ENN's readers rose enthusiastially to the challenge posed by our publisher, Jerry Kay early in the week. In an article we published on Tuesday, Jerry wrote, "If you could have written our national energy legislation what would you have included?" The ideas keep rolling in; here are some of the latest. Please add your thoughts to the mix!
ENN's readers rose enthusiastially to the challenge posed by our publisher, Jerry Kay early in the week. In an article we published on Tuesday, Jerry wrote, "If you could have written our national energy legislation what would you have included?" The ideas keep rolling in; here are some of the latest. Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
Less nuclear power incentives. Less fossil fuels incentives. More renewable energy incentives. More auto manufacturers insuring tax breaks for consumers of hybrids.
- M. Grose
I would have mandated that every new building, whether commercial office space, residential, institutional, educational, research laboratory, museum or concert hall, must be constructed according to "green" standards. These include "green roof design," fewer and smaller north facing windows, more recycled and sustainable building materials, windows and skylights that capture light in the winter and reduce heat absorption in the summer. These standards would apply nationwide to every building requiring a permit for construction after January 1, 2007. No exceptions!
- L. Schiller
My energy bill would map areas of federal land that would never have an exploratory well drilled. My energy bill would prohibit any and all offshore oil wells and would prohibit all oil tankers from shipping oil from existing wells in water that is less than 500 feet deep at any spot. I would immediately rescind the insane multi-billion dollar tax breaks Bush wants to give the oil companies for "business as usual." And, I would motivate people who live in cities to ride bicycles and drive very efficient solar-powered electric golf carts. The transportation system of each city would be changed to provide a lane for these vehicles.
- D. Zay
The origin of the SUV was from the auto makers being cynical about mpg requirements. With light trucks exempted at the time (a gift to the farmer?) the industry went to work building and marketing a solution (the SUV) to end run environmental regulations. Another example of American companies selling both the problem and the solution to the American consumer. (When was the last time the typical SUV owner used that little 4X4 button?) The energy bill should have mpg ratings for every vehicle (snowmobiles too). Make the ratings high. More incentives for hybrid 1st time purchasers. Hybrids are about $2000-3000 over a comparable sedan. The energy savings in vehicles not running engines at stop lights would be massive. Invest in fuel cell technology. We can’t drill ourselves out this problem. All urban areas need to have effective mass transit. People whining about subsidizing mass transit are fooling themselves if they think our highway system is free.
- D. Artley
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Seriously now, scrap all uneconomical vehicles like SUVs, and set a fuel efficiency limit that all cars must meet, already in force in the intelligent world. Tax fuel in the US the same as it is in most developed countries (that alone would make quite a difference), it should really be the same the world over. Now take that tax money and invest it in setting up alternate sources of renewable energy, ie solar, wind etc.
- S. Age
So what would you include in the energy bill? Please jot down a few thoughts in an email addressed to ENN's publisher, Jerry Kay, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
