Why are we so stupid?

While it seems obvious to me that Nuclear power is no longer necessary, was it ever a realistic option? It has been reported the nuclear regulatory body here in the USA is expecting some 30 applications for new generating facilities by the end of 2008. These come with huge tax breaks thanks to the piece of crap they called an energy bill a couple years ago. All I see is a bunch of pigs at the feeding trough trying to lock in deals worth billions before the obvious is part of the national conversation,

THAT WE DON'T NEED THAT MUCH CENTRALIZED POWER GENERATION WITH ALL THE CHANGES HERE NOW AND COMING IN THE ENERGY AND TRANSMISSION GRID LANDSCAPE.

If you care to voice your thoughts contact the Regulatory Commission NRC and your congressunit to tell them you don't want nuclear waste material around for 10,000 plus years when solar, battery and high efficiency technology are so on the brink.


In that same vein, more states are moving towards de-coupling their electricity generators. This allows utilities and providers much more lee-way in a good way. Read about it here. The final verdict isn't in on de-coupling but it seems if it's structured with rate payers and overall efficiency in mind, good things.

And...

The Big Apple will enjoy a brighter apple this new year's eve while consuming half the electricity of previous ones thanks to LED lighting technology. Something tells me New Yorkers will figure out a way to use it anyway, and I'm cool with that. New York has free pass on everything in my book. Keep it alive and kicking for the rest of us!

Imagine if every apt. and house in the country was lit by LEDs (12% more efficient than compact fluorescent bulbs, with better light and more color options), those high pressure fluorescents (with trace amounts of mercury gas in them) wouldn't be needed. A handful of retailers and manufacturers would loose their investments but hey they could make and sell the LEDs too. What a shame that pushing these new light bulbs is so well intentioned yet missing the mark.

PG&Es effort is nice but it seems like an attempt to push the lesser option of new options.

Here is a piece that talks about China jumping on the incadescent bulb ban, funny they make 70% of the light bubls everyone is about to replace. I wonder what their motivation is?
Speaking of China, they are about to commit the second most dispicable crime in their modern history, read about it here. This one makes me want to cry...

It seems that GE is cutting back on light bulb manufacturing, probably consolidating its operations in china, where power plants have no emission control and associated shipping emissions account for huge portions (2-5%) of our so called carbon load. Read about GE here.

Read here about California's attempt to regulate emissions from these china boats full of light bubls. Good luck...

Hmm, do we still need those new power plants...there's an awful lot of $$$ to made building those things, with plenty of tax breaks for the process, maybe we should give away more money on technology that doesn't really finish the job, yea that sounds smart.

And if you love the old spotted owl, go here by today, Friday, to request a new plan for helping the endangered raptor.

Now all this news seems forbodding, with $$ sloshing around the policy writers and makers, widening the gap between wealthy and not. I don't fret because the universe is so much bigger than us and we are waking up to that fact. The sun is our lover and Earth our bed. The fantastic potentials for humanity stewarding this paradise called Earth are just coming into view. All this bull shit, while important to follow and take control of, is just a smoke screen. A better cage if you will. See through it and take control of your fucking world, one thought at a time. We create our reality, so think positive and act accordingly, GOd bless and may the force be with you.

Happy Birthday Critical Mass

This is actually a belated birthday but what ever. 15 years ago in San Fransisco bicycle commuters and activists took over the streets for a few hours one Friday afternoon. This tradition continued every month and caught on in cities and towns all over the US. Last Saturday was national don't drive your car day and I am guessing the coincidence was planned for the day after the birthday. For anyone wanting a nostalgic
viewing of the Bay Guardian and their bit about it read here.


It seems that all the foot dragging by fuel station owners and gasoline refiners has actually created a glut of ethanol in the market. Imagine that, available fuel is sitting un-used while the price of corn drops, both circumstances screwing the burgeoning bio fuels industry and farmers alike. But wait, gasoline refiners get a federal subsidy of $.51 per gallon of ethanol mixed into petroleum based fuels. Why the glut? When was the last time you saw E85 gas available or had a car that could handle it? Read a NYT article here
if interested.

The real solution as I have said many times is plug in cars and a re-vamped electricity grid. Most people that drive cars use them for less than 150 miles per use making the plug in ideal. They have faster acceleration too.

Tesla Motors still slow on getting their plug in sports car to market, ask them why their next car is a sedan instead of a station wagon or mini van with real market value. Here's their website

It looks like Oregon finally has some affordable electric vehicles now that ZAP opened up a new Portland show room, and it's on the east side! Check zap's blog
here,
and read on to hear about some strategic alliances they made with a Chilean utility and a Chinese auto manufacturer.

So things are still good, even though the fascists are usurping more power, the greedy greedos are doing what ever they can and using the once free market as their shield while wielding a sword made from their ill gotten gains. They kill everybody in the market because they have lobby forces paid for by the subsidies and favors those same lobby fucks get for them. So many uncertainties, inequities, and ubiquities it's hard to see the love in all our hearts but it is alive and we all have a response ability to act according to our values and abilities. Thanks and have a great moment.