Comments ac5p has made

  • Other than its utter political impossibility??

    We need solutions for the real world, no?

    The sad fact is that we're going to have to convince a lot of people to get behind the idea of paying a lot more to pollute with carbon.

    For our carbon-levels to drop to where they need to be, the demand for oil is going to have to drop through the floor and the price will go crashing along with it without some popularly supported legislation of some sort affecting the vast majority of the civilized world.On Demand destruction is driving prices down, but is that a good thing? posted 1 year, 3 months ago 12 Responses

  • Worried about the Mercury

    I got a few of these bulbs and I broke a few of them.  One getting it out of the packaging.  One because my one year old knocked down a lamp and one because I was trying to put a lampshade that sits on top of a traditional bulb on one of these bulbs which is not something that a smarter person would have done.  I think I was trying to get them to 'work' where they would not 'work'.  I read the packaging.  I opened a window nearby and aired it out.  I picked up the pieces.  Unfortunately my wife vacuumed one which we read is a big no no and now the pieces from all of them are waiting in a bag outside for a time I can bring them to a special disposal site.  I can't just throw them away because the mercury will get into the groundwater etc.  So I'm not going to use these things until my son gets a little older except in places like ceiling lights.  And every time I read one of these posts about how I should use them I cringe a little because I'm too scared of the mercury.  Or maybe I'm being paranoid?On Please don't use incandescent bulbs for heating posted 1 year, 8 months ago 12 Responses

  • Silly?

    There must be a better way of lowering gasoline consumption than by not building enough infrastructure for people.  How about adding a tax to gasoline?  Then people who really need to drive somewhere can get there without waiting.  In some states private roads are being proposed.  How will that reduce the consumption of energy?On Commuters in Seattle avoid congested roads by driving less posted 2 years, 1 month ago 5 Responses

  • What about Dodd and his tax?

    Isn't that progressive enough?  Or does he not count?On Edwards would auction 100 percent of pollution permits; welcomes Obama to the auction fold posted 2 years, 1 month ago 3 Responses

  • externality camp

    I guess I'm in the camp that says if we price the externalities into the meat (we should price the externalities into everything) the prices will go up, the consumption down, or somehow the industry will clean itself up.  That I can do more than clamor for laws that make my food more expensive is clear - I can reduce my intake of meat in the meantime and tell people why.  Is any meat better than any other for the environment?  It used to be that people ate meat sparingly because it was expensive, now I feel people eat it for every meal almost.On On PETA's latest campaign posted 2 years, 2 months ago 256 Responses

  • You are right

    I think that local multi-issue groups will be more effective at gathering people.  You learn about and support my issue and I'll learn about and support yours.  I think that policy is important, but getting everyone debating about the best policy continually does limit the action.  For example: carbon taxes vs emissions trading - doesn't matter in the grand scheme.  Lets get behind something and act.On It's not that individuals can't do anything about climate -- they just can't do it by themselves posted 2 years, 2 months ago 30 Responses

  • Great Post -- you've hit the nail on the head

    Though individual actions will play an important role as you have said, groups of people need to talk about important issues and come to consensus.  Group action that follows that can be much more powerful than individual action.  Personally I don't feel comfortable in a church setting, and I'm not in a union.  I don't "push" my political views on friends and colleagues- not wanting to put a strain on personal relationships when the upside is really limited.  Writing comments on blogs to like-minded people and clicking away emails to congresspeople makes me feel like I'm doing something, but really I'd like to do more.  Online "community" groups seem too impersonal.On It's not that individuals can't do anything about climate -- they just can't do it by themselves posted 2 years, 2 months ago 30 Responses

  • electricity supply and demand

    In the US there is already not enough production to meet projected demand even a few years out.  Carbon-free electricity generation has not been approved and rolled out in a meaningful way in the US.  Until there is less demand or the roll out of carbon free plants: the existing coal plants, mountaintop removal mining, funded lobby etc will continue.  They will continue to fight new equipment on existing plants because the cost makes those plants less profitable and lets face it, people panic when the lights go out so it gives the plants (and coal lobbyists) more leverage.On 'Clean coal' is an oxymoron posted 2 years, 2 months ago 12 Responses

  • An Assault on Reason

    Gore goes into this some in his book.

