By letting them fail, this creates opportunities for the future. Saving them destroys opportunity.On To save themselves, the Big Three should become 'transportmakers' posted 1 year ago 15 Responses

No Auto Bailout

One of the best thing to do now would be to do nothing and let the market take care of the auto industry. On Enviros outline what they'd like Obama to do posted 1 year ago 1 Response

Yes, and No Bailout for the Auto Industry

This would be a much better idea than trying to bailout the auto industry. They fought fuel efficiency standards for years and are now paying the price. It is also their fault that we are bleeding hundreds of billions of dollars a year countries that hate us which has helped lead to the economic collapse.

Investing in transit and rail is a much better way of creating jobs than wasting billions to bail out incompetent automakers.On How investing in transit could save Obama's butt posted 1 year ago 7 Responses

Congrats Seattle

Congrats Seattle on Sound Transit Proposition 1 and on the new prez!

Note that the proposition 2 years ago had light rail and highway expansion and lost. They took the highway expansion out and won!

http://www.everyoneforever.org/
On A green look at election results in Washington state posted 1 year ago 2 Responses

Or Personal Trainer

After his comments at the McCain rally about Obama being skinny, I think Arnie is angling to be Obama's personal trainer.On Schwarzenegger for Obama Energy Secretary? posted 1 year ago 2 Responses

Support High Speed Rail in California

Spending on green projects is a great way to stimulate the economy.

Get your friends in California to vote for proposition 1a, the funding for high speed rail.

This is probably the most important vote in the election. Even more important perhaps than the choice of president. It is critical for both the economy and the environment that the country move away from automobiles and airplanes and to high speed rail and rapid transit. California has a great chance to lead the way.

I was just in Europe and took high speed rail everywhere. It is a great way of getting around. No more being crammed in planes like cattle or suffering through congestion with angry drivers.

Countries around the world including China, Spain, France and even Russia are going for HSR in a big way. China will have 20,000 km of HSR by 2020. We need to catch up before we are even further behind.

More at:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/labels/High%20Speed%20 ...
On McCain adviser, unlike McCain, advocates stimulus spending posted 1 year ago 3 Responses

24 MPG Highway

Get real  jabailo, 24 MPG highway is not green. From their web site, there is no hybrid version. The fuel cell version  is not for sale nor likely ever will be. GM won't last that long. It is all PR and you fell for it. GM does not care about the environment at all. GM has fought higher fuel efficiency standards for years. Now they are paying the price. They deserve to go out of business. On Chrysler puts kibosh on hybrid SUVs posted 1 year ago 4 Responses

We Blew it Ourselves

Our economy has been wreaked by our greed and our overuse of the automobile. We need to drive less and stop sending $700 billion per year to other countries. Driving is both bad for the economy and the environment.

Time to restore our economy through massive investment in high speed rail and rapid transit. This is what the Chinese are already doing.

More at:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/
On China concedes its CO2 emissions have caught up to the U.S. posted 1 year, 1 month ago 3 Responses

Planes and Automobiles Use a Lot of Land

The Denver airport takes up a huge amount of land - enough to build a two lane road from Denver to San Francisco. High speed rail can be built along existing highway and rail corridors.

Extracting the oil to fuel airplanes and cars requires pipelines and roads though wilderness. Then there is the tar sands were a good portion of Alberta is being torn up for fuel for cars and planes.On KQED takes a look at California's high-speed rail ballot measure posted 1 year, 1 month ago 13 Responses

Look at the Big Picture

It is unfortunately that the project will have impact on a wilderness area but that is no reason to reject the whole project. Compared to the environmental impact that highways, airports, the oil industry and the resource extraction used to build automobiles, highways and airplanes, the impact of high speed rail will be rather small. It is critical for the environment and the economy that the US move away from the automobile.

This proposition will be a major step in that direction and will encourage other states to move forward with high speed rail. I encourage everyone to vote for the proposition. If passed, there still maybe opportunities to lessen the impact on Pacheco Pass. No project will ever be perfect. If it is rejected, there will be pressure to expand highways and airports which will likely have more impact on wilderness areas. And again, the more automobiles, the more wilderness that destroyed by mining and the oil industry.On KQED takes a look at California's high-speed rail ballot measure posted 1 year, 1 month ago 13 Responses

Vote Democratic

If you were not already.

I expect there will be a lot more money for transit when Obama is president. Democrats in general are more supportive of transit and are more likely to represent urban areas where transit is more popular.On Some mass-transit agencies hit hard by financial crisis posted 1 year, 1 month ago 4 Responses

Invest in Rail and Transit

Massive investment in rail, rapid transit and cycling are needed. These are transportation solutions that are green, create jobs and provide people with better, more energy efficient transportation solutions.

Much better than overpriced, resource intensive hybrids which only serve to encourage people to drive even more.
On Lawmakers use financial crisis as pretext to screw with climate legislation posted 1 year, 1 month ago 7 Responses

Carbon Taxes are Effective.

Get serious. Higher gas prices are reducing driving and pollution significantly. If there were more viable options included transit and rail, this difference would be even greater. Carbon taxes have proven to be effective in Europe.

Nearly 10 Billion Fewer Miles Driven in May 2008 than May 2007 Seven-Month Decline in Travel Reflected in Highway Trust Fund

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot10208.htm
On A price on carbon will not tackle transportation pollution posted 1 year, 1 month ago 10 Responses

$700 Billion Transportation Rescue Package

What is really needed is a $700 billion transportation rescue package to save the US from its catastrophically expensive, environmentally damaging and economically unsustainable transportation system. Basing a society around the automobile is the biggest mistake the US has ever made. Time for massive investment in high-speed rail and rapid transit.On $13 billion Amtrak bill heads to Bush's desk posted 1 year, 1 month ago 4 Responses

Could be Good Overall Though

It is better time for energy efficiency and conservation though. Also a great time for government investment in rail and mass transit.

It will also slow down development of non-sustainable energy as well.On Credit crunch slows clean energy development posted 1 year, 1 month ago 4 Responses

Plug-ins are Not a Solution

Given the high cost of plug-in hybrids, the adoption rates will be so low that it will not be worth the effort and cost to install outlets in parking lots for the few people that will use them. Given the high initial cost, they will only prove to be economical to people with long commutes. This is probably why they chose to have a longer range on the initial vehicles.

