Please enjoy today’s energy debate watch, a collection of news stories and perspectives about energy, environment and climate related issues. These articles are provided to keep Terra Rossa readers informed about the current public energy debate but are not intended to express the views of the blog. Let us know your thoughts on these articles or tell us about other current items of interest in the comment thread below.
5 myths about earth-friendly energy
The Washington Post, 02.03.08
Last year, Americans spent more greenbacks on oil than any other nation — about $517 billion, according to the Energy Information Administration. But we’ve failed to lead in developing green energy, and that’s going to cost us even more.
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Next phase of energy, climate debate will be about how much we drive
The Wall Street Journal, 02.04.08
I lead a double life. Monday through Wednesday, I get to work by walking a block and a half from a high-rise apartment building to a stop on Washington, D.C.’s Metro subway. I emerge three stops later a half block from my office. My commute is pretty close to a zero petroleum experience (never mind how the Metro gets its electricity.)
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 11:32 am and is filed under Energy Debate Watch Articles, Oil and Gas . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I get to work by walking a block and a half from a high-rise apartment building to a stop on Washington, D.C.’s Metro subway. I emerge three stops later a half block from my office.
A perfect example of the type of lifestyle that about 30% of Americans want and only 1% to 2% get to live. Meeting this unmeet market demand for Transit Orientated Development would be a MAJOR step towards both reducing oil demand# AND reduce Global Warming/Climate Change. DC Metro gets the equivalent of about 800 mpg and the electricity can come from non-polluting sources (proposed wind in MD, new nuke in VA).
Of course, the GWB Administration just killed the DC Subway extension to Tysons Corner & Dulles Airport by denying 18% federal funding ($900 million). I guess we are ALL supposed to just drive around on Interstate Highways, built with 90% federal funding !
President Bush mentioned that the USA is “addicted to oil” in the 2007 State of the Union (not a word in the 2008 SoU speech) but he blocks feasible and workable “cures” at every step !
The USAF is looking at spending $4 billion to build a 26,000 barrel/day coal-to-liquids plant, which will cost billions more to operate and wear out in 30 or so years (typical for heavy industrial sites).
The $900 million federal funding for the DC subway extension would have saved 20 to 25,000 barrels/day for 100+ years. Even more oil would be saved in an emergency.
It would make better sense to give the USAF priority to domestic oil in an emergency and take the funds for the proposed coal-to-liquids plant (capital + operating) and use it to build subways (DC, LA Subway to teh Sea, NYC 2nd Avenue). Much more oil saved, MUCH better for the US economy and environment.
#In an oil emergency, say after someone bombs Iran or the Islamic Republic of Arabia replaces the Saudi royalty, Urban Rail can carry many more people and save even more oil by adding more trains, more cars to each train, crowding more people aboard and staggering work hours to create longer rush hours
Best Hopes for the next 348 days,
Alan