    He argues that the emotion-heavy soft touch campaign commercials are able to gain support from voters based on appeals outside of reason.  The goal is not to emulate these commercials, but to have the dialog (needs to be two way) between candidates/issues and the public to be carried out in a different medium.  He argues that the newspapers worked better because it was in print and people could write back.  Radio was not so good.  TV is horrible.  But the internet, and blogs, in particular, are a big step in the right direction.On Learning from masters in other fields: What a concept! posted 2 years, 3 months ago 16 Responses

  • Energy Star not be all end all

    In a lot of situations, Energy Star means performs the top in its class.  When a lot of times getting something smaller helps more.  For instance a smaller fridge saves more than a big one that is energy star.On The WSJ asks and answers posted 2 years, 3 months ago 19 Responses

  • Illinois has too much coal

    For Obama to say the right things about it.  It shows a lack of confidence in himself.On YearlyKos: Obama and coal posted 2 years, 3 months ago 13 Responses

  • That's why mandating efficiency doesn't work

    Because efficiency is only part of the equation.  There's manufacturing and disposal, maintenance, and miles driven.  Efficiency improvements help reduce carbon, they don't solve the problem.On How the Prius stacks up against other cars posted 2 years, 4 months ago 37 Responses

  • a little more complicated

    Than that.

    Anything international is hard, unfortunately.

    Do you picture getting bids on your phone from various companies and then deciding who to sell to?

    Also if your local coal burning power plant can't afford the credits, will the government just end up giving them a loan to keep the lights on?On All the kids are talking about it posted 2 years, 4 months ago 17 Responses

  • I thought coal energy was already stored

    In the coal.  Converting from coal to electricity then to something else and back to electricity in order to trade the ramping up & down of the coal plant for the ramping up & down of this other thing to improve efficiency and reduce pollution sounds good, but what is the proposal again and could it really work?  I guess the real question is whether a carbon-less energy source could be used in a way that matches consumer demand.  You can't ramp up solar when demand rises, you can't even use it after sunset.  Wind has similar problems.  What about nuclear?  What about hydropower?  Coal & gas plants aren't getting shut down until we have something clean that can ramp up to meet demand peaks at a time that is convenient for consumers, not producers.On A shock absorber for the grid to enhance efficiency, reliability, and security posted 2 years, 4 months ago 18 Responses

  • I like this idea

    People who pollute less than the average amount of carbon will get money back, people that use more will pay more.  Businesses will have incentives to use less carbon.  Carbon-Free energy will become more competitive.  Why set up a cap and trade system that can be manipulated (see Europe).  Car efficiency standards are indirect and target only a subsection of our economy.  With the tax, the incentives to buy fuel efficient cars will increase.  I'm surprised that he forsaw such results with such a small change at the pump ($.13)On Very interesting posted 2 years, 4 months ago 9 Responses

  • carbon tax is better than CAFE standards

    Because the carbon is the route of the problem.  If you simply increased efficiency, people might just drive more -- using the same amount of carbon.  A gas tax would incentivize people who drive a lot to get a more efficient car, people who drive less wont be making as much a benefit from switching to a more efficient car.  Also requiring cars to be efficient seems silly.  If people want inefficient cars enough to pay a steep fine, let them, and we'll do great things with the money.On Contrary to what you might have heard posted 2 years, 4 months ago 3 Responses

  • unspoken

    Is that energy supply has to meet energy demand and prices need to stay low.  Doesn't demand curve down when price goes up?  Right now the cost of energy is not directly influencing people's decisions of whether to use something or not and as a consequence we continue to expand production or have blackouts.  Increased efficiency will help but if the price of energy rose and people did have to mentally swipe their credit cards everytime they turned on a light, use would go down; - especially for less important and less efficient uses.  Right now the most dominating reason to buy an energy star light bulb or appliance is saving one's conscience, not one's money.On An oil exec gets the diagnosis right posted 2 years, 5 months ago 15 Responses

  • Not easy to do with deregulated grid

    Thanks for this great post.

    I disagree with your last statement however.  Resources on a deregulated grid can be allocated decently if 1) prices are regulated some and 2) the public makes informed decisions.On On smart grids posted 2 years, 5 months ago 2 Responses

  • morality from a scientist??