As well, in an uncertain economy where credit is more expensive and harder to get, automobile companies will have a hard time finding the resources to bring plug-ins to the market and consumers will have a hard time buying them.

This is a perfect time for governments to invest in public transit and rail. As a society, we need to stop wasting resources in the vain attempt to continue the automobile age, which never has or never will be sustainable.On Is a 40-mile all-electric range too much? posted 1 year, 1 month ago 20 Responses

Switching from Paper Plates on the Titanic

Currently Mall Warts entire business is fundamentally unsustainable.

Now if they would slice the amount of junk they sell and slice the number of stores that are in the middle of nowhere forcing people to drive to them.On Wal-Mart will slice use of plastic bags posted 1 year, 2 months ago 5 Responses

Time to Invest in Rail and Public Transit

GM sold their financial unit. The credit crunch is making private financing very difficult indeed. The leasing industry is dead due to high cost of credit and the plummeting value of leased SUVs which have lost 50% of their value in the last year. I expect that the Volt, if it is indeed anything more than a PR move, is intended to be a high-priced, high-margin vehicle to replace the SUVs that used to serve that purpose.

In tough economic times when credit is tight for companies and individuals, the focus should be on building high-speed rail, public transit and cycling infrastructure. Not only will this create jobs, it reduces people's transportation costs and keeps more money in local economies. Credit should also be much easier to come by and less expensive for public agencies. Labor is likely also less expensive so the cost of public infrastructure projects will be less than in boom times. It is not like anybody will be building houses for awhile.

GHG emissions fall in tough economic times due to less consumption, reducing the need for techno fixes.On Credit crunch could take shine off efficiency improvements posted 1 year, 2 months ago 6 Responses

Possible Does not Matter

Just because something is possible does not mean it will be ever practical or cost effective on a mass scale

We can send one or two people to the moon but we can't send everyone.

Even photo electric still needs breakthroughs before it can make really any difference on a mass scale.

What we know will work is people using less energy. Lets focus on that rather than miracle cures.On The one clean-tech breakthrough that could lead to a core climate solution: Thermoelectricity posted 1 year, 2 months ago 10 Responses

All PR and Spin

The Volt is only a PR move. GM obviously does not care about the environment at all. The only reason why they are building this thing at all is due to the high cost of gas and to try and greenwash their image.

Don't buy it.On Touting the Volt, GM exec denies anthropogenic climate change posted 1 year, 2 months ago 9 Responses

A Great Idea

A much better idea than drill, drill, drill.

The US is so far behind the rest of the world in public transit. It is time to stop wasting money on highways and hybrids and invest in public transit and railOn Hillary Clinton stumps for public transportation posted 1 year, 2 months ago 2 Responses

Barely 50% in Vancouver Drive to Work

In Vancouver, we are up to 25% of commutes by transit. In fact, just over 56% get to work in cars (51% drive 5% are passengers. By the time the Olympics are over, likely less than 50% will get to work by car.

More in my blog:
http://everyoneforever.org/blogger/2008/08/relentless-mar ...

Most US cities have a lot of catching up to do.On Expanded transit can lead to energy independence posted 1 year, 2 months ago 32 Responses

It is Not About Organizing

Its not about organizing or anything but winning an election. They are just interested in planting ideas in people's minds that they believe will accomplish that goal. It really doesn't matter what is true or not. Better to attach this strategy rather than just defend what they are attacking. This is what the Obama campaign does.On The dynamic behind the GOP's mockery of community organizing posted 1 year, 2 months ago 22 Responses

Slashing Taxes is the Real Problem in Cali

Brittanicus, the strategy of blaming others for your problems is a classic strategy of so called populists. The really problem in good old Cali is the slashing of taxes leaving the state with no money to pay for essential services and infrastructure.

High taxes is merely a marketing strategy created by right wingers to create some kind of relevance for themselves to invent a reason for people to vote for them. Radio talk show hosts are making millions off people like you.

Creating pain, discomfort and anger in people who really have everything they need and then some seems to have worked out rather well for neo cons.

And Brittanicus, for all your "rule of law" bluster, how many times have you driven over the speed limit or broken a traffic law potentially endangering yourself.

I suggest you look inwards for solutions to whatever your anger is and stop blaming  hardworking people without much money. Or at least take up a hobby or drinking or whatever does it for you.On The eco-rundown on Alaska guv Sarah Palin, John McCain's veep pick posted 1 year, 3 months ago 120 Responses

Greenwashing

Since when is a $71,685, 20 mpg, several thousand pound vehicle anywhere close to being sustainable. Please stop the greenwashing. Let GM pay for their own.On GM prepares to roll out Cadillac Escalade Hybrid posted 1 year, 3 months ago 4 Responses

High-Speed Rail is the Way to Go

I was just in Europe enjoying travelling on high-speed rail. St Pancras Station in London is really wonderful. The Eurostar platform is lined with Europe's longest Champaign bar. It is sooo civilized.  

The rest of the world is massively investing in high-speed rail. The US is really being left in the dust. We have crumbling highways and bridges that are only of value in the era of cheap energy and resources, which appears to to be over.

Instead of wasting time and money in vain attempts to find alternative fuels for miserable forms of transportation like flying and driving, we need to invest in better forms of transportation such as high-speed rail and rapid transit.On Obama loves high-speed rail posted 1 year, 3 months ago 16 Responses

Meandering Talk Milk Run

What we need is a complete transformation of the transportation system focusing on high-speed rail and rapid transit. The $300 million McCain is wanting to spend on the battery price is a waste. Obama at least supports rail, transit and cycling while McCain only seems to be interesting in finding more energy to waste in automobiles on our crumbling, congested highways and bridges. The rest of the world has moved on. We need to stop being distracted by electric cars and hybrids and build a transportation system for the 21 century.On McCain talks up plans for the auto industry in Michigan posted 1 year, 4 months ago 4 Responses

High-Speed Rail and Rapid Transit

Another silly plan to desperately try and cling on to the automobile. Instead, there should be massive investment in public transit and high-speed rail. This is what the rest of the world is doing. We are so far behind and we don't even know it. The age of the automobile is over. Why try and protect companies in sunset industries? It does not make economic sense. Let Ford and GM adapt or fade away without giving them a bunch of public money.

