Our next president might not have an Energy Czar

[Xringer]

Heck, he/she might not have any Czars..

If the voting next week goes as predicted in the polls, we might be
seeing a major change in the amount of money allocated to Green endeavors.

If government spending is to be cut, things like buying car companies
and subsidizing Green energy could be amongst the first items to go.

I for one, will be happy to see the end of the ethanol racket..

[Patrick]

You mean Obama's gonna fire all his Czars?

[Clev]

Originally Posted by Xringer

Heck, he/she might not have any Czars..

If the voting next week goes as predicted in the polls, we might be
seeing a major change in the amount of money allocated to Green endeavors.

If government spending is to be cut, things like buying car companies
and subsidizing Green energy could be amongst the first items to go.

I for one, will be happy to see the end of the ethanol racket..

Too bad the ones who actually bailed out GM (and who created TARP, for that matter) are the ones now using it as an example of poor government spending choices in a bid to try to take the election so they can continue to make poor spending choices.

[Ryland]

Personally I like that I'm getting help to make my home more efficient I'll then have more money in my pocket forever! instead of tossing it in the bottomless pit of utility bills.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by Ryland

Personally I like that I'm getting help to make my home more efficient I'll then have more money in my pocket forever! instead of tossing it in the bottomless pit of utility bills.

It might be a wash, whoever is in control..

From what I've heard about the Cap-n-tax bill, our cost for energy might really take off.
I don't think we'll end up eating canned dog food to survive, but it might not be much fun for old folks on a fixed income.


And if the conservatives take over, it's a given, they aren't going to help anyone pay for their PV installation.

If the conservatives win big on Tuesday, it might be a real good time to
go ahead and get that PV installed..

[Patrick]

I thought PV wasn't cost-effective until it got down to $1/watt. Will a Conservative win reduce the price?

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by Xringer

Cap-n-tax

You wouldn't support a tax on fossil fuel consumption, which would provide an incentive to conserve and innovate? A carbon tax of gradually increasing magnitude is exactly what we need to wean ourselves off the stuff before it runs out with minimum disruption to society and the economy.

Soften the blow by using it to fund subsidies, rebates, or deficit reduction if you like. You're going to get taxed, it's just a matter of where and when.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by Patrick

I thought PV wasn't cost-effective until it got down to $1/watt. Will a Conservative win reduce the price?

I saw that $1/watt in a government research paper about using PV for domestic hot water.


If someone pulls the government out of the solar business, it might lead to lower PV prices.

Just think about it. If you were selling a product for $5 bucks a pound,
and suddenly the government promised your customers a $3 refund per pound..

Wouldn't you start thinking about a price hike?? Get in on some of that 'free' cash??

Maybe having solar installed is over-priced, because of the gov rebates & tax breaks??

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Xringer

Just think about it. If you were selling a product for $5 bucks a pound,
and suddenly the government promised your customers a $3 refund per pound..

Wouldn't you start thinking about a price hike?? Get in on some of that 'free' cash??

Or maybe I'd leave the price the same and finally start selling some of it because the price had been too high for anyone to afford it without the government subsidy.

[Xringer]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

You wouldn't support a tax on fossil fuel consumption, which would provide an incentive to conserve and innovate? A carbon tax of gradually increasing magnitude is exactly what we need to wean ourselves off the stuff before it runs out with minimum disruption to society and the economy.

Soften the blow by using it to fund subsidies, rebates, or deficit reduction if you like. You're going to get taxed, it's just a matter of where and when.

I'm using fuel oil for heating my hot water right now, burning gasoline in my car.
I'm already paying too much tax gas.. Not sure about the heating oil taxes,
but it's about the same price as the taxed diesel..




I'm not sure that punishing fuel users with extra-heavy taxes is the best thing for our current economic situation.
Unless our goal is to slow down the economy even more, since we all know that higher fuel prices increase the cost of just about everything else..
Food, being one of the first hit..