    On Hard to believe he's part of the Bush administration! posted 2 years, 5 months ago 24 Responses

  • Incentives

    I wonder if projects for adding bike lanes and improving public transportation could be financed by the carbon trading markets.  Some power plant wants to offset their emissions, their money goes toward improving bike lanes which reduces congestion & drivers and offsets their pollution.On Blue lanes, cage locks, and cyclibraries posted 2 years, 6 months ago 5 Responses

  • Chomsky

    Complains that NAFTA forced Mexican corn production out of business because of US subsidies and also complains that the US is starving the poor because the prices of corn are going up due to ethanol uses.  In the first case they were hurting the corn producers by producing subsidized corn for Mexicans (feeding the poor) and the second for raising those prices.  I suppose the higher prices could help the Mexican corn producers.On He ain't fer it posted 2 years, 6 months ago 3 Responses

  • a moral issue

    Respecting and nurturing Earth - upon whom we all depend, is a moral issue that religious leaders should be championing.  The environment is something that secular social liberals seem to care about deeply as well.  If both groups could rally around these issues instead of arguing bitterly about abortion and homosexuality, think of what could be accomplished politically.On A guest essay posted 2 years, 6 months ago 7 Responses

  • whats wrong with roads?

    In the initial stages of this system, wouldn't the system resemble a train?  Because there wouldn't be a lot of stops, right?  Also: How is it that you would never be required to stop?  If the car in front of you has decided to stop, you'll need to stop as well, right?  I guess there could be multiple lanes and traffic and all that, but at some point wont this system of tracks closely parallel our system of roads?  This is not as convenient as a car.  Are the tracks easier to maintain than roads, even when it snows?  Is the main advantage that you don't have to drive?  If so, why not alter our existing roads enough to have driver less cabs on it?  If the issue is that normal cars pollute too much, why not tax that pollution?  If the issue is congestion, raise fees or increase capacity.  I don't think that the problem with cars and commuting is the roads.On Public transit that would work in Houston posted 3 years ago 29 Responses

  • The conservative message is clear

    Anything that shows a chance of hurting US business interests even 1% is worth fighting to the full extent of our military.  We are protecting the safety of businesses, not citizens, thats why there's no movement on global warming but lots on Iraq.On Conservatives on global warming v. conservatives on terrorism posted 3 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses

  • Air conditioners = bad

    Swamp coolers are better.

    Since the invention of air conditioners there have been a lot more people moving to hotter places and running them all the time.  All that coal burning to keep the ACs on will only make it hotter.  How about solar panels in hot places and people in cool ones?  On Swamp coolers posted 3 years, 4 months ago 9 Responses

  • Economics of change

    Jason,

    A well thought out post.  I think an injection of reality into group of passionate and likeminded thinkers is always a good thing.

    To respond to your list:

    1. Gloom and Doom - this is just silliness.  The amount of pain and suffering that humanity will have to endure if no measures are taken to curb the greenhouse effect are mind-staggering.  Trying to be cheery about it is a little disingenuous.  Besides: Fear is a strong motivator and people should be afraid.  Fearmongering is irresponsible but if you are telling someone to be afraid of something that will likely happen it really the best thing to do.

    2. People want to be warmer - No they don't.  Not like this.  If you are tired of New England winters, move to LA, don't turn the Rainforests to deserts.  Global warming as Al Gore said is a bad name - Climate Crisis is much better.  Start calling it that and get people the right information and they wont be smiling about leaving that sweater off.

    3. Economics - This is an important place for enviros to focus because prices and incentives drive our priorities.  A good solution to the climate crisis will involve good economics.  Examining the tradeoffs is a good idea, but I would not overestimate the costs to make important changes to our energy and transportation industries.  Oftentimes the staggering numbers they quote for change are designed to allow them go about business as usual which is in their best interest financially.

    4. Mitigation vs. Prevention - You are right here, some mitigation will need to happen, but we need to be forward thinking.  The tough sell for enviros is to get people to be forward thinking - in some estimates 100 years forward thinking.  But some people have a tough time caring about what happens well beyond their life spans.  But they need to, and I think this is where the moral stuff comes in.
    On Some inconvenient truths posted 3 years, 4 months ago 24 Responses