The way forward is to create a better transportation system based on rail. People are tired of driving and flying anyway. Why prolong the agony.On Transportation sector lies at the root of U.S. energy problem posted 1 year, 4 months ago 26 Responses

Rail Does not Increase Sprawl

It does encourage people to live further from work but that is not sprawl. With rail, people will tend to live in compact communities near the station were they can walk instead of drive. Probably best not to put large park and ride lots near the stations though.

To be correct, perhaps state that park and ride lots near rail stations create sprawl.

The problem with hybrids and electric cars is that they create the false impression that we can continue to drive everywhere and so we still build highways and parking lots to support automobiles. If we accept the fact that the automobile is not the future, we would stop wasting money on highways and instead create invest in rail and rapid transit.On Plug-in hybrid offers practical solution to peak oil posted 1 year, 4 months ago 14 Responses

How About Massive Funding for High-Speed Rail?

Much better transportation than flying or driving and much better for the environment.On Top Dems in Congress open to possible compromise deal on offshore drilling posted 1 year, 4 months ago 6 Responses

Oops, that is $6,000 to $10,000

Yikes, I didn't do my research. Sorry.

http://www.pnl.gov/news/release.asp?id=204

Since, PHEVs are expected to cost about $6,000 to $10,000 more than existing vehicles - mostly due to the cost of batteries -- researchers evaluated how long it might take owners to break even on fuel costs. Depending on the price of gas and the cost of electricity, estimates range from five to eight years - about the current lifespan of a battery.
On U.S. driving declines posted 1 year, 4 months ago 18 Responses

Also Used in Solar Cell Production

Yikes. If this is true, then producing solar cells might not actually help reduce GHG emissions.

http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/nitrogen-trif ...

Talk about unintended consequences. Again, this shows that conservation is by far the best way of reducing GHG emissions. Technology does not seem to be doing very good so far.On Chemical in flat-screen TVs is worsening climate change posted 1 year, 4 months ago 15 Responses

Gutless John

More like Gutless John unwilling to show some leadership and tell this constituents that their decadent fossil-fuel based lifestyle is over.On Texas Sen. John Cornyn hearts drilling and a good brew posted 1 year, 5 months ago 4 Responses

Too Little Too Late

4.5 million by 2015. Way to little to late. Time to really push real solutions like high-speed rail, rapid transit and cycling.On VW to join Toyota, GM with 2010 plug-in hybrid posted 1 year, 5 months ago 10 Responses

Get a keyboard protector

 Tasermons Partner:

Get a keyboard protector. I have one and it works great. Just google "keyboard protector" and you will find tons.On Compressed air cans are contributing to ozone destruction posted 1 year, 5 months ago 10 Responses

A Great Opportunity

I've just been in Europe and Portland, which supposedly is as good as it gets in the US as far cities its size in accommodating sustainable transportation and land use prices.

Well, even Portland has a long ways to go. European cities are far nicer to visit and I suspect to live in due to the fact that they are not infested with automobiles like American cities. This is a great opportunity for the US to get its act together and catch up with the rest of the world. Hopefully the US will not squander its resources in vain attempts to extend the age of the automobile. It would not be worth it.On Ten million cars off the road, 1970s style GDP growth posted 1 year, 5 months ago 4 Responses

We Have a Lot to Learn

We have a lot to learn from the rest of the world. Sure, Cuba is far from perfect, but lets not be so arrogant to think they don't have anything to offer.We have society that has been completely built around cheap energy and resources. Now that both are gone, we have start over again almost from scratch. We are so far behind the rest of the world. The sad thing is we still don't know it.On The U.S. media discover how food production works without access to cheap oil posted 1 year, 5 months ago 12 Responses

As If We Are Doing any Better

I'd suggest working to stop emissions here before complaining about China. Per capita emissions are what is important and in North America, we are doing far worse than China.On China bank offers draft plan to reduce nation's emissions posted 1 year, 5 months ago 3 Responses

High Speed Rail

Or just get with the program and build a nation-wide network of high-speed rail. I for one am tiring of being crammed aboard these flying cattle cars and taking my shoes off in the insecurity line-ups. High-speed rail is sooo much more civilized. The rest of the world is way ahead. It is time we catch up. Fortunately, it looks as if California is going to take the lead on this one.On As fuel prices rise, airline industry profits plummet posted 1 year, 5 months ago 5 Responses

High Speed Rail

At $6 to $9 billion a piece for nuclear plants for the cost of 30 such beasts we could build a great high-speed rail network across the country providing people with much better transportation and reducing emissions.On The latest sorties in the war over nuclear power posted 1 year, 6 months ago 43 Responses

Lets Work Together

There isn't enough cheap metal in the world for people to be able to own their own cars. Even worse, highways and bridges are crumbling and no one wants to pay for repairs much less new roads  . Due to overuse autoimmobile is getting slower and slower each year while rail is getting faster and faster.

It is time we work together and pool our resources and create great public transit and high-speed rail systems.On U.S. public transit overwhelmed by increased ridership, higher fuel costs posted 1 year, 6 months ago 13 Responses

Don't Forget Life Cycle Analysis

I certainly don't support coal but you are forgetting that all the materials for a solar farm come from somewhere. There is mining involved in the production of these materials. It is always good to see life cycle resource use. Just judging from the picture in the article, there is probably a mountain top somewhere being removed.

It is really important to consider this up front or we'll end up just jumping from one ethanol type mess to another.

This is why conservation is so important. On Nevada Solar one is a better and smaller neighbor than a coal mine posted 1 year, 6 months ago 80 Responses

Low Tar Car

It is more the auto industry that is behaving like tobacco industry. A perfect example of this is their shameless promotion of electric, hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, many of which have marginal if any environmental benefits. Meanwhile, they are continuing to resist regulation to make vehicles more efficient. If they seriously thought that these "solutions" were going to make a difference, they would not be resisting regulation. This is the same strategy the tobacco industry took with low tar and lite cigarettes.

