<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Renewables industry protests weak RES proposals in Congress]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by solargroupies http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/ Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:32:48 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/1 It's easy to become frustrated with Congress since they are moving so slowly on renewable energy legislation, fuel efficiency standards and other obviously needed environmental policies. However, there is a solution to the foot-dragging of the climate deniers and luddites in Congress. We simply need to pay them higher campaign contributions than the corporate special interests are paying them! Our policy-makers' decisions all come down to their ethics and their ethics come down to money! Read more at http://digg.com/d1sngj?t

]]> It's easy to become frustrated with Congress since they are moving so slowly on renewable energy legislation, fuel efficiency standards and other obviously needed environmental policies. However, there is a solution to the foot-dragging of the climate deniers and luddites in Congress. We simply need to pay them higher campaign contributions than the corporate special interests are paying them! Our policy-makers' decisions all come down to their ethics and their ethics come down to money! Read more at http://digg.com/d1sngj?t

]]> Comment #2 by EnviroFan http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/ Sun, 07 Jun 2009 06:57:06 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/2 I think the emphasis on efficiency needs to be bolstered in the legislation.  If we're serious about fighting climate change with legislation, that's the first and best place to start.  I was a bit happy that Waxman allowed efficiency to take up the slack, but I still think that it should playing first chair and not second here.  I don't disagree with the benchmarks the renewable sector is proposing, but allow those to be met by a combination of renewable and efficiency investments.

]]> I think the emphasis on efficiency needs to be bolstered in the legislation.  If we're serious about fighting climate change with legislation, that's the first and best place to start.  I was a bit happy that Waxman allowed efficiency to take up the slack, but I still think that it should playing first chair and not second here.  I don't disagree with the benchmarks the renewable sector is proposing, but allow those to be met by a combination of renewable and efficiency investments.

]]> Comment #3 by Devon http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/ Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:42:13 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/3 The provision in ACES that allows for a significant portion of the RES to be met by increasing energy efficiency is seriously misguided.  Energy efficiency is something that should be encouraged, but should be promoted alongside, not in lieu of, increasing renewable energy generation.  Energy efficiency investments should be happening anyway, as they are likely to result in long-term energy cost reductions for businesses and homeowners far into the future.  But people tend to prop up energy efficiency as a major part of the solution to the global energy challenge.  The truth is that even if we start using energy more efficiently, global energy use will still double or triple over the same time period by which we need to cut global carbon emissions in half. 

A number of independent analyses, including by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and The Breakthrough Institute, have shown that the RES provision in Waxman-Markey has been so watered down that it is unlikely to lead to any significant additional increase in renewable generation over the next 20 years.  This is a shame.  A significant and relevant RES is critical, as it guarantees the market share that renewable energy so desperately needs in this country.  A strong RES combined with the federal and state incentives that already exist for solar and wind would go a long way in scaling up the development and deployment of clean energy technologies in the U.S.--something that is vital if we are to actually follow through on the commitment to creating the clean energy economy that President Obama promised to invest in during the campaign. 

]]> The provision in ACES that allows for a significant portion of the RES to be met by increasing energy efficiency is seriously misguided.  Energy efficiency is something that should be encouraged, but should be promoted alongside, not in lieu of, increasing renewable energy generation.  Energy efficiency investments should be happening anyway, as they are likely to result in long-term energy cost reductions for businesses and homeowners far into the future.  But people tend to prop up energy efficiency as a major part of the solution to the global energy challenge.  The truth is that even if we start using energy more efficiently, global energy use will still double or triple over the same time period by which we need to cut global carbon emissions in half. 

A number of independent analyses, including by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and The Breakthrough Institute, have shown that the RES provision in Waxman-Markey has been so watered down that it is unlikely to lead to any significant additional increase in renewable generation over the next 20 years.  This is a shame.  A significant and relevant RES is critical, as it guarantees the market share that renewable energy so desperately needs in this country.  A strong RES combined with the federal and state incentives that already exist for solar and wind would go a long way in scaling up the development and deployment of clean energy technologies in the U.S.--something that is vital if we are to actually follow through on the commitment to creating the clean energy economy that President Obama promised to invest in during the campaign. 

]]> Comment #4 by rebecca688 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:01:52 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/4 Hi solargroupies!!!

your comments are admire able. I fully conveinced and agree with you.

thank

]]> Hi solargroupies!!!

your comments are admire able. I fully conveinced and agree with you.

thank

]]> Comment #5 by EnviroFan http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:30:44 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-06-renewable-biz-protests-RES/5 I agree that a strong RES is necessary, but within a national context, efficiency is still largely untapped.  There are many non-technical barriers which keep companies from adopting the most efficient processes which would lower their bottom line.  The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance has done research that has shown that there are enough gains to be made from efficiency in the Southeast to eliminate the need to develop new sources of electricity for at least a decade.  The reason it is continually propped up is that it's the cheapest, cleanest "source" of electricity available.  It's also going to be the best way to get Southern legislators to vote for a bill.

Globally, I have no idea how much can be gained from efficiency, but since this is a national policy, it needs to be looked at nationally.  Read some of Casten's (Tom or Sean) information about his own technologies and solutions and how much those can improve efficiency - there's an incredible amount that can be and should be done in this area.  Renewables are important, incredibly so, but efficiency needs the boost first.  What pollutes less than the energy you don't use?

]]> I agree that a strong RES is necessary, but within a national context, efficiency is still largely untapped.  There are many non-technical barriers which keep companies from adopting the most efficient processes which would lower their bottom line.  The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance has done research that has shown that there are enough gains to be made from efficiency in the Southeast to eliminate the need to develop new sources of electricity for at least a decade.  The reason it is continually propped up is that it's the cheapest, cleanest "source" of electricity available.  It's also going to be the best way to get Southern legislators to vote for a bill.

Globally, I have no idea how much can be gained from efficiency, but since this is a national policy, it needs to be looked at nationally.  Read some of Casten's (Tom or Sean) information about his own technologies and solutions and how much those can improve efficiency - there's an incredible amount that can be and should be done in this area.  Renewables are important, incredibly so, but efficiency needs the boost first.  What pollutes less than the energy you don't use?

]]>