Cap and Trade vote on Friday

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by pgardn

As I stated in an earlier post, I think this adminstration is ready to move the country to alternative energy sources now. It will cost. But in the long run this administration thinks it is the forward looking way to go.

I dont think it is just about CO2 emissions. I personally think it is part of a larger effort to get us away importing oil, polluting with Coal burning. Part of the interim solution imo has to be nuclear power. I dont know how the plans for that are going.

I have no opinion on the timing. I just dont know enough.

Do you have an extra $600-$1500 per year to fund this? (dont need to answer obviously). I dont, and I'm not even as bad off as like 30% or more of the people out there... who all still need to use electricity. I think the timing is horrible, especially with 10% unemployment looming. But it will NOT pass through the senate... that is almost a gauruntee... shoot it barely got by the house and they love to pass everything. The bill spells political doom for the people who vote for it, and people are too worried about their careers as politicians.


Also, I'd like to know what kind of electricity we are going to be using and how we are going to get it. Are we going to fill the entire state of texas with wind turbine's?

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Also, I'd like to know what kind of electricity we are going to be using and how we are going to get it. Are we going to fill the entire state of texas with wind turbine's?

We did with oil rigs. They are everywhere. I cannot look out into the Gulf without seeing multiple rigs. But I digress...

Imo we have to make a switch from the present day coal burning which the majority of our electrical energy comes from. We have plenty of Coal. It is just ghastly stuff to deal with when you burn it.

imo
1. Cleaner burning Coal plants (expensive)
2. Nukes (expensive to begin with but cleaner and make up for expense)
3. Wind (15% of my power currently, very clean, but infant industry)
4. Solar (infancy and tougher than wind)
5. They have talked about using natural gas, oil shales in certain types of plants because it would be cleaner.
6. Geothermal, tidal power could be possible in rare places.

BTW
Wind power can work in lots more places that people think.
Germany has taken enormous advantage of wind, and this
country does not have near the climate we have for its use.

I have a special prejudice against bad air. San Antonio is on the verge
of losing Federal funds because our air has gotten so bad. Use to be
able to run without watching the weather to see if its safe. Cannot
even see the Hill Country clearly any more. We have two very large
Coal Burning facilities in addition to some nuke (south east of SA) and wind.
And we supposeldy burn some of the cleanest coal from Wyoming.

[geeker2]

You are going to see more modern combined cycle plants with 55% plus efficiency - they will start to replace the less efficient coal plant (lower 30% efficiency).

The US natural gas reserves are very high with yet untapped wells. With the more efficient plants these CC Plants will be dispatched before the less efficient coal plants. The issue is still the unknown pricing of CO2 fees and the ultimate regulation levels.

Renewables are great - but their ability to be dispatched is limited which means additional reserves of "fast start" will be required in tandem. The other issue with Renewables is the necessary infrastructure of transmission and distribution investment still required.

What does this all mean to us?

Expect higher residential electricity cost.....

Originally Posted by geeker2

.

What does this all mean to us?

Expect higher residential electricity cost.....

No doubt.
It was coming anyway.
The timing may not be good
as antitrust noted.

It is hot as hell here. I cannot keep anything in my yard
alive except trees that luckily shade my house from the
south and west excessively well. My neighbor who has
no trees bill is 3X as high and the house has smaller sq. ft
to cool. Amazing what trees can do.

Did I state that it is hot as hell here?

weather.JPG

oh please god let it rain.

note it is just to the north of pgardn.
This is as close as real rain has been in a while.
When it rains does it hurt or is it audible?
I have no memory of rain.
Notice that three posters on this board from the
great state of texas are on approximately the same
latitude.

[SOREHOOF]

You live in Texas. It's supposed to be hot.

[SOREHOOF]

Ever see 10 below zero in the winter? Or 30 below?

[SOREHOOF]

I wish I could send you guys (gals?) some of the 65 degrees I'm enjoying right now. It has rained every frikkin day here for a week.