The overuse of the automobile is also one of the major causes of the obesity epidemic that the world is facing. Electric vehicles won't solve that problem either. The continued draining of the coffers of America to pay for oil to run cars is quickly leading to the decline of the American economy but the auto industry does not seem to care in the least.On Suing energy companies for global warming damages posted 1 year, 6 months ago 10 Responses

Low Tar Car

Problem with the Prius is that it creates the illusion that people don't have to "give up their cars, much like "low tar" and "light cigarettes" which created to make people think they did not have to give up smoking.

Rising food, resource and fuel prices will increasingly make automobile ownership too expensive for the average person. Increasing congestion will make driving an even less efficient form of transportation. Meanwhile, improvements to transit, rail and cycling will give people the real transportation choices they need.

The automobile is going the same way as the cigarette. Fewer and fewer people will be using themOn Prius sales top 1 million posted 1 year, 6 months ago 10 Responses

Just Drive Less

There are no really good solutions that will allow people to continue to drive as much as they do today. While plug-in hybrids may seem like a good idea now, there will be enviably be significant problems and unintended consequences. This of course, assuming that there won't be significant shortages of resources needed to produce plug-in hybrids on a large enough scale to make any difference at all. And this is assuming any of this is economically feasible.

An idea is one thing. Making it work on an industrial scale is far more difficult. Times anything by a billion makes it huge.

For example, increased demand for electricity caused by plug-in hybrids will delay the decommissioning of dirty coal-powered plants. It will take long enough to meet our current demand for electricity with renewables.On With food riots raging, let's open the books on the finances of Big Ag posted 1 year, 7 months ago 21 Responses

Just Stop Driving

This is getting just ridiculous.On Three million more acres of industrial corn? posted 1 year, 7 months ago 6 Responses

They Already Are

Most of the people on the planet don't drive and never will. It is just that not many of the most of people are Americans.On Reflective paint and glaze can reduce the need for A/C in your car posted 1 year, 7 months ago 12 Responses

S.F. on verge of $4-per-gallon gas

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/ ...

The age of $4 gasoline has arrived. And it's forcing Bay Area residents to change the way they live.
Sometime in the coming week, San Francisco is expected to become America's first major city to pay an average of $4 for a gallon of regular gas. The citywide average, tracked by the AAA auto club, stood at $3.97 today.
It's the latest milestone in a four-year run-up at the pump, fueled by crude oil prices that have climbed to their highest levels ever.
When gas prices began their current climb in early 2004, the run-up looked more like a nuisance than anything else, costing commuters an extra $5 to $10 per week. Now, the amount drivers pay to fill up has doubled, and it's enough to hurt.
In response, drivers in the Bay Area and elsewhere are re-examining the ways they live, work and shop. Some longtime car commuters have switched to BART, Caltrain or Muni. Others have ditched one of their family cars, traded in their gas-hog for a compact or - in the case of a determined few - said goodbye to the automobile altogether.
They have turned to telecommuting and combining all their weekly errands into a single outing. And the results are measurable.
Gasoline sales in California have fallen for two years in a row, according to state data. Mass transit ridership is rising in the Bay Area, while traffic on the region's toll bridges has shrunk.
"I think the temporary response to the price shock is past," said Rod Diridon, head of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University. "People are beginning to move to different habits now. There are a lot of people looking for a permanent way to cut back on gas."
Cutting back on luxuries

Not everyone can. For those people, escalating prices have forced a different kind of change. They're finding ways to spend less on other parts of the monthly budget.
"It's the luxuries we all have - it's movies, dinners, stuff like that," said Michael Feeley, a landscaper who lives with his wife in Berkeley. "We don't actually sit down and say we've got to cut something out, but we're definitely more frugal."
Feeley used to spend less than $200 per month on gas for his Toyota Tacoma truck, which he uses to haul employees, equipment and supplies to job sites. Now he pays $500.
"When people say everyone's driving a gas-guzzler, well, some of us don't have a choice," Feeley said. "I can't run this business driving a Prius."
Many people, however, do have a choice.
The Bay Area, unlike much of the country, has a well-developed web of mass transit lines, linking cities via bus, ferry, subway and train. Their ridership is booming - particularly on regional systems such as BART and Caltrain that are heavily patronized by commuters.
BART has seen a 6.7 percent increase in the number of passengers through this week compared with the same period a year earlier, said BART spokesman Linton Johnson. Average weekday ridership is at 365,463, with riders taking almost 23,000 more trips on BART each weekday than they did a year earlier.
Bill Buehlman, who lives in San Francisco and works for the city's Homeless Outreach Team, has started relying on BART and Muni to commute and get around town. He estimates he's cut his driving from about 1,000 miles per month to 500 miles.
While Buehlman said he despises the oil companies, he's grateful that soaring gas prices are prompting him and others to reduce the amount they drive.
"I look at it as a gift, a blessing," he said. "The profiteers are giving us the opportunity to make a decision to do something better for our planet, for our community."
Mary Ann Buggs, who lives in Berkeley and works near San Francisco's AT&T Park, switched to BART and Muni after years of driving across the Bay Bridge. So did her husband. But she's a reluctant convert to transit.
"I'm not particularly enjoying it," she said, "because Berkeley to SoMa by the ballpark is expensive (in transit fares) and nowhere near as comfortable as a car ride. But it is cheaper than spending $60 twice a week in gas station excursions."
Buggs and her husband are among a growing number of people avoiding the bridge.
According to the Bay Area Toll Authority, the number of drivers crossing the region's seven state-owned toll bridges this fiscal year has dropped 2 percent compared with the previous year. Six of the bridges have seen falling traffic counts - from a 1 percent decline at the Bay and Dumbarton bridges to 4 percent at the Antioch and Carquinez bridges. Only the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, which received a new three-lane span last fall, has seen an increase in traffic.
While some people rely more on mass transit to avoid high gas prices, others have gotten rid of their least-efficient cars.
For Kim Howard and her husband, Edison Peinado, that meant selling their Jeep Cherokee. The sport utility vehicle got 11 miles per gallon in city driving - not good considering the couple lives north of the Golden Gate Park Panhandle in the middle of San Francisco.
Now Peinado, a pilot with SkyWest Airlines, takes BART to and from the airport when he can. Otherwise, he and Howard must split the use of their one remaining car, a 12-year-old Audi.
It's a juggling act. Howard drives to Campbell for her job as marketing director for the Infonetics tech-industry research firm, but she's able to telecommute much of the time. Peinado gets the car when his return flight to San Francisco arrives too late at night for BART.
"It was more painful in the beginning, but we're getting used to it," Howard said. "It's like most things - you adapt."
She says the change is worth it, both to save money and help the environment. But it's a trade-off, with the couple sacrificing convenience to make it work.
Trying telecommuting

Like Howard, many Bay Area residents have tried telecommuting as gas prices rise.
Barbara Heninger manages a team of technical writers at the Synopsys software firm, with five writers in Sunnyvale and three in India. One of her local employees lives in Santa Cruz and comes to the office once a week. Another, who lives in San Jose, averages three days in the office each week. They work from home the rest of the time.
"This last year or two has been the first when employees cited concerns about the environment and commute costs as some of the reasons for working at home," Heninger said. The arrangement works, she says, as long as telecommuters make a point of communicating regularly with their co-workers.
If gas prices keep rising, she said, she expects more people to try telecommuting. "It will either be that, or people will really start considering how far away they want to live from where they work," said Heninger, who lives in Los Altos. "When I started in the tech industry, it wasn't that unusual to have people commuting here from Danville, because they wanted the big house on the hill."
Still, there remain people who have to drive for work. In some cases, they must drive a lot.
San Francisco cab driver Jorge Perez now spends about $50 per day on gasoline. In addition, he has to pay $100 per day to lease his cab, he said.
"What happens on top of that is what I make for the day," he said. "Sometimes it's difficult to make that much."
It doesn't help that Perez drives a Ford Crown Victoria, which gets about 15 miles per gallon. "They're good cars for the hills of San Francisco," he said, "but they aren't known for their fuel efficiency."
On Let's rebuild our national rail network instead of repealing the gas tax posted 1 year, 7 months ago 31 Responses

Road Projects are a Disaster

Just look at the Big Dig in Boston. $15 billion to bury a few miles of road. Road projects have let to increased automobile use which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, polluted the air and water and caused global warming.

I expect the operating costs of an automobile is now trending upward thanks to high gas prices.

While initial costs of rail are high, a rail line has much more capacity than an road. A lane of highway has a capacity of 2,000 vehicles per direction per hour while a light rail line has  capacity of up to 30,000 vehicles per direction per hour. So while money will needed to be continually spent on highway explanation, a rail line will not need to be expanded.

Just because rail does not work for some people, doesn't mean there are not a lot of people that it does work for. Cars don't work for everyone either.

Just because you were "miserable" with not having a car doesn't mean there are not a lot of people, including myself who are very happy not to have to suffer the misery of driving everywhere. On Let's rebuild our national rail network instead of repealing the gas tax posted 1 year, 7 months ago 31 Responses

Yes

Lets invest in infrastructure like that is not dependent on cheap energy and stop wasting money on roads and cars.On Let's rebuild our national rail network instead of repealing the gas tax posted 1 year, 7 months ago 31 Responses

Agreed

Even further, the ideal of an electric roadster is just silly. Electric cars are more efficient than gas cars at low speed in stop and go traffic. As speed increases, this advantage decreases. Due to the weight associated with batteries, they may even be worse depending on how the electricity was produced.

So...

A roadster which is designed to travel at high speeds on the open road with a technology that is best for stop and go traffic around town. It does't make any sense.

It does seem like a fun toy but just don't pretend it is green.
Let them pay for advertising assuming they are actually wanting to sell a product and not just stock.On Eco-conscious gizmos for the enviro to lust after posted 1 year, 7 months ago 14 Responses

By Selling Less Vehicles?

Given their recent lack of success in the marketplace, likely they will meet this by selling 30% less vehicles. At the rate they are going, they may even reduce their emissions by 100%:)

Assuming that this is not their strategy, wonder why they are not supporting Californian in the battle with the EPA instead of fighting mandated improvements in fuel economy. Likely the answer is that they would rather spend on PR than making real reductions now.On Ford lays out how it will reduce fleet emissions posted 1 year, 7 months ago 3 Responses

Drive Less and Help the Economy

One of the big problem with the US economy is the overuse of oil and gas. Stop driving and sending all that money out of the country and the economy would be in much better shape.On Americans favor conservation and see economically sound opportunities in protection posted 1 year, 8 months ago 3 Responses

Is Driving Really Worth It?

On To survive, producers wanly import feedstock and export fuel posted 1 year, 8 months ago 18 Responses

Obama suports smart growth, mass transit, cycling

From http://www.barackobama.com/issues/pdf/EnvironmentFactShee ...

Build More Livable and Sustainable Communities:
- Reform Federal Transportation Funding: Barack Obama will re-evaluate the transportation funding
process to ensure that smart growth considerations are taken into account and he will also re-commit
federal resources to public mass transportation projects across the country.
- Require States to Plan for Energy Conservation: Barack Obama will require governors and local
leaders in our metropolitan areas to make "energy conservation" a required part of their planning for
the expenditure of federal transportation funds.On The WaPo reveals why mass transit gets the shaft on the national level posted 1 year, 8 months ago 12 Responses

Transit Success in Vancouver

Burnaby, BC (just east of Vancouver) proves the success of rail in decreasing the use of private vehicles. 20 years ago, Burnaby was a low density suburb of Vancouver where very few people used transit. Now, there two SkyTrain lines through Burnaby and much improved transit service. High density developments have sprung up all around SkyTrain stations.

According to the census, in 1996, 13,415 or 16.8% of people commuted to work by transit. In 2006, this increased to 23,445 or 25% of people, an increase of 10,030. The percentage of people driving by themselves decreased from 64% to 57%. The number of people using transit would have been even higher if it were not for a lack of trains and buses. During rush hour, many trains and buses are filled to capacity.

There are hundreds of units of housing currently being built around SkyTrain stations. More trains will start arriving in 2009. With high gas prices, the number of people using transit will only increase while the number of people driving will continue to fall in Burnaby and throughout Metro Vancouver.

I do feel sorry for cities that have over built highways and bridges that are useless in a future of expensive energy. Time to stop wasting money on roads and cars and invest in rapid transit, rail and buses. This is what the rest of the world is doing. The US needs to act fast or it will even be further behind.  On Defying conventional wisdom, NC residents express desire for public transport posted 1 year, 8 months ago 27 Responses

Bring Down Our Per Capita Emissions

I suggest we focus on per capita emissions, which in China are around 3 to 4 tons per person as opposed to around 20 for the US.

Even better, focus on lifetime per capita emissions.

We must bring ours down to 3 or 4 tons to set a good example and because it is the right thing to do. We have created the problem with our emissions, it is only fair.On Projected CO2 emissions dwarf previous expectations posted 1 year, 8 months ago 15 Responses

Most of It is Useless Anyway

Most of the transportation infrastructure in the US is dependant on cheap energy anyway. Time to stop wasting money on roads and highways and start investing in high-speed rail and rapid transit. The US is way behind the rest of the world and is falling further behind all the time.On Climate change has it out for transportation infrastructure, says report posted 1 year, 8 months ago 3 Responses

We Will Consume Less

We don't have much of a choice but to consume less. With the cost of both energy and food rising dramatically, people will have less money to  buy other stuff with.

China is doing far better than us on many fronts. They are dramatically expanding high-speed rail and rapid transit. The US is far behind and getting further behind everyday with useless infrastructure that is dependent on cheap energy.On Solar-panel manufacturers dumping toxic waste in China posted 1 year, 8 months ago 8 Responses

Some Crumbs for Transit

There is funding for transit but not nearly enough. Quite a disappointing budget all in all.On New Canadian budget supports dirty energy industries, disses renewables posted 1 year, 9 months ago 1 Response

Sharing is Much Better Than Owning

Car sharing really works pretty well. It makes people think before using it and it also makes people pay the full cost of a trip including maintenance, depreciation and insurance. If people own a car, it is simply way to easy to use it all the time and since the fixed costs of owning and operating a car are much larger than the operating costs, people have little financial incentive once they own a car, to use it less.

People can also choose the type of vehicle that is appropriate for the trip. If they are carrying a lot of people or transporting bulky items, they can use a van or SUV. IF they are driving by themselves, they can use a small fuel efficient car.

Sharing a car between 5 and 10 is sustainable. Everyone owning their own car is not.

We have 2 car sharing firms in Vancouver and it works well.On Enterprise and other rental companies move into car-share market posted 1 year, 9 months ago 6 Responses

Arnie Supports Highways not Transit and Rail

Arnie cut funds for public transit and has been really reluctant to support high-speed rail. He would rather see highways receive funding than  high-speed rail. Not very green if you ask me.

Ken Livingston would have been a better choice for the top.On 15 Green Politicians posted 1 year, 9 months ago 34 Responses

Great Idea

Thanks for reporting on this Grist.

RichardOn Focus the Nation events aim for interactivity, accountability posted 1 year, 10 months ago 2 Responses

Driving More is a Problem

More people driving 20 miles a day instead of 10 miles a day is a problem. It doesn't have to be a large country for people to drive more.

As mentioned above, it is the light rail that is the real good news.

Automobiles require too much land for parking and roads. The cost for even maintaining current roads and bridges, much less the road space required if people drive more is getting prohibitively expense. The ghg emissions required to build road and parking infrastructure is significant as well. Do full life cycling accounting on the the whole transportation system including the infrastructure and the vehicles and I'm sure you will find that electrical vehicles make very little difference.On Israel to build national electric car infrastructure posted 1 year, 10 months ago 14 Responses

Transit and Cycling are a Great Combo

John

I certainly agree with you about cycling but the Segway, come on, no one is using them.

Regarding transit, I suggest getting out of the US every once and a while. Cities all over the would are investing massive amounts in rapid transit. In Hong Kong, everyone uses public transit. The key is making public transit really convenient. Problem with the US is that they have spent the last 100 years making it really easy to drive and not easy to do anything else, so it is not surprising that everyone is forced to drive.

Actually, cycling and rapid transit make a great combination. In Japan and Germany, they have massive bicycle parking facilities with thousands of bikes by train stations. San Fran just opened up a bicycle parking station.

North America is way behind the rest of the world. We need to catch up really quick.

RichardOn New transportation proposals to ease energy dependence posted 1 year, 10 months ago 9 Responses

How about some rail and transit coverage?

The breathless coverage of every supposed advance in automobile technology is getting really tiresome. The personal automobile is not a solution in a world of 6 billion people even with hybrid plug-in technology.

Why not focus on 21st century solutions like transit and rail news?

Here are a couple of items in the news today.

Sales tax hike could fund subway to sea
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-subway11jan11,0,2 ...

China plans $41bn rail upgrade
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section ...On Watch CBS this Saturday for breaking electric-car news posted 1 year, 10 months ago 14 Responses

How about More Transit and Rail Good News Stories

Not the greatest news in the world but the real story is how people in the US still think they can continue to drive everywhere all the time in spite of coming resource shortages and high fuel prices.

How about some reporting on the massive expansion of rapid transit and rail that is happening in India and China?

The US is continuing to fall further behind in the construction of infrastructure that is not carbon and fossil fuel intensive. If action is not taken soon, the US economy and standard of living is at severe risk. At a minimum, highway construction should be frozen and the funds diverted rapid transit and rail. This is what France has just done under a conservative president.On Indian car company to sell world's cheapest car posted 1 year, 11 months ago 4 Responses

We Need Solutions that Work on a Global Scale

"A distributed renewable generation and storage internet enabled smart grid that charges plugin hybrid vehicles, and conservation involving cogeneration and geo heat exchange heating/cooling.  That's the latest wrinkle.  Maybe you hadn't heard?"

This will take a massive amount of resources to implement on a scale large enough to make a difference. If you do the research, I expect that you will find that there will be massive shortages of the raw materials needed to make your scenario possible. And don't forget, resource extraction is often very damaging to the environment and requires vast amounts of energy. Countries also tend to go to war to project resource supplies.

Remember that we have to find solutions that are sustainable not just for North America, but all 6 billion people on the world.

This requires solutions that are not resource intensive. Unfortunately, this is not possible for automobiles regardless of what they are powered with.

Again, transit, rail and cycling are the transportation solutions that will work.
On New developments in solar power make 'clean coal' look even dumber posted 1 year, 11 months ago 35 Responses

The Solar Age Will Not End....

...because we run out of sun.

I am starting to feel that Grist is just a slightly green version of Popular Science, breathless touting every technological advance without a shred of analysis.

The age of solar may end before it ever really stated because we run out of precious metals such as gallium and indium it takes to build solar cells long before there are enough of these things are made to ever make a difference. At any rate, they are likely to cost a lot more than this article implies.

Anyway, even if there is enough, mountains all around the world will have to be torn up looking for the materials to make these solar cells. Not sure if this is "better or worse" than coal but it is worth finding out before one gets all excited about these solar cells.

Conservation is the only real option.

From:
http://www.science.org.au/nova/newscientist/027ns_005.htm ...

"Armin Reller, a materials chemist at the University of Augsburg in Germany, and his colleagues are among the few groups who have been investigating the problem. He estimates that we have, at best, 10 years before we run out of indium. Its impending scarcity could already be reflected in its price: in January 2003 the metal sold for around $60 per kilogram; by August 2006 the price had shot up to over $1000 per kilogram.

Uncertainties like this pose far-reaching questions. In particular, they call into doubt dreams that the planet might one day provide all its citizens with the sort of lifestyle now enjoyed in the west. A handful of geologists around the world have calculated the costs of new technologies in terms of the materials they use and the implications of their spreading to the developing world. All agree that the planet's booming population and rising standards of living are set to put unprecedented demands on the materials that only Earth itself can provide. Limitations on how much of these materials is available could even mean that some technologies are not worth pursuing long term.

Take the metal gallium, which along with indium is used to make indium gallium arsenide. This is the semiconducting material at the heart of a new generation of solar cells that promise to be up to twice as efficient as conventional designs. Reserves of both metals are disputed, but in a recent report René Kleijn, a chemist at Leiden University in the Netherlands, concludes that current reserves "would not allow a substantial contribution of these cells" to the future supply of solar electricity. He estimates gallium and indium will probably contribute to less than 1 per cent of all future solar cells - a limitation imposed purely by a lack of raw material."On New developments in solar power make 'clean coal' look even dumber posted 1 year, 11 months ago 35 Responses

Mass Transit and Cycling are the Future

Unfortunately fuel efficiency gains are typically negated by increases in vehicle size and distance driven.

Don't forget the huge environmental footprint of vehicle and battery production. With massive growth in China, we are reaching peak cheap everything, so don't expect the average person will be able to afforded a car for much longer over here.

Also, it is simply too expensive to build the roadspace required for increased automobile. Mass transit, cycling and high-speed rail are the future, not electric cars.

Check out the latest Popular Mechanics:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation ...On House Democrats agree to raise auto fuel economy to 35 mpg posted 1 year, 12 months ago 17 Responses

People Drive Further Too

Just as bad, the more efficient vehicles are, the further people drive which leads to sprawl. Likely, the first people to get hybrids, besides people that want to appear green, are people with long commutes. This allows them to continue to drive far instead of moving closer to work.On Energy efficiency just leaves more money to squander, says study posted 1 year, 12 months ago 9 Responses

Peak Transportation

Billhook

You hit the nail on the head. We are pretty much at peak everything especially if we want at least some of the natural world preserved.

RichardOn Full-cell company bought by Daimler and Ford posted 2 years ago 55 Responses

Dreams of Battery Powered Cars Go Down in Flames

As I suspected, one of the main problems will be finding enough materials to make the batteries, to power enough electric cars to make a difference, at a reasonable cost, or at all for that matter.

Lithium seems to be the worse off:
http://www.meridian-int-res.com/Projects/EVRsrch.htm

Nickel is not far behind:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=a ...

Zinc is making some noises:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/zinc-supplies-quiet ...

Beyond the batteries, we just don't have the materials available for even a quarter of the people on the planet to own a car.

Richard
On Full-cell company bought by Daimler and Ford posted 2 years ago 55 Responses

Don't Forget the Materials and Roads

Everyone here seems to think that everything used to make a car just seems to appear. Well it doesn't. Extracting, refining and transporting materials to build, operate, maintain and power 6 billion cars would devastate the planet.

Then there is the roads, bridges and parking lots needed for vehicles. It just is not sustainable. Move on. Its over.On Full-cell company bought by Daimler and Ford posted 2 years ago 55 Responses

Its All PR

Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, bio-fuels, electric etc. are all really just part of the propaganda campaign from the automobile industry to try and convince people that there is a future for the automobile. Just see all the commercials touting hydrogen and electric cars that they are "working on" that you can't buy.

The green car is simply a carrot hung in front of people so they continue to drive their polluting cars with the illusion someday they will be able to drive a car that does not harm the environment. Unfortunately that day never comes. The last 40 years is clear evidence of that. It is time to say enough is enough and provide people with great transit and cycling facilities. The automobile industry has had its chance and blown it.

We won't get fooled again!!!
On Full-cell company bought by Daimler and Ford posted 2 years ago 55 Responses

Just PR

Unfortunately hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, bio-fuels etc. are all really just part of the propaganda campaign from the automobile industry to try and convince people that there is a future for the automobile. The green car is simply a carrot hung in front of people so they continue to drive their polluting cars with the illusion someday they will be able to drive a car that does not harm the environment. Unfortunately that day never comes. The last 40 years is clear evidence of that. It is time to say enough is enough and provide people with great transit and cycling facilities. The automobile industry has had its chance and blown it.

We won't get fooled again.
On Big Auto unveils efficient cars, continues to fight against strict efficiency standards posted 2 years ago 7 Responses

Electric Cars arn't Green and Never Will Be

What is this, Car and Driver? Cars aren't and never will be green. There is simply no way 6 billion people can own and drive a car without severe environmentally impact even if they run off electricity. The age of the automobile is over. Get used to it.

It is disturbing that Grist continues to promote the green car fantasy.

RichardOn Plug-in sports car to hit showrooms in 2010 posted 2 years ago 10 Responses

Need $50 billion a year for Public Transit

?$1.5 billion a year for public transit is a joke. In British Columbia, with a population of 4 million, the opposition is talking about $1 billion per year. In the US, it should be $50 billion per year for 5 or 10 years. Now that would make a difference.

The $1 billion for inter-city rail is a larger joke if it is a one-time expenditure. A nation-wide high-speed rail network is needed.

A large part of the problem was created by massive federal expenditures on the interstate highway systems. Massive federal expenditures on transit and high-speed rail is required to solve climate change and create a better transportation system.On The full text of Clinton's plan posted 2 years ago 18 Responses

Driving Much Less is Much Simplier

There is no debate that driving much less will reduce GHG emissions and have a host of other environmental, social and economic benefits. Even better, it can be done right now. No research is needed. Just drive less. It is that simple.On Automakers debate skipping directly to full-electric cars posted 2 years, 1 month ago 18 Responses

Autoconvoy WIll Lead to More Sprawl

Autoconvoy doesn't help with city driving which is less fuel efficient. Even worse, it will probably just encourage people to commute longer distances thus negating any efficiency gains and encouraging even worse urban sprawl.

I really find such techo fixes puzzling. They don't take into account the effect they will have on human behaviour.

RichardOn Envisioning possible green futures helps create a greener future posted 2 years, 1 month ago 1 Response

Missing the Point

This is like asking the question "Which side of the Titanic was it best to sink on?"

Neither forms of long distance travel are sustainable. We all need dramatically reduce the use of both planes and automobiles.

A great high-speed rail system would be much better than both planes and automobiles.On Umbra on planes and cars posted 2 years, 1 month ago 8 Responses

Automobiles aren't the Most Used Form of Transport

John:

Automobiles are not by far the most used "transportation system" in the world. More people bicycle, walk and use public transit than will ever be able to drive. There are over 6 billion people on the planet and around 800 million automobiles. There is simply not enough steel, plastic and oil on this planet for everyone to drive.

We have to stop thinking we in North America are the center of the world and we somehow are entitled to drive consuming resources that others in the world and future generations will require to have a good standard of living.

Everyone, liberal and conservative refers public transit as transit. I have never seen a conservative try and refer to the automobile as transit.

Richard
On The RTID package doesn't give Seattle voters a fair choice posted 2 years, 1 month ago 14 Responses

Show Leadership by Cycling and Using Transit

The only thing that this type of list does is promote the myth that people can keep on driving everywhere.

With 6 billion and counting people on the planet, we are all in serious trouble if everyone drove as much as North Americans. The car companies are tripping over themselves to produce $2,500 cars for people in China and India. Even if these things are very fuel efficient, the shear number of them will dwarf any gains in fuel efficiency by so called "green cars' over here. Just the production of these cars will greatly increase GHG emissions.

We must show leadership by proving that people in the so called "developed world" can live great lives by not driving.

The other issue is that increased fuel efficiency reduces the cost of driving encouraging people to drive more thus partially negating the improvement in fuel efficiency and increasing congestion.

Lets spend our limited resources improving transit and cycling facilities instead of wasting money on hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and highways.On 15 Green Cars posted 2 years, 2 months ago 27 Responses

How About Creating Great Festivals at Home

It is totally pointless. How about trying to create great community festivals at home instead?

Burning Man is just a temporary Disneyland for those too cool and self-absorbed for Disneyland.On Is Burning Man living up to its Green Man intentions? posted 2 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses

Hyrbrids Use More Engery in Free-flowing Traffic

The argument that free-flowing traffic leads to a reduction in GHG emissions is weak at best. More likely, people will drive further as they can go further in a a given amount of time.

Even worse, many hybrids actually get worse gas mileage at highway speeds than conventional vehicles. Hybrids are ideal though for stop and go traffic. So, as people get more and more hybrids, drivers should be encouraged to travel slower to save fuel and thus roads should not be expanded.On Seattle enviros face a Hobson's choice in November posted 2 years, 3 months ago 17 Responses

The Highlander is a Gas Pig

Really, a smaller car would have been a much better choice. Or even better, a bicycle.

Given the scale of climate change, getting a hybrid or a more efficient car is simply not going to cut it. Sure it will help a bit over here but, if we are to show any leadership to the rest of the world, we must do a lot better. Currently most people in the world are doing the right thing. They are walking cycling and using public transit. It may not be by choice, but at least they are. If even a fraction of the people in China and India own cars even if they are hybrids, we are all in a lot of trouble. Just the energy used to manufacture them will cause major increases in GHG emissions.

It is really hypercritically to expect China and India, where people have very little, to not increase GHG emissions while we are all driving around in cars to our big houses and malls.

Instead of buying a hybrid, get a bike or use public transit. Take the money you save and lobby politicians to fund better public transit and bike paths. Show some leadership.On Enter a climate video contest, win a Toyota hybrid posted 2 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses

How about "Living a Lot Better" Instead

You make it sound like everything is wonderful except for a few pesky problems like climate change and peak oil and that consuming less energy is somehow a great sacrifice.

Our overuse of energy has lead to a host of other problems like congestion, air pollution, loss of greenspace, obesity, miners trapped a mile below the earth, suburbs with acres of parking lots, ect...

Solutions such as more rail, buses, better cycling facilities built around compact walkable communities will lead to better, heather more enjoyable lives for many people. Time to create a new American Dream with a future instead of trying "Making do without".On Substitution isn't the solution to peak oil posted 2 years, 3 months ago 17 Responses

At Least He Mentioned LRT and Bullet Trains

Modes of transportation such as rail and buses are proven solutions that use less energy used by hundreds of millions of people per day around the world.

His personal actions leave much to be desired. Unfortunately the hybrid Ford Escape gets no better highway gas mileage than some of the conventional models. Supposedly the total life-cycle (production, use and recycling) energy use of even the darling Prius is no better than a convention SUV. Seems like producing and recycling those batteries takes quite a bit of effort. Don't even get me started on the E85 pickup.

He should really be driving a really small car or even better riding a bike.

The bottom line is that people can't keep on driving big SUV's. Their production uses way to many resources.On An interview with Bill Richardson about his presidential platform on energy and the environment posted 2 years, 3 months ago 7 Responses